169: Love's "Golden Bar"

"Sister... Sister..."

A pitiful and soft voice drifted over~

Time passed minute by minute, and a long while later...

The White-Haired Loli was carried out of the lounge by Ling Qi, dangling like a little chick.

The moment Ling Qi let go, the White-Haired Loli collapsed onto the cold floor, looking completely disheveled and more dead than alive.

She groaned weakly, her voice sounding extremely frail: "Sister, I really know I was wrong!"

"Don't mortals often say, don't hit the face when beating someone, and especially don't hit the butt? But why did you have the Secretary-General specifically focus all her strength on my little tushie!"

"Ow, ow, ow, hiss—it hurts so much!"

Shang Wan Ning, who had been sitting steadily in her chair, stood up and walked step by step toward the White-Haired Loli.

Upon reaching her, Shang Wan Ning leaned down. Squatting halfway, she looked at the drama-queen loli before her, a faint, cold smile touching the corners of her mouth.

"Hehe, leaving a few marks on your little butt will make it easier for you to apologize to Chief Assistant Lin—who almost drank herself to death—in a few days, won't it?"

The White-Haired Loli nodded frantically, her head shaking like a rattle-drum as she hurriedly agreed.

"Mm-hmm! I'll definitely be well-behaved from now on, Sister!"

"I absolutely won't dare to be mischievous and make you angry again!"

Seeing this, Shang Wan Ning raised an eyebrow in satisfaction, straightened up, and ordered, "Fine. Call Ling Xi over to take a look. If there's no major problem, go back to your room and rest."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ling Qi responded and then turned to leave in a hurry.

Not long after, a series of hurried footsteps approached from a distance.

It was Ling Xi, who rushed into the office carrying a large medicine box.

Standing at the doorway, Ling Xi's gaze fell upon Lord Prefectural City God, who was lying on the leather sofa whimpering softly.

Her deep eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything.

"Oh boy! They really hit her! Such a heavy hand!" Ling Xi muttered to herself as she slowly approached the White-Haired Loli.

Reaching her side, Ling Xi squatted down and gently pulled down the White-Haired Loli's pants. When she saw the two slightly swollen and bruised cheeks...

[Tsk! You're putting on a show for me! How can this even count as a lesson?]

[What a sharp-tongued but soft-hearted Empress she truly is!!!]

Ling Xi pinched her fingertips, trying her best to suppress her twitching eyelids, for fear that the Empress would notice her internal reaction.

She put on a serious and meticulous front, beginning to examine the White-Haired Loli's injuries.

After a thorough check and confirming there were no serious issues, she feigned a slight sigh of relief.

Then, she took out a topical spiritual medicine from the medicine box beside her.

"Apply this medicine three times a day. You'll be fully recovered after using it for three consecutive days," Ling Xi instructed.

"Thank you, Ghost Doctor Ling Xi," the White-Haired Loli thanked timidly, taking the bottle of spiritual medicine named 'Special Formula Bruise-Removing Powder' with both hands.

Her watery big eyes were full of expectation and pleading as she looked pitifully at Shang Wan Ning.

"Sister~"

The White-Haired Loli tugged at Shang Wan Ning's hem, her voice as soft and sweet as a marshmallow.

Shang Wan Ning's heart suddenly softened, but her face remained taut, maintaining a serious expression.

"You must remember this lesson well. I absolutely won't allow you to act so recklessly and cause trouble everywhere next time!"

The White-Haired Loli nodded repeatedly, like a chicken pecking at grain, indicating she would definitely be obedient.

[I probably won't get into trouble again, right???] — the White-Haired Loli felt a bit uncertain.

Then, she cast a grateful look toward Ling Xi.

Ling Xi smiled and stepped forward, carefully supporting the limping Lord Prefectural City God as they left the office... Shang Wan Ning watched their retreating figures for a long time. Her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the glorious achievements of her childhood in her past life... The 'her' of the past was truly a fearless soul—she could easily climb an eight-meter-tall tree, as agile as a monkey, just to snatch a few eggs from a bird's nest.

She could dive into a reservoir to play in the water and catch fish, the very picture of a mischievous brat. (Dear readers~ please do not imitate this!)

But those unrestrained days did not last forever.

As she grew older, her skin became as thick as a city wall. Coupled with the tragic news of a fellow student from the neighboring town drowning, it was like a heavy hammer smashing into her parents' hearts.

Her mom and dad's 'combined doubles' became as frequent as a storm.

After her butt had been beaten into full bloom time and time again...

She finally realized that her habit of seeking death had to change.

At the thought of this, Shang Wan Ning couldn't help but shudder. It was as if that familiar pain was surging back into her buttocks.

She shook her head vigorously, trying to shake all those terrifying memories of the 'Golden Rod' lashing her body out of her mind.

"Your Majesty... Wanling..."

Ling Qi had quietly walked up behind her at some point, seeing Shang Wan Ning looking somewhat lost in thought.

She gently patted her shoulder and asked softly, "What are you thinking about? You're so absorbed."

"You didn't even respond when I called you just now."

Shang Wan Ning snapped back to her senses, a faint smile appearing on her face as she shook her head and said, "It's nothing, I just suddenly remembered some things from my childhood."

Ling Qi frowned, her gaze full of concern as she watched Shang Wan Ning.

"If Your Majesty has any troubles hidden in your heart, you might as well tell me another day. Perhaps speaking about it will make you feel better."

Shang Wan Ning's heart stirred; perhaps it really was possible to share some deeply buried memories with the Secretary-General in the future..."

[Of course! I definitely won't tell her about being an 'Old-Age Wizard' in my past life!]

"Al~right! My~ dear Secretary-General." Shang Wan Ning turned gracefully and leaned against Ling Qi's shoulder.

She tilted her head slightly, pausing for a moment. "Actually, since my parents passed away, I~ have been like a Walking Corpse. I was indifferent to everything in the world."

"I just always masked that coldness perfectly in front of others."

"Even though I died suddenly and was reborn as the Underworld Empress."

"For a long time, I viewed this world as a virtual game that could only be cleared once, attempting to deceive the feelings of the NPCs..."

[But in front of the 'NPCs' of the Underworld, she simply couldn't deceive herself!]

[She couldn't treat them~ as mere tools for grinding quests.]

They were clearly 'people' with flesh and blood and emotions too!

Ling Qi suddenly pulled hard on Shang Wan Ning's collar, lifting her fair neck and bringing her own face close.