116: As long as you're not at a dead end, keep moving forward.

Kong Jiamu looked at the thin bottle of perfume in his hand.

This was probably the most humble gift he had ever received in his life. It was a test tube thinner than his pinky, without any decoration, and not expensive.

Yet, the smile on his lips could not be hidden.

"A name... what about you? What ideas do you have?" he asked his Pearl.

Holding her in his arms, Kong Jiamu carefully smelled the matching fragrance on Tu Nan, pondering a suitable name for this perfume, or rather, for the temperament of this Female Beast.

Tu Nan proudly told Kong Jiamu: "You showed me your sense of ceremony in the Botanical Garden. I found my answer in the same Botanical Garden."

"Are you satisfied?" Her smile was unrestrained.

"You told me yesterday to enjoy the journey? I want you to enjoy it too. Kong Jiamu, this is a perfume that belongs only to me, my own fragrance. Help me register a brand."

Tu Nan slowly recounted this while in his arms. Kong Jiamu used his fingers to comb through her fragrant, smooth black hair.

"This is my romance. The journey will always end, and I want to remember something. Although this will be my private perfume, I still want to register it. When it exists perpetually in the System... it means the Empire's commercial System will always bear witness to this romantic story."

"And a romantic story... inevitably needs proof to become a legend."

Kong Jiamu's slender fingertips delicately held the small perfume bottle.

"Turning stone into gold is only missing that name—the one you give it." Tu Nan seemed to know he wouldn't refuse and didn't ask if he was willing.

She waited quietly for the name.

"lve yan."

"This name... is very fitting. It reminds us not to judge a person only by appearance, but always... to focus on her inner self."

He kissed Tu Nan.

"That truly is a great name." Tu Nan smiled.

It was very fitting. She only needed Kong Jiamu to name the perfume, essentially endorsing the scent. She hadn't expected him to link the perfume even more deeply to himself.

His ability was fire, combined with this name. It was enough.

Naturally, the two spent the rest of the day together. Kong Jiamu used every trick in the book to ensure Tu Nan fully experienced ecstasy.

By the next day, his attitude hadn't changed at all.

No... except that he was more passionate and clingy.

But Tu Nan had to temporarily send him away because she was waiting for a video call.

That's right, it was time again in the afternoon for Hain's scheduled lesson with the Children.

Would the communication connect on time? If he didn't call again, what would that mean? That he was investigating her? And if he did call, what would he say?

Although she hadn't been idle these past two days, Tu Nan's heart had actually been hanging in the air, without a moment of true peace.

Every day felt like a year.

The clock digits changed; precisely on time, Miao Miao's bracelet rang.

The mischievous child, bringing her older brother, stood obediently in the room and immediately answered the video call.

Hain's voice projected into the space, accompanied by the roaring sound of Tu Nan's heartbeat.

Tu Nan noticed he wasn't in the bedroom or study where he had appeared before; he seemed to have changed locations. Outside the window of his own bedroom was the boundless ocean, but the room he was in now looked like a small office?

The metal curtains were drawn, making it impossible to see the view outside.

Tu Nan hardly dared to breathe, waiting for Hain to announce her judgment.

But Hain didn't look at her; he merely nodded politely in Tu Nan's direction and, as always, began Miao Miao's lesson.

During that short hour, accompanied by the rhythmic dialogue between the adult and the child, Tu Nan's notes were a complete mess. To be precise, they contained nothing related to the lesson; they were filled entirely with her analysis of the unfolding situation.

That's right, Tu Nan was trying to deduce everything.

There were two main possibilities here: First, for whatever reason, if Hain hadn't investigated.

Then she could at least blend in until the flight reached port.

After disembarking, if she successfully became pregnant with Kong Jiamu's child, and Hain found out then, he might keep silent to maintain his friendship with his friend, pretending he had never known Tu Nan.

That was fine; she was already prepared to give up the 5% Genetic Reward.

Maintaining her current life was paramount.

And if she wasn't pregnant by then, she would continue to flee if she could, or if not, she would have to go directly to Hain and try to stabilize him.

Second, Hain investigated and learned everything.

But he hasn't told Peacock yet? Whatever the reason, since Peacock currently seems unaware, she must strive to get pregnant. With a child of an S-class powerhouse, the Empire would at least have to let her live, giving her eight months.

Then maybe she could still count on Lance to find a chance to save her.

Or, worst case, Hain and Kong Jiamu expose everything.

Everything stops here.

Four paths, 25% chance of a death ending. Not bad.

Hain had finished the lesson, and Miao Miao obediently ran out of the room at his signal.

It was strange; Miao Miao was completely won over by Hain after just a few video calls. She dared to pull Kong Jiamu's hair when she was next to him, but she was now as docile as a cat in front of Hain.

Tu Nan hoped Hain hadn't started investigating yet.

She decided that no matter what, she would try to stabilize Hain again. She closed her eyes and apologized to him before he could speak.

"Lord Hain, I made you angry. Can you still forgive me?" Tu Nan dared not stop; she blurted out everything she had prepared in one breath.

"My request that day was too willful. I took advantage of your kindness toward me, knowing you wouldn't get angry, which is why I was so presumptuous."

Tu Nan combined the first lesson Kong Jiamu taught her with a bit of her own past insight.

"I don't want any imperfection to be displayed before you." She finally bravely met Hain's eyes. She had always feared they would hold coldness and disgust, cutting off her chance at survival.

But she saw no emotion in Hain's eyes.

She could only bite the bullet and continue.

"It's just because... I became timid."

Hain. The reason he showed no emotion was that, in that instant, Tu Nan struck him.

His noble upbringing allowed him to maintain superficial calmness when encountering unexpected situations.

He understood Tu Nan's entire speech.

He understood the feeling Tu Nan described, because he felt the same way.

When a person starts to become unlike their former self, it means—falling.

He had fallen into a dream named Tu Nan.

And Tu Nan was now telling him.

That she was the same as him.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and Hain finally revealed a smile.