148: Harvest from the Trap

Tu Nan sat cross-legged on a high branch of a thick tree.

A small platform was built here, with only simple railings and a telescope fixed in the direction of the landing pad.

This was the lookout tower she had asked Green Fox to rush-build, which included finding a way to transport her up and settle her in.

"Twenty thousand." Yi Xingye was quite easy to talk to; it felt like he would do anything for money.

Unfortunately, he was destined never to receive this money.

Lance stepped on Yi Xingye's soft lambskin shoes.

"Uncle, that's enough from you." She smiled, but her foot ground down hard. "What's the difference between asking Pearl for money and asking me? Hmm? I told you not to scam Pearl out of her money!"

Yi Xingye seemed unable to feel the pain, letting Lance step on him. He gave Tu Nan a regretful look and let out a reluctant sound.

"Oh."

Then, he perfectly prepared everything according to Tu Nan's requirements.

Tu Nan privately offered to transfer the money to him, but Yi Xingye waved his hand. "Give it to Lance. She is a bottomless pit."

...How interesting.

She hadn't spent any money, yet it felt as if she had consumed something strange for free.

***

Kong Jiamu was terrified when he arrived under the tree.

Pearl was staying here all alone?

Ignoring his snow-white military dress uniform getting dirty, he quickly climbed the tree and pulled the troublesome Female Beast into his arms.

Glancing down the tree, he gritted his teeth. "You're really something!"

Kong Jiamu discovered that Pearl was truly someone who was always up to something; either trouble found her, or she went looking for it.

Look at this! What kind of Female Beast is this crazy? She's not a Bird Beastman! She's a cat! Is she not afraid of falling to her death?

Tu Nan pushed him, looking quite innocent.

Kong Jiamu loosened his grip slightly, wanting to see what excuse she would make.

Instead, she tapped her bracelet, and a short video projected and played beside them... Kong Jiamu was forced to watch his entire performance clearly.

He had accepted countless interviews, appeared on various TV shows, and even acted in military promotional videos. But he really hadn't expected to feel such strange discomfort watching a video of himself one day.

Ignoring his stiff expression, Tu Nan shook with laughter in his arms.

"Very handsome, mm, really." She even added a commentary. "Look at your hair; it was blown open at that speed and fell back without even getting messy. What product do you use? I want some too."

"Is it funny?" Kong Jiamu pinched her waist threateningly.

"Of course." Tu Nan wasn't afraid of him; Kong Jiamu was in a good mood right now. Didn't you see the feathers by his ears spreading wider and wider?

"Look at that person who came down after you... Oh, is he your subordinate?" Tu Nan was referring to Sergeant Song Jie, pretending not to know him. "He's covering his eyes. It must be so hard for him to follow you, hahahahaha."

Great, Song Jie! You still managed to embarrass me. Kong Jiamu was annoyed; as expected, Pearl would look down on his subordinates.

Send him back to the Capital City, send him back!

Tu Nan laughed until her body went limp, leaning into his arms.

On the small platform, Kong Jiamu remained silent, staring at Tu Nan until she noticed something was wrong, finally stopped laughing, and peeked up at him.

Kong Jiamu gave a cold laugh, held her tightly, lowered his head, and bit down hard on her hateful mouth.

Those bright red, delicate lips were much better suited for kissing than for spitting out words that embarrassed him... See, she's quiet now, isn't she?

Kong Jiamu seemed fierce, but as the kiss went on, his entire demeanor gradually changed.

The flamboyance of just stepping off the starship and the irritation from moments ago were carried away bit by bit by the gentle breeze. He and Tu Nan exchanged breaths, and in this snug intimacy, his overall aura gradually calmed down.

"Welcome back. I've been waiting for you for a long time," Tu Nan told him softly while kissing him.

Kong Jiamu froze for a moment, his heart suddenly finding its place.

Yes, he was back.

***

Kong Jiamu carried Tu Nan safely back to the ground.

It wasn't far from Tu Nan's home. The two of them walked back unhurriedly through the woods, holding hands.

Neither of them spoke; only the sound of crushed fallen leaves echoed with their footsteps.

"Not going to my place?" Kong Jiamu asked calmly.

Tu Nan shook her head.

"I want to show you my progress." She smiled. "The company I mentioned before is basically all set up, there are many types of perfumes, and I even have new employees."

There seemed to be a light in Tu Nan's eyes.

"I've also rented the place next door. I plan to set up an employee benefit, a care center for Children in their Childhood Stage, called a Kindergarten." She thought for a moment. "Ao Ao and Miao Miao are there, and they miss you very much too."

This was the truth; the Two Children often asked about this Uncle Kong. They seemed very reluctant to see him leave.

They seemed very satisfied with the powerful and interesting Kong Jiamu, Tu Nan suddenly realized.

It seemed they had never mentioned Li again... that was their father. Logically, they shouldn't stop missing him. But... since the separation, not even once.

Tu Nan planned to find an opportunity to ask the Children.

She was afraid they were hiding something in their hearts, afraid they were just pretending to be happy.

"Kindergarten..." Kong Jiamu turned the word over in his mind and caught onto the logic. "Are you planning to hire more Female employees?"

"Yeah. But it's not entirely my plan; it's for two reasons. Males aren't willing to work under me either." There was nothing that couldn't be said.

"Only trash is afraid of not being as excellent as a Female." Kong Jiamu snorted. "Forget it, those people are useless to hire anyway; they'd only cause you trouble. Just wait, once your company takes off, they won't care about their pride and will beg you for a position."

Tu Nan smiled inwardly. His arrogance and sharp tongue were unreserved when it came to Males.

"I think so too." She agreed with what he said.

"Are you still refusing my investment? I could make this process faster," he proposed.

"No, I just want to slap those people's faces more legitimately when the time comes."

Kong Jiamu found it deeply amusing.

"That's true," he said.

When the two walked back, three Children were playing in the yard under Amy's care.

They were chasing each other, very lively.

Kong Jiamu watched with a smile for a long while before suddenly commenting, "They really are quite cute."

Tu Nan was puzzled. He was quite familiar with the Children from the starship, but aside from talking about Ao Ao's Talent or teasing them, he had never expressed his affection.

"Tell me..." He looked down at Tu Nan. "If you and I had a child, would they be this cute too?"

He immediately corrected himself, "No, would they be even cuter than this?"

Tu Nan's heart skipped a beat. Had he discovered something?

She observed him cautiously, not replying for a moment.

Kong Jiamu misunderstood her silence as a refusal to answer, and his gaze shifted back to the Children.

Tu Nan was still pondering the meaning behind his words.

Kong Jiamu suddenly asked, "You said you'd get a divorce as soon as the flight landed. I never got around to asking you—did you?"

That's a good question... Tu Nan thought.