Chapter 16

Yuan Ying doubted the texture she had felt under her fingers, so she rubbed it again.

Still scales.

She rubbed twice more.

What are you rubbing?

Zhu Feng’s helpless voice sounded by her ear. Yuan Ying pushed him, and though confused, he sat up.

Lie down, Yuan Ying instructed.

Seeing she was serious, Zhu Feng’s expression gradually turned subtle: Why… should I lie down?

Stop talking nonsense. Yuan Ying pushed him onto the bed and lifted his shirt.

Under the shirt, his skin was smooth and firm, feeling completely normal to the touch.

Yuan Ying touched it once, then again, repeatedly confirming.

No scales—just ordinary skin.

Zhu Feng lay face down on the bed, letting her hands roam over his waist until she finally said, You can go now.

Zhu Feng paused, turning his head to look at her: Go?

Yuan Ying remained calm: Mm.

This bastard kept insisting he was a dragon, he was a dragon, to the point where she’d started hallucinating just now.

She absolutely couldn’t get involved with him—she’d catch his madness.

…We’ve already gotten this far, and you want me to leave? Zhu Feng still refused to give up.

Yuan Ying crossed her arms: Oh, you reminded me. Please get off my bed.

Zhu Feng laughed in frustration: Using me and then throwing me away, huh?

What did I use you for? Yuan Ying shot him a glance. I haven’t used you yet.

You did use me—the scent on you has faded.

Yuan Ying: What scent?

The sweet scent of your Restlessness Period.

Yuan Ying: …

Silence suddenly fell in the room.

Her mind had been momentarily dominated by desire earlier, and she hadn’t remembered until he mentioned it—how much nonsense had this bastard been feeding her?

After a long silence, Yuan Ying slowly said, Get out of Jin Yuanbao before I call the police.

As soon as she spoke these words, time seemed to rewind to ten minutes ago, except back then she was at the door, and now she was on the bed.

Zhu Feng also remembered the phone chat screen he’d seen ten minutes prior.

Suddenly overcome by a wicked impulse, he had kissed her.

Yuan Ying covered her mouth in shock.

Zhu Feng adopted a domineering attitude: Go ahead and call. If you don’t, I’ll kiss you again.

Twenty minutes later, a police car came wailing, then left wailing, taking the hooligan dragon with it.

A Ye and Shu Lin stood outside the main gate, watching the police car disappear into the distance.

Where is he going? A Ye asked.

Shu Lin: The police station.

I know what a police station is—a place where they lock up bad people. A Ye showed off his knowledge.

Shu Lin: …Mm.

Do police stations lock up bad dragons too? A Ye asked.

Shu Lin silently looked at him.

A Ye, with his fierce and menacing face, was quite calm: If he didn’t do anything bad, would the Queen have called the police to arrest him?

Shu Lin: …

A Ye: The police arrested him, so he must be a bad dragon.

Shu Lin: …

You—a wild dragon who claims territory as your own, gathers crowds to rebel, and has spent a third of your life in prison—have the nerve to call someone else a bad dragon?

What are you looking at? A Ye glared fiercely.

Shu Lin trembled: N-nothing.

As they spoke, Yuan Ying also came out.

Why aren’t you two asleep yet? she asked.

Shu Lin and A Ye exchanged a glance, then simultaneously looked at her.

Yuan Ying chuckled: Afraid I’ll kick you out?

Shu Lin scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.

Yuan Ying sighed helplessly: How could I? Go back to your rooms and get some sleep.

A Ye immediately stepped into the courtyard.

Shu Lin, barely maintaining a shred of loyalty to the King, asked before entering: What about Zhu Feng…

Him? He’ll probably be released after 24 hours with a fine, Yuan Ying also turned back inside.

Shu Lin quickly closed the main gate and followed behind her with A Ye on either side.

Shu Lin: Boss Yuan, why did you call the police to arrest him?

He was talking nonsense, Yuan Ying explained.

Shu Lin: What kind of nonsense?

He said he’s a dragon.

Shu Lin: He was telling the truth, not talking nonsense.

Yuan Ying stopped walking and turned to look at him.

The star lights in the courtyard were still on, twinkling beautifully.

Shu Lin looked completely sincere: He really is a dragon. Not just him – both A Ye and I are dragons too.

Yuan Ying: …

Really, really, Unable to transform, Shu Lin couldn’t find strong evidence to prove himself for the moment. After racking his brains for a long time, he suddenly patted A Ye’s arm. Boss Yuan, even if you don’t believe me and Zhu Feng, you should believe A Ye.

Yuan Ying looked up at A Ye.

A Ye nodded: Mm, we’re dragons.

Yuan Ying: …

Shu Lin: Zhu Feng is the King, and you’re our Queen.

A Ye: We came to take you back to the Dragon Realm.

Shu Lin: If you don’t want to go back, that’s fine too. The King said he’s perfectly happy to be a live-in son-in-law.

A Ye: I want to stay too. The King said freeloading is really nice, I want to try it too.

Yuan Ying: …

Ten minutes later, Shu Lin and A Ye appeared outside the Jin Yuanbao gate, along with their luggage and Zhu Feng’s suitcases.

…We were explaining things perfectly well, why did you have to mention freeloading! Shu Lin said through gritted teeth.

A Ye: Because I’m hungry.

Shu Lin: …

A Ye: If freeloading is so good, why did the Queen get angry?

I can’t explain this to a wild dragon like you! Shu Lin said furiously as he dragged the luggage away.

A Ye stood rooted to the spot.

What are you doing! The Queen has already kicked us out, why are you still standing there like an idiot! Shu Lin scolded angrily.

A Ye: I’m hungry. I want to eat oil cakes.Da Wu from Everything You Need had delivered oil cakes in the evening, even specially bringing five extra ones for him to eat as a midnight snack.

He hadn’t eaten them yet.

Shu Lin was utterly exasperated: What oil cakes? Let’s go quickly.

A Ye remained standing there, adopting an I’m about to be stubborn posture.

Shu Lin took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down: Let’s find a place to stay first, then I’ll order takeout for you.

Jinlin Town had a small population, and Jin Yuanbao was located near the scenic area. There were very few takeout options available, and the taste was terrible – something A Ye really disliked, so he still refused to move.

Yuan Ying had kicked them out on impulse. Just five minutes after doing so, she had calmed down. Thinking about how Shu Lin seemed clever but was actually easy to fool, and how A Ye was rather simple-minded, she grew even more worried.

But asking them to come back… would mean losing face!

Yuan Ying sat tangled on the first-floor living room sofa for a long time before finally pulling out her phone from her pocket.

If they’re still outside the gate, I’ll call them back in. If they’re gone, then forget it.

Yuan Ying muttered to herself as she opened the gate surveillance app.

The image was blurry, but she could make out two figures – one tall, one even taller.

Without further hesitation, Yuan Ying immediately headed outside.

Outside the main gate, Shu Lin was fuming at A Ye, frantically searching on his phone for nearby hotels and homestays to stay in. But no matter how he looked, none could compare to the comfort of Jin Yuanbao.

Just as he struggled to find a place to stay, the gate of Jin Yuanbao suddenly opened.

Shu Lin and A Ye turned around simultaneously. At that moment, Yuan Ying, with starry lights glowing behind her, appeared like a goddess descending.

As they stood dumbfounded, Yuan Ying leaned gracefully against her expensive gate and asked, What are you?

A Ye: Dragons.

Shu Lin: Humans!

Their answers didn’t match, and they couldn’t help but glance at each other.

A Ye blinked slowly, then looked back at Yuan Ying with newfound determination: Humans.

Yuan Ying: Will you still learn from Zhu Feng’s nonsense in the future?

Shu Lin immediately shook his head: No, never again. I want to draw a clear line with him.

A Ye: Mm, draw a clear line.

Yuan Ying chuckled and tilted her chin, signaling: Come in. From now on, talk less nonsense, or you might get taken away as lunatics.

Thank you, Boss Yuan! Shu Lin overflowed with gratitude, tossing all the luggage to A Ye, then trotted after Yuan Ying to flatter her.

A Ye carried several suitcases as if they were toys, following them into the living room, where he saw a plate of freshly heated oil cakes on the coffee table.

Xiao Yu said you didn’t eat much tonight. You must be hungry, Yuan Ying said with a smile.

A Ye remained silent for a moment before asking, Do you have anyone you dislike?

Yuan Ying: Hmm?

Shu Lin sensed trouble and quickly tried to intervene: A Ye…

Too late.

A Ye declared solemnly: I can help you kill them.

Yuan Ying: …

Shu Lin covered his face in despair.

Yuan Ying was speechless for a long while before speaking earnestly: A Ye, from now on, don’t hang out with Zhu Feng anymore.

A Ye: ?

After a whole day of chaos over whether they were dragons or not, Yuan Ying returned to her bedroom, feeling more exhausted than if she had run a marathon.

She collapsed onto the bed and turned off the light to sleep.

A moment later, the light turned back on.

She sat up abruptly and opened her phone, indeed seeing the message her blind date had sent earlier.

She quickly apologized: Sorry, sorry! Something came up suddenly, and I forgot to reply.

Yu He replied: It’s okay, I understand.

Yuan Ying thought for a moment and responded to his earlier dinner invitation: How about Sunday? I’ll treat you to make up for my rudeness.

Yu He: Although I don’t blame you, if you insist, then I’ll graciously accept.

Yuan Ying hated back-and-forth politeness over treating others, so seeing him so straightforward, she immediately felt relieved.

Turning off the light again, Yuan Ying sank back into her soft bed.

She wondered how Zhu Feng was doing—whether he’d have to sleep on a hard board bed like in those TV dramas.

Just thinking about that possibility made her own bed feel even more comfortable.

Yuan Ying slept soundly and didn’t wake up until nine the next morning.

Drawing open the curtains, brilliant sunlight flooded into the bedroom. Yuan Ying stretched, feeling refreshed, and went downstairs.

Good morning, Xiao Yu, she greeted the front desk with a smile.

Xiao Yu looked at her curiously: Boss, you’re in a good mood today.

Yeah, I slept well last night, Yuan Ying replied cheerfully.

Xiao Yu rested her chin on her hand: Your sleep has been so inconsistent lately. I remember you weren’t like this before.

Exactly. I used to sleep well every day, only recently… Yuan Ying sighed and asked, Have we found a cleaner yet?

Xiao Yu shook her head: No, no one has come.

Not even with 3,500 offered? Yuan Ying was surprised.

The average wage in Jinlin Town was quite low—around two thousand per month was normal, and many earned just over a thousand. The homestay cleaning job didn’t require clocking in, only three to five hours of work daily, with a salary of about 2,500, which people usually competed for.

Previously, not wanting to offend Feng Zhuangzhuang, they had offered Feng Juan 3,000, which was already considered high here.

This time, recruiting a new cleaner, Yuan Ying wanted someone reliable and hardworking, so she kept the salary at 3,000. But after two days with no response, she had to raise it by another five hundred.

Yet even at 3,500, not a single applicant had come forward.

How is that possible? Yuan Ying was puzzled.

Xiao Yu sighed helplessly: People in the nearby villages all know each other. That Feng Juan must have spread plenty of bad rumors about us. Who would dare apply now? Others from farther away think our place is too remote and refuse to come. So, no one ends up applying.

That was indeed a problem. Yuan Ying fell into thought.

It’s fine, boss. We can manage without hiring. I’ll just work overtime and get it done, Xiao Yu promised, patting her chest.

Yuan Ying chuckled: I can’t let you do everything. We still need to hire someone.

Then, remembering something, she added: But I might have to trouble you these next couple of days. I need to go out and won’t be back until tomorrow.

No problem, I can handle it. You go ahead and do what you need to, Xiao Yu agreed.

Yuan Ying smiled: I’ll add a bonus to your salary this month.

Thank you, boss! Xiao Yu cheered.

Yuan Ying waved her off, then walked around the courtyard and checked the water, electricity, and gas meters to ensure everything was sufficient before driving off.

She had been gone for nearly an hour when Shu Lin, who had been sleeping in, finally got up.

Only Xiao Yu was in the living room; A Ye was nowhere to be found. Rubbing his eyes, Shu Lin approached Xiao Yu: Has Boss Yuan not gotten up yet?

She’s gone, Xiao Yu replied without looking up.

Shu Lin: Where to?

How should I know? She won’t be back until tomorrow… By the way, did the boss remove you all from the blacklist? Xiao Yu asked him.

Shu Lin froze, realizing he had forgotten to ask Yuan Ying.

Seeing his expression, Xiao Yu immediately gave him a sharp look.

Calm down, I’ll call her right now, Shu Lin quickly pulled out his phone.

Just as the ringtone sounded from the old speakers of the second-hand Volkswagen, Yuan Ying had just driven into the service area.

She parked the car before answering: Hello?

Boss Yuan! Shu Lin pleaded pitifully, You still haven’t taken us off the blacklist!

Yuan Ying laughed softly: I’ll do it now.

After hanging up, she opened the homestay management app. Usually, Xiao Yu handled bookings, so she rarely used it. It took her a moment to familiarize herself before finding the blacklist option.

The service area had poor internet. Yuan Ying waited a while before the blacklist loaded.

Zhu Feng, Shu Lin, A Ye.

The only three guests ever blacklisted since Jin Yuanbao opened appeared before her.

Seeing that Zhu Feng was really named Zhu Feng and A Ye’s surname was indeed A, Yuan Ying was visibly startled. It took her a moment to remember to remove Shu Lin and A Ye from the list.

Looking at the only remaining guest on the blacklist, Yuan Ying thought for a moment but decided not to remove him yet.

After updating the blacklist, Yuan Ying sent a message to Shu Lin, who immediately said to Xiao Yu, Help us check in.

Alright.

Their information was already in the front desk system, so Xiao Yu could process it directly.

She quickly completed the procedure, but when she clicked submit, she found one person couldn’t be checked in.

Did Zhu Feng offend our boss again? Xiao Yu asked.

Shu Lin paused, remembering she had missed some important developments after clocking out yesterday.

Considering the dignity of the Dragon Realm, Shu Lin didn’t mention Zhu Feng being arrested for harassment, simply nodding, Yes, he offended him.

What should we do now? Xiao Yu asked, Should I check you two in first?

Shu Lin frowned.

He had grown up with the King, swearing lifelong loyalty even before he became the King. He had followed the King to the human world this time, and by both reason and emotion, he couldn’t abandon him.

But…

Yes, check us two in first, Shu Lin decisively nodded.

But, better others suffer than oneself – this Jin Yuanbao Inn was too good, he wanted to live here forever.

Xiao Yu: How many days?

Shu Lin: Make it ten days.

Xiao Yu clicked the mouse: Done, please pay.

Shu Lin immediately took out his phone to scan the code.

Insufficient balance.

Shu Lin: I changed my mind, make it five days.

Xiao Yu rolled her eyes at him and changed it to five days.

Insufficient balance.

Shu Lin: …How about one day?

Xiao Yu sighed: Have you decided?

Shu Lin: Decided! One day is fine too.

Xiao Yu changed it to one day.

Insufficient balance.

Shu Lin: …Suddenly I think sharing a room with A Ye would be fine. Let’s book one room first, second floor, one day, one room.

Xiao Yu didn’t move, staring at him expressionlessly.

Shu Lin: Actually, I feel bad about leaving Zhu Feng behind. Let’s wait until he returns and discuss it first.

Without waiting for Xiao Yu’s response, he quickly ran off.

After resting a few minutes in the service area, Yuan Ying continued her journey.

Over an hour later, she arrived at the city’s largest hospital. After getting the examination forms, she went upstairs for blood tests immediately.

Although she had slept well last night and felt completely fine today – as if the abnormal condition that had troubled her for over a month had completely disappeared –

Yuan Ying still decided to get a full body check-up.

Her last check-up was over twenty days ago at Jinlin Town’s local hospital, which had found nothing. So this time she came directly to the city hospital, hoping to identify the cause quickly.

The full body check-up was expensive and time-consuming. Yuan Ying ran up and down the examination building, grabbing a quick bread when hungry, finally completing all tests before 4 PM.

By the time she finished the last test, most results were already available, with only two requiring collection the next morning at 10.

Carrying the thick stack of examination results, Yuan Ying found the general practice specialist she had specifically booked.

These are the test results, she handed them over.

The specialist carefully examined each sheet, taking a full five minutes to review everything.

According to these results, you’re in perfect health, the specialist smiled. Most people nowadays have some sub-health conditions, but this is the first time I’ve seen such perfect test results.

Yuan Ying looked at him with eager eyes: There’s nothing wrong at all?

Nothing at all, you don’t even have any nodules. Your physical condition is truly excellent, the specialist put on his glasses and examined the computer carefully, then exclaimed in surprise, Did you previously have a falling accident?

Yuan Ying craned her neck to look and was surprised: How is my past medical record here?

The hospital where you received treatment before is part of our medical consortium, so we share electronic records, the specialist explained while carefully studying her treatment process. Your lumbar vertebrae were shattered like this, yet you didn’t become paralyzed and were discharged so quickly… Please stand up.

Yuan Ying stood up.

Jump once.

Yuan Ying jumped, stood on her toes, and spun around in place, satisfying his curiosity.

A medical miracle! the specialist marveled, then scrolled up further. Huh, I just said you don’t have any nodules, but here I see in your physical examination report from four years ago, you had two lymph nodules and one breast nodule.

He checked the latest examination results again, looking puzzled: They’re indeed gone now, but there are no signs of surgery either. How did you eliminate the nodules so completely?

Yuan Ying, who underwent physical examinations every six months, certainly knew how healthy she had been these past few years and didn’t want to hear more about this.

…Doctor, are you sure there’s nothing wrong with my body? She tried to steer the conversation back on track.

Seeing her helpless expression, the specialist realized he had digressed and chuckled awkwardly: The other two test results aren’t back yet. We’ll need to see those to know for sure, but based on the current results, you’re perfectly healthy.

Yuan Ying: Ah…

The specialist paused: You look rather disappointed.

Yuan Ying forced a laugh, thinking how could she not be disappointed? She spent several thousand only to find nothing wrong.

But with two results still pending, perhaps they would reveal the cause of her illness.

Not discouraged, Yuan Ying bid the doctor farewell and checked into a nearby hotel.

As she was checking in, Zhu Feng was also released from the police station.

Shu Lin was waiting outside and approached him immediately.

What are you doing here? Zhu Feng asked.

Shu Lin scratched his head: Boss Yuan said you’d be released within 24 hours, so I came to pick you up.

Zhu Feng looked up: Boss Yuan?

When Yuan Ying wasn’t around, someone always referred to her as Queen.

Shu Lin coughed awkwardly: Well, she sent you to the police station, which shows she really has no feelings for you. Still calling her Queen… doesn’t seem appropriate.

Zhu Feng gave him a haughty glance: Do you know why I was released in just 24 hours?

Why? Shu Lin asked humbly.

Zhu Feng: Because she only told the police I broke into her bedroom, not that I kissed her.

Shu Lin: So?

Zhu Feng said quite proudly: She still cares about me.

Shu Lin: …

He had seen dragons in denial before, but never one this deep in denial.

Shu Lin wiped his face and changed the subject directly: We have an urgent problem that needs solving.

What?

Shu Lin: We’re out of money.

Zhu Feng stopped walking: Didn’t you bring five hundred thousand when you came out?

His Private Treasury wouldn’t be accessible for another two months, and A Ye had no money, so for this trip to the human world, all expenses were being covered by the wealthy dragon Shu Lin.

But now the wealthy dragon claimed to be broke.

We’ve only been out for ten days, how did the money disappear so quickly? Zhu Feng asked in confusion.

Shu Lin wore an expression of utter numbness: Good question. I wonder who said he needed to buy decent clothes to meet his wife, then spent over a hundred thousand in a single day.

Zhu Feng paused.

Shu Lin continued: Then bought gifts for his wife, spending another two hundred thousand.

Zhu Feng fell silent.

Shu Lin: And you even brought a follower who eats everything in sight. Our daily food expenses run into hundreds.

Zhu Feng nodded: It’s all A Ye’s fault.

Shu Lin: …

Zhu Feng remained unruffled: How much money do we have left now?

Combining mine and A Ye’s, less than three hundred.

Zhu Feng pondered for three seconds before saying: Let’s take out an online loan.

Sorry, our identification cards can’t secure loans in the human world.

The last option is blocked too, Zhu Feng nodded, That’s actually perfect.

Shu Lin: ?

Let’s apply for cleaning positions at Jin Yuanbao’s place. No salary needed, just room and board, Zhu Feng stretched lazily, Boss Yuan is kind-hearted. She probably can’t bear to watch us starve.

Shu Lin: …She’s already called the police on you. I think not only can she bear to watch you starve, she’d prefer you die sooner.

As if not hearing, Zhu Feng continued walking forward: I’ll go negotiate with Boss Yuan.

Is that necessary? Shu Lin caught up, Are you still giving Boss Yuan the gift you bought? If not, let’s sell it. It could cover our emergency needs anyway. A two hundred thousand item isn’t that great. Once we open the Private Treasury, we can afford to give much more valuable gifts.

Where’s A Ye? When I talk with Boss Yuan later, have him stand nearby. Boss Yuan likes him very much.

Shu Lin: …Are you even listening to me!

You better not stick around. You talk too much, it might affect me.

Shu Lin: …

The two reached the roadside and waited quite a while before finally hailing a taxi.

After getting in, Shu Lin suddenly remembered something: By the way, Boss Yuan isn’t home today. If you insist on talking to her, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.

Zhu Feng frowned: Where did she go?

Seems she went to the provincial capital, I’m not sure…

Driver, stop the car!

The taxi braked abruptly, causing Shu Lin to nearly bump his head from the sudden stop.

Zhu Feng directly reached across him to open the car door: Get out.

Wh-what’s wrong? Shu Lin looked bewildered.

Zhu Feng raised his eyes. The moment their gazes met, Shu Lin suddenly remembered something and hurriedly scrambled out of the car.

The door closed and the taxi continued forward.

Flustered, Shu Lin pulled out his phone, first transferring their remaining money to Zhu Feng, then quickly messaging Yuan Ying to subtly ask her location.

By the time Yuan Ying saw the message, half an hour had passed.

Her mind was foggy and her body felt unwell. She lay on the hotel bed for a long time before feeling slightly better.

Seeing Shu Lin’s message, Yuan Ying didn’t hide anything, telling him she had gone out for a medical checkup.

Shu Lin replied instantly, asking which hospital she was at and where she was staying now.

Yuan Ying was too unwell to clearly see the characters. Her vision went dark and she fell asleep.

When she woke again, it seemed to be deep night.

Having forgotten to close the curtains before sleeping, city lights cast a dim yet clear glow into the room.

Yuan Ying’s breath felt scorching, her body burned as if roasting over flames, yet she lacked the strength to get up for water.

Drenched in sweat, her clothes clung uncomfortably. Yuan Ying wanted to get up and shower, but her limbs refused to obey, leaving her curled in a ball.

In her feverish haze, she suddenly felt lonely, wondering if she might not make it through the night.

That would be quite unfair to the hotel.

Her thoughts were sluggish and disjointed. Just as she was agonizing over whether to find another place to die to avoid causing trouble for the hotel, a strong hand lifted her head and pulled her into an embrace.

Yuan Ying struggled to open her eyes. In the darkness, she saw a familiar face.

Missed me, baby? Zhu Feng curled his lips into that same infuriating smile.