"Rent?" Zuko turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow and a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. "Didn't we 'get married'? Are you still collecting rent from your husband?""You..." Lina did not expect him to say that, and her face instantly turned red. She stared at him, unable to speak.Zuko chuckled softly and stopped teasing her. He picked up his folding bed that was still standing outside the porch and prepared to put it back in the corner against the wall.As he passed by Lina, he noticed her blushing ears and even the fine hairs on her face were clearly visible. The fragrance she naturally had wafted into his nose.His heart suddenly skipped a beat, and his footsteps paused. He told her softly, "The bed... Thank you too."Lina raised her eyes and met his gaze. Something in the depths of his eyes seemed to run into a secret place in her heart that no one knew about."Oh, by the way. I wanted to talk to you about something!" Lina suddenly remembered. "It's about the ma
"You... How did you get these?" Melissa was the first to react and stared at Lina. "You, girl, didn't actually go and register with him, did you?""Mom, what are you saying!?" Dave defended his sister. "Lina didn't leave the house all day!""Yes, yes." Jesse nodded. "I came back home at noon, and Lina was working on her thesis!""Everyone, don't panic," Zuko said in a deep voice. "These two marriage certificates are fake.""Fake!?" Everyone was even more surprised."Lina said she was afraid that Violet would come looking for trouble again. I thought about it and agreed that it's better to be prepared," Zuko explained simply. "So I got these."Lina was surprised and picked up the marriage certificates to examine them carefully.She had seen her parents' marriage certificates before, and they looked exactly the same as these ones. Her photo and Zuko's photo looked incredibly real, and the size was according to the standard of a marriage certificate.The most unbelievable thing wa
Melissa smiled and thought to herself that she initially thought Zuko was imprisoned for fighting and brawling, but it turned out to be for document forgery, which elevated his skills to a whole new level. Once someone had a talent, it was like they glowed."Zeke, if that's the case, you can be considered a skilled criminal!" Melissa said, "I can rest assured now since you went to prison for this! It's better than fighting!"Zeke, it's alright to have taken the wrong path. What's important is to change! You made this marriage certificate so realistic, which shows that you have good skills! You should redirect your talent for forging documents and use it for something else—to contribute to society!""Yes! I completely agree!" Jesse chimed in. "Hey, Zeke, can you counterfeit money too?"Zuko coughed and choked on his food, unable to respond.Dave was holding back his laughter, and his face turned red.Lina quickly shot her parents a look, signaling them to stop. She got up and pour
Lina looked at Zuko for a while and asked softly, "I'm indignant, but what else can I do? The Grist Group is a big business, and crushing us is as simple as crushing an ant to them."It's my fault, actually." She smiled bitterly. "I shouldn't have impulsively reported problems with their products, and I shouldn't have gathered the merchants to boycott them. Sigh… I'm the one who suffered in the end, right? The merchants I approached are still selling the Grist Group's products!""Mm, it's good that you recognize your mistake," said Zuko with a calm expression.Lina lowered her eyes and remained silent."A company like the Grist Group that's devoid of conscience will only disrupt the market order by continuing to exist." Zuko looked at her and said, "So, you were right in seeking justice, just using the wrong method."Lina bit her lip. She had always thought he was reticent, but he spoke so much today."But you..." She hesitated for a moment and asked, "Do you have any good ideas?
Lina had just finished organizing the snacks on the shelves when she turned around and looked at her mother. "You two are really good at this, huh?""That's not it about your mom!" Jesse smirked. "She doesn't care when people talk about her as long as they don't touch her money. Try messing with her money, and they'll know!""Jesse Jenner!" Melissa immediately threw a bottle of water at him, narrowly missing his head."I'm serious," Melissa said, looking at Zeke, who was moving the goods outside. "Since he came into our lives, our lives have been much more peaceful!"Didn't Dave say that Lina found us a door guardian?"How long can this guardian stay? Does he have any other family members?""What are you doing?" interjected Lina."I'm getting to know more about him!" Melissa thought for a moment. "Don't get involved in these matters. I'll interrogate him slowly and make him confess the truth!"Lina looked at her mother, feeling both amused and exasperated, and laughed softly.
Lina's expression darkened, and anger surged within her. She was about to say something when Zuko stepped forward and blocked her behind him. It momentarily stunned her.Zuko's broad back shielded her completely, preventing her from seeing Violet's malicious smile or the wicked faces of the thugs. He was like a wall, isolating her from the ugliness of the world.Lina's heart warmed, and she wore a barely noticeable smile.Zuko's voice turned cold. "Ms. Grist, if you have something to say, say it to me.""Say it to you? Who do you think you are?" Violet crossed her arms and sneered. "It seems like you're enjoying your newlywed life. You're quite protective of her! Is this little b*tch skilled in bed to make you so devoted?""Violet Grist, watch your mouth! You—"Before Lina could finish her sentence, Zuko pressed her head back behind him.Lina then lifted her little head from under Zuko's arm on the other side. "Violet! You—""Go back!" Zuko continued to press her like he was pl
Lina was momentarily stunned. She saw Zuko's gaze with a hint of rebellion and disdain for everything shining through. In that instant, she not only felt safe but also filled with courage. As long as he was by her side, it was as if she could walk the path without hesitation, even if it was full of thorns ahead."Zeke!" Violet screamed hysterically, "Who do you think you are? How dare you help this b*tch against me? Have you considered the consequences?""Consequences?" Zuko sneered, his lips curling. "Ms. Grist, I didn't receive much education, so I don't know how to write the word 'consequences.' Can you teach me?""You—" "And!" Zuko's gaze darkened as he approached her step by step. "If you dare to disrespect Lina again with your filthy mouth, don't blame me for being impolite!"Violet, who had always been proud and arrogant, had never been threatened like this before. She was infuriated, shaking with a red face and shouting like a mad woman, ordering the thugs to vandalize th
Zuko was momentarily distracted and accidentally choked on the drink.After closing the supermarket for the night, Lina locked the door and headed home with Zuko. Everyone in the family had already gone to sleep.Zuko was about to move the folding bed to the porch when Lina softly stopped him. "Um...""What's wrong?" he asked."Well, are you hungry?" Lina lowered her head. "Let me prepare something for you to eat before you sleep."Upon saying that, she turned and entered the kitchen.Zuko stood alone on the porch, feeling a gentle breeze blowing. There seemed to be a sweet tinge in the air.After a while, Lina came out of the kitchen with a late-night snack. When Zuko caught a whiff of the aroma, his stomach could not help but growl."Come and eat!" Lina smiled and handed him a spoon.The late-night snack was lobster risotto. Zuko paused for a moment, and Lina explained, "The lobster you bought that day, my dad didn't eat it, and it's been in the fridge."He nodded and scoop
"Only Morpheus and Sephy aren't like that. They respect and understand me. Sephy told me once, 'One's appearance doesn't indicate anything. A clean heart is what truly matters!'"Rebecca chuckled dismissively."You're a psychologist, yet you fail to grasp this," Wynn said coldly. "Actually, I pity you. You could have stepped out, yet you insist on dwelling on the trivialities."Morpheus has psychological barriers, a consequence of returning from the battlefield. No one has cured his PTSD except Sephy... It shows that a true psychologist is never just a title."What truly heals everything is love!"-One particular morning a year later, sunlight streamed through sheer cream curtains onto the floor.Persephone was sound asleep when she suddenly felt something pressing down on her... Then, Morpheus' strong arms wrapped around her slender waist. She drowsily opened her eyes to find him sealing her lips with heated kisses.Over the year, his kissing skills had improved, and Persepho
With Morpheus' involvement, the police didn't slack off and quickly found Rebecca.That day, Rebecca was preparing to escape from a small port. The boat she had found was an illegally operating one.As she was about to board, piercing sirens sounded nearby.The boat owner, enraged upon hearing the sirens, grabbed Rebecca by her hair and pushed her into the water.Rebecca screamed for help, but he roared, "I didn't expect you to be sent by the cops!""I'm not..." Rebecca choked on water. "Sir, let's leave now. Your boat is fast. As long as we reach the open sea, no one will catch you!""Dream on!" The boat owner wanted to strangle her. "Do you not understand? These sirens are from the royal guards! Who did you bitch provoke?"Rebecca was dumbfounded. Being a foreigner, she naturally didn't understand the local affairs in the Southeast Aciatic region.The police and royal guards quickly caught up, armed, and surrounded them.Rebecca turned pale and trembled all over, her gaze gr
"You had no choice on the battlefield."Persephone looked at him with her crystal eyes. There was a magical power in them. Even if a devil was tearing him apart, her eyes would always bring him back to light.She smiled and caressed his cheek. "Though you killed your father, you saved the country.""Do you really… think so?"She nodded. "You're not at fault. He was the one who made a mistake. You were just fulfilling your job as a general to protect the country."But I also understand that he's your father who brought you up, after all. You guys must have had happy days before that happened, right?"Morpheus held his head low in silence."You did well as the protector of the country," she said softly. "But as a son, you can secretly pay homage to him."Persephone held his hand. "Reconcile with your father, Morpheus. You'll also reconcile with yourself by doing that, okay?"He was stunned for a long time and felt a lump in his throat.-Morpheus stayed with Persephone in the
"No way!" Christopher smirked, glancing at Morpheus. "To him, you're his only princess! I just got lucky for the princess carry, thanks to you!""Yeah, at least you're self-aware!" Persephone nodded, rubbing her chin."We've known each other for so long! What kind of person do you think I am?" Christopher laughed. "I can be a bit shameless at times, but..."But upon learning that the one she loved was the unbeatable god of war, he willingly stepped back, offering his blessings with a smile."Okay, okay. You two stop crowding around me!" Christopher waved his hand. "Sephy needs more rest, and I'd like to get some more sleep, too! Once we heal, let's go out and have some fun together!""You're still thinking about fun?" Morpheus' deep voice intervened with a wry smile. "With the factory explosion incident, the royal family is furious and will thoroughly investigate it. Many people will probably be coming to talk to you both in the next few days. After all, you two are the most direc
"Let's get out first!""Hey, wait..." Persephone pointed to the other side.In moments of life and death, it wasn't appropriate to laugh, but Morpheus still chuckled. The young Prince Christopher was sprawled on the floor in a very ridiculous pose, and they almost forgot about him!"Don't worry," Morpheus whispered. "I won't let anything happen to him."He had Persephone cling to his back and then carried Christopher.Christopher was a tall fellow, so it took some effort to carry them both to a safe place.Fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars rushed in. Their sirens pierced the sky, startling a flock of birds.The fire was soon extinguished, and Persephone and Christopher received timely treatment. Luckily, their burns weren't too severe, and even more fortunately, their faces were unharmed.When Christopher woke up, he felt bandages wrapped around his head, and his skin had a burning sensation. His heart sank, and he was almost on the verge of tears."Tell me the truth! A
There was fire everywhere. Flames rushed toward Persephone like menacing dragons. Her consciousness grew increasingly blurred, but the searing pain coursing through her body became clearer. She struggled to get up, the agony almost unbearable.Despite several attempts, it was futile...Something was pinning her feet down, and stones kept falling on her. She couldn't even muster a shout.Many images flashed through her mind in that fleeting moment, each frame featuring Morpheus' face…She remembered the times they had spent together in Flinge, how he had initially distanced himself from her, then later had exerted every effort to protect her. She recalled how he would gently ruffle her hair and call her "silly goose"..."Morpheus, I'm afraid I might have to go first..."The fire grew fiercer, explosions resonated continuously, and she could no longer hold on.Christopher, who was nearby, wasn't any better.Amidst the roaring flames, he couldn't see anything clearly, only pulling
"No need, you can go back first." Morpheus glanced at him. "I'll wait here for her a little longer.""Prince Christopher wouldn't do anything to Ms. Hamerton...""Alfred, what are you thinking?" Morpheus couldn't help but chuckle. "I know exactly what Christopher is like, but I just want to wait here for Sephy. Christopher mentioned that she'd specifically designed these fireworks for me. Hah! I'm the useless one. I don't even dare to go inside and take a look.""Sir, don't say that.""If I wait here, will it count as accompanying her in her efforts?"Alfred nodded.Morpheus smiled and sent Alfred back. He continued waiting under the tree.The air in Southeast Aciatic was hot and humid. The shade of the banyan tree offered some relief, but it couldn't completely dispel the oppressive heat.Morpheus took a deep breath, about to move elsewhere, when he glimpsed a suspicious figure swiftly darting through the factory's side gate.The security at the side gate was lax, making it e
Christopher struggled to swallow the bite of the sandwich in his mouth for what seemed like ages. He gazed at Persephone, his mind wandering back…He didn't just know Morpheus. He had been close since childhood to the children of the two prominent military families in Southeast Aciatic.Compared to the Harrises, he preferred visiting the Ortons, especially when he got to spend time with Morpheus. He considered Morpheus a friend, a brother even, having engaged in countless mischief together, much to their parents' dismay.In his memory, Morpheus was someone who smiled a lot, radiating warmth and brightness like the Southeast Aciatic sun when he did.However, from the moment Kaiden betrayed the country, Morpheus never smiled again, gradually growing distant from Christopher as well.It wasn't until that evening at the gates of the palace that Christopher felt like it had been a lifetime."I... I don't know him." Christopher forced a smile. "Where would I have met your boyfriend!"
Morpheus wasn't just an ordinary person!Christopher wholeheartedly accepted his defeat to Morpheus."Then... I'd like to invite you to come over to my place for a while as a friend. That's fine, right?"-A few days later, Persephone finally ran into Christopher, who had been missing in action for days, in the classroom."Hey, you finally showed up!" She dashed over, plopping down in the seat beside him and handing him breakfast. "You haven't eaten, right? Let's eat together!"Usually, Christopher would readily accept, but he waved his hands now. "No, no, no!""What's wrong?" Persephone widened her eyes. "This breakfast isn't poisoned!"Christopher awkwardly smiled. "You have a boyfriend, so maybe... we should keep some distance."Persephone burst into laughter. Then she remarked, "Strange... Morpheus was right!""Uh, what?""My boyfriend!" She chuckled. "He made this breakfast. I asked if he could also make a portion for you, and he said sure, just worried you wouldn't tak