Upon learning from Uncle Taotie that Yun Jin hadn’t co, Yiyi unabashedly displayed her disappointnt. Sitting on a chair in the courtyard, she heaved a heavy sigh.
"Dad, if only we could get internet service at Yun Jin’s house, we could video chat with her!"
"Exactly, exactly." Ruan Lan also walked into the backyard, complaining, "I clearly called China Unicom, and they had the audacity to say Chong Yang’s address doesn’t exist, so they refused to install broadband!"
Xu Lai was silent.
Taotie was silent.
If the China Unicom staff knew that Chong Yang’s ho was light-years away in the Immortal Domain, they would probably drown Ruan Lan in spitballs. Then they would imdiately dial the number for the East Sea City ntal Health Hospital.
"Who knows when Chong Yang will visit again," Ruan Lan said with an expectant look.
One was an Earthling girl in her rebellious phase, the other a Quasi-Emperor from the Demon Race of the Immortal Domain, yet their relationship was remarkably good. Compared to Ruan Tang, the Matriarch of the Heavenly Court, Chong Yang much preferred Ruan Lan; the two won had endless things to talk about.
Of course, in Xu Lai’s estimation, it was probably a case of like attracting like. After all, two goofballs could only have fun with each other.
Taotie left soon after. Even though The Supre Emperor didn’t need him to investigate, Taotie felt he should still return to the Immortal Domain and ask Baize. The Second Divine General was the brains of the Heavenly Court, and definitely one of the most intelligent beings in the entire Immortal Domain.
But before going back, Taotie decided to pick out a couple of New Year’s gifts—one for Yiyi and one for Liu Wan.
The gift for Yiyi was at Yun Jin’s request. As for the one for Liu Wan...
Taotie scratched his head. He didn’t even know why he wanted to give her a gift. The thought made him sowhat uneasy.
Perhaps... to repay a favor?
The last ti they ate, The Supre Emperor had given him a coupon for the buffet. Afterward, in the mall, Liu Wan had bought him a down jacket. It cost over four thousand yuan. Taotie was no first-tir on Earth, and he knew that four thousand three hundred was nearly half a month’s salary for Liu Wan.
But after thinking it over and over, Taotie still hadn’t figured out what to give her. While searching through his Storage Space, he found a Moon Deer of the Celestial Venerable Realm.
Moon Deer strode on moonlight. They had exceptional talents and a savage nature, more ferocious than even the Taotie Clan, devouring everything in sight, including their own kind. The one in Taotie’s possession was even more domineering; it had tried to eat the Second Divine General before being suppressed by Baize with a swift counter. Because Moon Deer were extrely delicious, Taotie had cheekily asked for it.
"This will be the perfect gift for her!"
No sooner had he thought of it than he acted on it, calling Liu Wan to arrange a eting.
「...」
"Mom, Dad, I’m heading out."
In her family’s apartnt in East Sea City, Liu Wan put down her phone and went to put on her shoes.
"Why does your company have you working over the New Year?" her bespectacled mother peeked out from the kitchen, her tone slightly disapproving. They were East Sea locals, but their daughter lived alone near her company, so they rarely got to see each other.
"It’s not for work," Liu Wan replied. "It’s a friend."
Her father teased casually from behind his newspaper, "A friend? A boyfriend, perhaps?"
Liu Wan blushed and said softly, "No, just a regular friend."
Her parents were experienced enough to understand at a glance. The two of them imdiately grew excited.
"That’s wonderful!" her mother said eagerly. "Where is the young man from? Bring him ho for us to see. Don’t worry, we’ll just take a peek."
Her father looked pleased. Because of her weak heart, their daughter had been indifferent to most things her whole life, handling everything in a gentle, lukewarm manner. Now, she finally seed to have found a boyfriend!
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
For so reason, just the ntion of Taotie was enough to make her heart pound frighteningly fast, even though she hadn’t even seen him yet.
She bolted out the door. "I-I’ll be going now."
"Bring him ho!" her mother called out after her.
There’s no way I’m bringing him ho! Liu Wan grumbled to herself.
Although Taotie had proposed to her, she still hadn’t opened the exquisite little gift box or even looked at the ring inside.
The place Taotie had asked to et was very close to her ho. Liu Wan stopped two ters away. Their gazes t for a mont before they both looked away at the sa ti.
"You’re... not going ho for the New Year?" Liu Wan kicked at a small stone. "What did you want to see for?" she asked quietly.
"Thank you for the down jacket," Taotie said, scratching his head. "I didn’t know what to get you in return. Do you like mutton?"
"It’s alright," Liu Wan said earnestly. "You don’t have to be so formal. We’re friends, so giving you..."
THUD!
Taotie pulled a Moon Sheep out of his Storage Space, the impact making the ground tremble. It also gave Liu Wan quite a scare. "What is this?"
"Mutton."
It took Liu Wan a long mont to process what she was seeing. She had seen people give mutton as a gift before, but this was the first ti she had seen soone give a whole sheep.
And this sheep... why did it look different from any sheep she had ever seen?
"This isn’t a nationally protected animal, is it?" Liu Wan asked hesitantly. "Hunting them is illegal."
Taotie might not have understood the concept of a protected animal, but he knew the laws of Hua Country didn’t apply to the Immortal Domain.
"Its fur can be made into a set of clothes and a pair of leather boots," he said, as if to himself. "The at is also very tender."
Seeing Liu Wan’s silence, Taotie tilted his head. "You don’t like it?"
"I do like it. at is so expensive these days. This must have cost a lot, right?"
"It didn’t cost anything," Taotie said, puzzled. "If you like it, why aren’t you taking it ho?"
"...I can’t lift it."
"You need to exercise more," Taotie said, shaking his head. "It weighs less than five hundred pounds. It’s not heavy at all."
Liu Wan’s heart started to race again, but this ti it wasn’t from shyness—it was from anger!
This idiot! What girl can casually lift a five-hundred-pound animal? Even a man couldn’t do that!
"Why don’t you just take it back," she said in a low voice.
Taotie’s face hardened. "Once my Taotie Clan gives sothing away, we never take it back!"
"Alright then." Liu Wan reached out her small, fair hand toward the bloody hoof. She strained with all her might but couldn’t move it an inch, leaving her gasping for breath.
"Do you need my help?" Taotie asked.
"No need," Liu Wan said resentfully, cupping her hands and blowing warm air into them.
"Alright." Taotie simply stood to the side, true to his word, not offering any more help.
Knowing she was dealing with a hopelessly dense man, Liu Wan gave up her stubbornness. She bit her red lip and said softly, "You... help . I can’t lift it."
"I knew you couldn’t lift it," Taotie said, a smug look on his face.
Liu Wan was on the verge of tears from frustration. "Then why didn’t you help sooner!"
"I asked, but you said you didn’t need help."
Liu Wan walked ahead, fuming silently, while Taotie followed behind, casually carrying the Moon Sheep with one hand.
It was only when they reached her front door that it hit her. Oh no, why did I bring Taotie ho? The two of them hadn’t even defined their relationship yet; it was far too soon to be eting her parents.
Just as Liu Wan was about to tell Taotie to leave and that she would see him another ti, the door swung open. It was Liu Wan’s mother.
The university professor ticulously examined Taotie, her face breaking into a kindly smile. "Young man, please co in for a cup of tea."
"Mom, Taotie has other things to do, so he can’t stay," Liu Wan said, pretending to be calm despite the turmoil in her heart.
"Is that so?" Her mother looked sowhat disappointed.
"I do have sothing else to attend to," Taotie nodded.
Liu Wan breathed a secret sigh of relief, only to hear him add, "But I have ti for a cup of tea."
Liu Wan was speechless.
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