Chapter 218: Photo

The smell of grilled fish drifted across the riverbank.

Sunlight filtered through the red maple leaves.

A long table had been arranged near the water, covered with breakfast dishes, fresh fruit, tea, steamed buns, and several plates the old man had already begun stealing from.

Meng Lan slapped his hand.

He slowly pulled it back.

"I was checking the temperature."

"With your mouth?"

"The mouth is highly sensitive."

"You ate three."

"Extensive testing."

Meng Lan narrowed her eyes.

The old man looked toward Shen Tian.

"Son-in-law."

Chi Lingxi immediately sighed.

"Grandpa."

"Help."

Shen Tian sat beside Chi Lingxi.

He picked up a steamed bun.

Then took a bite.

"He’s guilty."

The old man stared at him.

"You’ve changed."

"Since when?"

"Yesterday."

"That was fast."

The old man placed a hand over his chest.

"I was dead."

"You’ve mentioned it."

"I deserve sympathy."

Meng Lan placed another plate farther from him.

"You deserve supervision."

The old man sighed.

Then secretly reached toward Shen Tian’s plate.

Shen Tian moved it away without looking.

The old man froze.

Slowly...

He looked toward him.

Shen Tian calmly drank tea.

"Domain Initiation."

The old man stared.

"You used your cultivation to protect breakfast?"

"Yes."

"Shameless."

"Efficient."

Xu Ning floated nearby.

[Host.]

Hm?

[You learned from Ling Shuangxue.]

Shen Tian looked across the table.

Ling Shuangxue was currently explaining to the resort manager why three of the breakfast suppliers were overcharging.

Vacation had failed to stop her.

Completely.

The manager wiped sweat from his forehead.

Ling Shuangxue tapped the invoice.

"This item is listed at nearly twice the regional average."

"President Ling, the product is imported."

"From the neighboring province."

"Yes."

"That is not an international import."

The manager became silent.

Bai Xue sat beside her.

She ate fruit while watching the interrogation.

"You said no business."

Ling Shuangxue looked toward Shen Tian.

"This isn’t business."

"What is it?"

"Correction."

The manager looked even more nervous.

Shen Tian sighed.

"Leave him alive."

Ling Shuangxue nodded.

"Of course."

The manager somehow became more afraid.

On the other side of the table...

Chu Mei and Chu Chuchu were comparing photographs from the previous evening.

Most were harmless.

A few showed the board game.

One showed Bai Xue half asleep beneath the low table.

Another showed the old man trying to retrieve his confiscated wine while Meng Lan looked away.

Chu Chuchu zoomed in.

"Look at his face."

The old man looked over.

"Delete that."

"No."

"I am your elder."

"Not mine."

"Respect extends beyond blood."

Chu Mei laughed.

Then held up another photograph.

Shen Tian immediately narrowed his eyes.

It showed him asleep in the lounge.

Chi Lingxi resting against one side.

Su Yue against the other.

Yin Suyi’s hand still holding his sleeve.

Shen Yan lying close enough to attack anyone who approached.

Several of the others resting nearby.

The entire group appeared peaceful.

Warm.

Almost normal.

Shen Tian looked toward Chu Mei.

"When did you take that?"

"Early."

"Delete it."

Yin Suyi spoke immediately.

"No."

Shen Tian slowly looked toward his mother.

She calmly ate breakfast.

"I want it."

Shen Yan nodded.

"So do I."

Su Yue’s cheeks became slightly red.

Chi Lingxi stared at the photograph.

Then smiled.

"I like it."

Shen Tian looked around the table.

Every woman had suddenly decided the photograph needed to survive.

He sighed.

"Fine."

Chu Mei smiled brightly.

"I already sent it to everyone."

Shen Tian froze.

"...Everyone?"

His phone vibrated.

Then again.

Then repeatedly.

Group chat notifications flooded the screen.

Bai Xue saved a photo.

Ling Shuangxue saved a photo.

Qin Ruobing saved a photo.

Shen Yan changed the group picture.

Shen Tian slowly looked toward his sister.

"Big Sis."

Shen Yan smiled.

"It looks good."

"The group is called Family Security."

Yin Suyi looked toward her daughter.

"You named it poorly."

Shen Yan frowned.

"What should it be?"

Yin Suyi considered it.

Then...

"Shen Family."

The table became quiet.

Several women looked toward her.

The words had come naturally.

No hesitation.

No coldness.

Not Shen Tian’s friends.

Not guests.

Not outsiders.

Shen Family.

Yin Suyi noticed the silence.

Her expression remained calm.

"What?"

Qin Ruobing smiled gently.

"Nothing."

Bai Xue leaned back.

Then looked toward Shen Tian.

"Your mother adopted all of us."

Yin Suyi immediately looked colder.

"I did not say that."

Bai Xue smiled.

"Too late."

Su Yue covered her mouth.

Chi Lingxi laughed.

Even Shen Tian couldn’t stop himself.

His mother looked away.

But...

A faint red color appeared near her ears.

. . .

After breakfast...

The group separated again.

Some returned to the hot springs.

Others walked the forest trails.

Ling Shuangxue reluctantly allowed the manager to survive.

The old man attempted to disappear with a bottle.

Meng Lan caught him before he reached the bridge.

Shen Tian followed Chi Lingxi and Su Yue toward the waterfall.

Shen Yan followed Shen Tian.

Yin Suyi followed Shen Yan.

Bai Xue followed because she wanted entertainment.

Eventually...

Almost everyone followed.

What had been intended as a quiet walk became a full procession through the forest.

The path climbed gradually.

The river flowed beside them.

Morning mist clung to the trees.

Chi Lingxi held the wolf plush beneath one arm despite Shen Tian informing her repeatedly that plush toys did not need nature walks.

She disagreed.

"He likes mountains."

Shen Tian looked at the small stuffed wolf.

"Did he tell you?"

"Yes."

"What else did he say?"

"He likes me more than you."

"Then he can walk."

Chi Lingxi hugged it protectively.

"No."

Su Yue laughed.

"You’re jealous of a stuffed animal."

Shen Tian stared.

"I spent fourteen attempts winning it."

"Thirteen failures."

"Fourteen attempts."

"Thirteen failures."

"You’re focusing on the negative."

Su Yue smiled.

"I learned from Xu Ning."

Xu Ning appeared between them.

[Excellent.]

Shen Tian looked toward her.

Don’t encourage her.

[Too late.]

They continued.

After twenty minutes...

The waterfall came into view.

Water crashed from a cliff into a clear pool below.

A wooden viewing platform extended near the edge.

Chu Mei immediately began taking pictures.

Chu Chuchu posed.

Li Lian joined her.

Chu Zijin complained that the mist would ruin her hair.

Then posed anyway.

Shen Tian walked toward the railing.

The distant mountains stretched beyond the valley.

Beautiful.

Quiet.

Peaceful.

Chi Lingxi stood beside him.

Then Su Yue.

For a while...

They simply looked.

No one needed to speak.

Then Yin Suyi approached from behind.

She placed a light jacket over Shen Tian’s shoulders.

He looked back.

"I’m not cold."

"You will be."

"Mother."

"Wear it."

Shen Tian sighed.

"Fine."

Yin Suyi adjusted the collar.

Her fingers moved carefully.

For several seconds...

Her attention remained entirely on him.

Shen Tian watched her.

Then smiled faintly.

"Thanks."

She paused.

Her expression softened.

Then she stepped closer.

Her hand rested against his cheek.

"You look tired."

"I’m fine."

"You always say that."

"Usually true."

"Not always."

Shen Tian became quiet.

Yin Suyi looked into his golden eyes.

She knew far less about the system than the women closest to him.

She knew protagonists existed.

She knew Shen Tian dealt with dangerous people.

She knew strange opportunities followed him.

But she did not know every detail.

Every risk.

Every time he had nearly been injured while no one else understood.

Her thumb brushed lightly across his cheek.

"You do not need to protect everyone alone."

Shen Tian stared.

Then...

He smiled.

"I know."

"Do you?"

"Probably."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Wrong answer."

Bai Xue laughed from nearby.

Yin Suyi turned.

Bai Xue immediately examined the waterfall.

"Beautiful weather."

Shen Tian laughed.

Then reached up.

He gently held his mother’s wrist.

"I know."

This time...

His voice was serious.

Yin Suyi studied him.

Finally...

She nodded.

"Good."

She stepped beside him.

Shen Yan approached his other side.

Then Su Yue.

Then Chi Lingxi.

The others gradually joined.

The wooden platform became crowded.

Someone asked for a photograph.

A resort employee positioned the camera.

Everyone arranged themselves.

Shen Tian stood near the center.

Yin Suyi beside him.

Shen Yan on the other side.

Chi Lingxi and Su Yue close.

Ling Shuangxue.

Bai Xue.

Qin Ruobing.

The others gathered around.

The old man attempted to stand in front.

Meng Lan pulled him backward.

"Why?"

"You’re blocking everyone."

"I’m important."

"You’re short enough to stand behind."

"That makes no sense."

The employee raised the camera.

"Please look this way."

Shen Tian looked around.

The arguing stopped.

Everyone smiled.

The camera flashed.

For one brief moment...

The future could wait.

. . .

They left the resort that afternoon.

The vehicles traveled down the mountain road.

Shen Tian sat in the rear of the central car.

Chi Lingxi slept against his shoulder.

Su Yue sat beside him, scrolling through photographs from the trip.

Shen Yan occupied the front passenger seat.

Yin Suyi sat across from Shen Tian in the spacious cabin.

Xu Ning floated near the window.

Outside...

The mountains gradually disappeared.

The city drew closer.

And with every mile...

The golden panel beside Xu Ning became brighter.

Target: Lu Chen

Current Fate Value: 620,000

First Major Opportunity Progress: 34%

Shen Tian looked toward it.

What is he doing?

[Investigating the threat against Gu Qingya.]

Already?

[He contacted local underground networks.]

"Of course."

Su Yue looked up.

"What?"

Shen Tian realized he’d spoken aloud.

"Nothing."

She studied his expression.

"Protagonist?"

Shen Tian glanced toward Yin Suyi.

His mother already knew enough not to appear surprised.

Shen Yan looked back immediately.

"Where?"

"City."

"Strong?"

"Spirit Perception."

The temperature inside the car changed.

Shen Yan’s eyes sharpened.

Yin Suyi slowly lowered her teacup.

Su Yue stopped scrolling.

Chi Lingxi remained asleep.

Shen Tian noticed the reaction.

"Relax."

Shen Yan stared.

"You are below Spirit Perception."

"For now."

Yin Suyi’s expression became colder.

"No."

Shen Tian looked toward her.

"No what?"

"You will not approach him carelessly."

"Mother."

"Do not use that tone."

Shen Tian sighed.

Yin Suyi continued.

"You returned from one trip."

"You are not immediately entering a fight against someone stronger."

Shen Yan nodded.

"I agree."

Su Yue did too.

"Same."

Shen Tian stared at all three.

"You’ve formed a council."

Yin Suyi calmly lifted her tea.

"Yes."

"What authority does it have?"

"Absolute."

Shen Tian looked toward Xu Ning.

She smiled.

[Democracy.]

This is not democracy.

[Family democracy.]

That’s worse.

Yin Suyi continued.

"You will investigate first."

"I was going to."

"You will take protection."

Shen Yan immediately spoke.

"Me."

"Expected."

"You will inform us before acting."

Shen Tian hesitated.

Yin Suyi’s eyes narrowed.

"Shen Tian."

"Fine."

Su Yue smiled.

"That sounded painful."

"It was."

Chi Lingxi shifted against his shoulder.

Her eyes slowly opened.

"What happened?"

Su Yue leaned toward her.

"We created rules."

Chi Lingxi blinked.

"For what?"

"Shen Tian’s next protagonist."

She immediately sat straighter.

"There’s another one?"

Shen Tian sighed.

"Welcome to the council."

. . .

Meanwhile...

At Qinghe Technologies...

Gu Qingya walked through the executive floor.

Her heels clicked against polished stone.

Her assistant followed.

Lu Chen followed behind both.

He had changed clothes after visiting the Gu estate.

Black suit.

No tie.

The jacket fit him well enough to make several employees stare.

He noticed.

Naturally.

Gu Qingya noticed him noticing.

Her irritation increased.

They reached the conference room.

Gu Qingya stopped.

"You wait outside."

Lu Chen looked through the glass walls.

Inside...

Seven executives already waited.

Two representatives from another corporation.

Three assistants.

No obvious threat.

"I’ll enter."

"No."

"You have external guests."

"They are business partners."

"I haven’t checked them."

Gu Qingya slowly turned.

"This is not a military base."

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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)

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