I slipped out the window before dawn, my suspicions growing as they tried to stop me. Something mysterious was happening behind the scenes, but I didn't care—I only wanted to find Elena and Longnü.

Standing on the rooftop of Peach Tower, I said to Taozi, "Half a year hasn't passed without change. You must have made quite a fortune."

Taozi perched on my shoulder and replied, "I did make money, but it no longer matters. At first, seeing numbers climb was exciting, but now watching them skyrocket daily leaves me numb."

"I agree," I said. "We should consider changing our lifestyle—perhaps reverting to simpler times would work."

Taozi chuckled, "Boss, it's not my fault. Certain people threatened me—if I disobeyed, they'd toss me into the garbage. You know how much I fear those things!"

I laughed, "Let them throw you there. Never mind—I won't make you choose sides. Where is Elena? Gathering information is your job; asking about someone’s whereabouts isn’t against protocol."

Taozi said, "Boss, you're clever, but your wives mean well. Missing opportunities can sometimes be beautiful too."

I slapped Taozi's ass and snapped, "Cut the poetic nonsense—just tell me!"

She gave me a hotel room number. I said, "You hate watching dramas unfold—I won’t pressure you to stay if you’re tired."

Taozi added solemnly, "He’s been searching for you. Though he hasn’t acted in six months, I know he's waiting for your return. Your sudden appearance will surely draw his attention—be cautious from now on."

I sneered, "Six millennia ago, he couldn't destroy me; neither can he now. This is our era. We are the true masters. Ensure their safety—he'll come to me, or I’ll find him."

Taozi shook her head, "Your wives' strategy was foolish—such silly women."

I vanished, leaving behind a single line: "But that's precisely why I love them. Haha."

The darkness before dawn bred nightmares. Elena felt something heavy press against her body and gasped awake. A pair of eyes stared intently from the bed’s edge—"Ah!" The oppressive dream had been real.

Yet upon recognizing who it was, she stifled a laugh despite herself but forced composure: "Who are you? Why stand in my room at this hour? Call security if you don’t leave!"

I sat on the nearby couch and said, "Do whatever you want—this hotel is mine."

"Rich? So what?"

"Your father still owes me 10 billion. I’ll collect when sunrise comes."

"When did Dad owe you anything? We don’t know each other. Just shut up already."

"Don’t know me? Your Mandarin skills are impressive—who taught such rich vocabulary? And why do your breasts look so swollen? Is it because no one’s been feeding them lately?"

I yanked back her blanket, revealing her bare curves through a thin sleepwear. I grabbed and squeezed until the fabric soaked with milk.

"What more can you say? Don’t tell me this is from neglecting to feed an infant these past few days!"

Elena suddenly pulled me into her arms. "Stop talking! No matter who you are—eat first, then we’ll deal with everything else, right? American girls are open-minded like that. Haven't you heard?"

I tore apart her nightgown, exposing the fullness to the air. "Where’s Longnü? You two were inseparable sisters. Where did you hide her? Tell me what happened—how can I solve this without knowing?"

Elena wept into my chest, "Don’t ask! Don’t ask! I can't tell you. Go ahead and take it if you must. Then we’ll part ways, pretend nothing ever happened. You return to your ordinary life, I remain the daughter of a shipping tycoon—we'll never meet again. Just an overnight fling."

I declared solemnly, "One chance: either be honest with me now as my twelfth wife—or sever ties instantly and forget we ever met! Don’t mistake this for joking—I’m deadly serious when it matters."

Elena had been conquered countless times in these very sheets; how could she easily surrender? She clung uncertainly to my waist, her breasts pressing against me.

"Let me whisper—it's just between us. I’ll secretly become your twelfth wife without telling the others, or they'll be furious,"

I sank into her bed and pulled her close. "Silly girl—don’t worry. I know their intentions are good. They wouldn’t blame you."

She trembled in my arms, whispering helplessly, "But I'm still scared... after all, I’m just the twelfth."

I relented, "Fine—I won't tell anyone else. Quickly now, where is Longnü?"

"Longnü remained six millennia ago!"

"What?!" I roared. "Why wasn’t she brought back?"

Elena explained, "Ancient people cannot travel forward in time—a fact confirmed by scientists. If forced to return, she’d age and die during the journey."

I stared blankly at her. "How could this happen? Why wasn't I told earlier?"

"Longnü forbade us from saying," Elena said. "Her body was infected with a virus, all treatment paths blocked. So on our final night together, they got you drunk while we secretly returned to the present and staged an elaborate performance with your wives."

"Foolish girl! Another foolish one! I must return to save Longnü!"

Elena grabbed my arm urgently, "Don’t be absurd—Snow isn’t compatible with human cells. Her transparent substance cannot cross time boundaries. And as a six-thousand-year-old, she can never reach our era. Even if you could return, there’d be no saving her."

I gazed intently at Elena and said solemnly, "Elena, even if you remained in the ancient world six millennia ago I would still go back to save you—no matter how slim the hope. Because I promised Longnü to protect her for life, and a man cannot break his vow to a woman he loves."

Elena looked both moved and helpless: "But you can’t return."