The vegetable stall owner’s courage suddenly swelled again. While she was pregnant, her husband had cheated on her, and naturally, all the love she originally held for her husband was transferred to the child after he was born.

She doted on the boy relentlessly, which in turn made him arrogant from childhood. He was useless in his studies, only knowing how to fight, chase women, and resort to fists if someone spoke slightly out of turn.

Li Yundong’s anger brewed hotter and hotter, the sharp light in his eyes growing brighter. Just as he was about to throw a punch, someone pulled his arm from behind.

Li Yundong turned his head to see the little fox shaking her head at him: “Forget it.” The little fox didn't want the situation to escalate. If she was forced to intervene, drawing the attention of her adversaries would mean regrets that would come too late.

Li Yundong forcibly suppressed his rage, fished a hundred-yuan note from his pocket, and tossed it over. He said coldly, “Take the money, and be careful you don’t lose sleep tonight thinking about taking this!” The vegetable stall owner’s son, Er Lu, stared at Su Chan with eyes full of greed and awe.

Hearing Li Yundong’s words, he immediately flared up, stepping forward, eyes wide, and snarled menacingly, “What did you say? Kid, are you tired of living?” Li Yundong felt a surge of anger rush straight to his head, impossible to control.

He stomped forward, one hand gripping the hand holding the knife, and with a sudden exertion of force, snatched the weapon away. With the other hand, he bodily lifted Er Lu and flung him onto the vegetable stand, then jammed the knife he held straight towards the space between the other man’s legs!

With a sharp Zheng, the steel blade, still bearing traces of rust, was driven by Li Yundong deep into the cement platform, sinking more than three cun! Li Yundong’s face contorted into a fierce mask, and he snarled viciously, “Who is tired of living?” Er Lu was stunned speechless by Li Yundong’s sudden display of ferocity.

It wasn't until Li Yundong gave a cold snort and walked over three meters away with the little fox that he reacted. He frantically checked himself and realized he was unharmed.

Shame and anger making him furious, he jumped down from the stand and instinctively tried to yank out the steel knife Li Yundong had embedded in the cement. But when he pulled, the steel blade was as if rooted to the platform, unmoving!

Er Lu, blinded by fury and not thinking clearly, grabbed another knife from the adjacent stall, preparing to charge at Li Yundong. The vegetable stall owner, watching clearly from the side, saw that they were drawing steel over a mere hundred yuan, and a wave of regret washed over her.

She rushed forward and immediately threw her arms around her son. Held by his mother, Er Lu was coaxed down from the platform, though he continued to curse under his breath.

Only after Li Yundong and Su Chan had finished buying vegetables and left the market did he remember the knife lodged in the platform. Er Lu stared at it, pulled again and again, but the knife wouldn't budge.

The more he strained, the more the blade snapped with a Dang. Er Lu cursed in fury, hurling the broken handle far away, his gaze fixed solely on the half-embedded blade.

His expression twisted through a savage and shifting grimace. Nearby vendors and shoppers gathered around to inspect the steel knife driven into the stone slab, murmuring in awe.

“Good heavens, how much force did it take to sink it that deep?” Er Lu snapped at the onlookers, “What are you looking at? I can do that too!” He slammed the knife he held onto the stone slab.

With a loud Dang, the blade only managed to chip a white mark on the stone before the metal could not bear the strain and snapped into two pieces. The crowd burst into loud laughter.

Er Lu jutted his neck out, raging, “Laugh! Laugh again and you’ll taste my blade!” Only then did the crowd disperse in a rush.

Walking back, Li Yundong was still fuming. “Damn it, some people really have no concept of money!

Daring to extort me! Daring to threaten me!

If a tiger doesn't show its might, do they think I’m a house cat?” Su Chan asked curiously, “What is a ‘house cat’?” Li Yundong glanced at her delicate, charming face, his anger dissipating considerably. “It’s just a cat, I’ll buy one for you later!” Su Chan stuck out her small, scarlet tongue.

“Why would I want a cat? Besides, aren't cats everywhere?

Why buy one?” Seeing her adorable and innocent reply, Li Yundong burst into laughter, all previous displeasure vanishing. “Yes, yes, next time I’ll pick up an ‘elliy’ and give it to you.” Su Chan smiled when she saw he was no longer angry.

“It was my fault just now, I didn’t pay for the things. I’m sorry…” Li Yundong waved his hand dismissively.

“It’s fine, everyone forgets things sometimes! It happens.” He thought to himself, Does this girl not have any money on her?

I need to find a chance to slip some cash onto her. It’s no good walking around without money these days.

Back home, Li Yundong had bought half a jin of meat at the market, along with a crucian carp, a jin of tomatoes, a jin of eggs, and one head of cabbage. He planned to make two dishes and one soup using the cucumber Su Chan had brought: stir-fried cucumber with meat, scrambled eggs with tomato, and carp and cabbage soup.

The little fox watched Li Yundong expertly chop vegetables, stir-fry, toss the wok, and add seasonings in the kitchen, her eyes filled with admiration. “You’re amazing, you can even cook!

It smells so fragrant!” Li Yundong’s vanity was greatly satisfied. “Is that so?

It smells even better when you eat it! These are just simple home-style dishes.

Another day, I’ll prepare something special and make you a grand feast!” The little fox’s eyes lit up. “Really?” Li Yundong scooped a dish into a bowl and smiled.

“Truer than pearls.” As the little fox watched Li Yundong cook each dish, the aroma wafting through the air made her appetite surge. She had cultivated in the mountains since childhood, living basically on raw meat and blood.

How could she have ever seen such food? She was so tempted that drool nearly dripped from her mouth.

Finally, Li Yundong finished cooking everything and set the table. The two sat down—one on the low sofa in the living room, the other cross-legged on the rug.

The little fox held her chopsticks, suppressing her hunger, and looked at Li Yundong. “Can we eat now?” Li Yundong nodded with a smile, and the little fox immediately began sweeping the food off the table like a hungry ghost reincarnated after eight hundred years without eating.

Li Yundong watched with a smile at first, but soon his expression changed. “Hey, aren't you being a little too aggressive?

Leave some for me! Damn it, you ate it all, what am I supposed to eat!” As soon as he said this, the amount of food on the table diminished further.

Li Yundong sucked in a sharp breath—this girl clearly wasn't holding back out of politeness for him! Li Yundong knew that if he continued to act like a gentleman, he’d be left with nothing but the cold wind that night.

He immediately dropped all pretense of politeness and launched into a fierce battle for the food. The two fought with flashing chopsticks, back and forth, snatching dishes.

In just ten minutes, the pot of rice and the entire table of dishes were completely cleared. The little fox finished the last slice of meat, only to find the table empty.

Her face showed disappointment. Her gaze lingered yearningly on a plate that still held some soupy liquid, so she picked up the plate and licked the broth clean.

After licking the residue from the plate, her eyes scanned around and she noticed Li Yundong watching her with a half-smile. Su Chan’s face flushed, and she sheepishly set down the plate, wiping the oily corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.

“It was so delicious.” Li Yundong felt a surge of satisfaction in his heart. Though he hadn't eaten his fill, his heart felt warm, filled with a sense of accomplishment.

He laughed heartily. “If it’s delicious, I’ll cook it for you every day!” “Every day?” The little fox’s eyes sparkled, looking at Li Yundong with a mixture of surprise and emotion.

“Is that strange? If I don’t cook it, are you going to?” Li Yundong saw the oil stains around her mouth, and he reached out, pulling a tissue, gently and softly wiping the corner of Su Chan’s mouth.

The little fox was momentarily stunned, staring blankly at Li Yundong, and couldn't help but ask, “Why are you so good to me?” Li Yundong smiled, thinking to himself: Why are you following me so closely? Don't you know that since childhood, you are the first girl who has actively liked me?

Out loud, he said, “Has no one ever been good to you before?” The little fox fell silent for a moment, a shadow of loneliness passing over her face, and she slowly shook her head. Li Yundong smiled and said, “No one has ever been very good to me either, nor has anyone really looked after me since I was little.

So I’ve always wanted to find someone who can be good to me, and whom I can be good to in return…” The little fox looked up at Li Yundong and murmured, “Aren't you going to ask where I came from? Or who I am?” Li Yundong thought for a moment and replied, “When you want to tell me, you naturally will.” A flicker of surprise and gratitude appeared in the little fox’s eyes.

She lowered her head and stood up. “I’m going to sleep.

Where should I sleep?” Li Yundong pointed towards the bedroom. “You sleep in my bed.

I’ll sleep outside.” Although it was broad daylight, the two retreated to their respective rooms. One lay on the bed, deep in thought; the other rested the back of her head on her arm, staring up at the ceiling.

A beautiful young woman had somehow moved into the house, and Li Yundong couldn't help but wonder what the future held. He wasn't unwilling to know Su Chan's origins and identity, but he feared that pressing her would drive this lovely girl away.

In all his life, this was the first time such a stunning beauty had been so intimately close to him—her beauty was as breathtaking as a multi-colored, shimmering dream, and Li Yundong was terrified of waking up from it. If this truly was a beautiful dream, then let it continue forever; may I never wake up.

Li Yundong closed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips as he pondered this. In the spring outing, apricot blossoms filled the air; which youth on the path displays such graceful charm?

In this world, which young man or maiden is immune to the stirrings of young love? Meanwhile, the little fox lay on the bed, clutching a pillow, her body almost curled into a ball.

She muttered under her breath, “Master, the outside world is indeed terrifying, but not everyone here is bad. This fellow is quite good to me, but… I must extract his yang essence, considering he swallowed my Human Essence Golden Elixir?” “But why do I feel a pang of guilt and sadness whenever I think about it?” The little fox rolled restlessly on the bed, covering her ears with the pillow, engaging in a kind of self-hypnosis with the demeanor of an ostrich.

“He stole my Human Essence Golden Elixir, he stole my Human Essence Golden Elixir!” After repeating this dozens of times, the little fox finally felt her conscience ease. She truly deserved to drain this fellow who had taken her Golden Elixir.

Having convinced herself of this, the weight lifted from the little fox’s heart, and a cunning glint appeared in her eyes as she let out a muffled laugh.

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