Hardly had they left the hospital room when Feng Na muttered under her breath, "What is wrong with that woman? Judging without understanding the facts! And she dares to talk about her son's good upbringing? With a mother like that, how could he possibly be well-mannered!"

Cheng Cheng, though not directly insulted, was equally furious: "It's like a dog biting Lü Dongbin—not recognizing good intentions! I finally see what Zhao Yujian is really like. I used to think he was an excellent guy, but now I see he's basically still a baby!"

Saying this, Cheng Cheng patted Li Yundong’s arm: "Good job hitting him! If you get another chance, teach him another lesson!"

Li Yundong smiled, not taking up their conversation, and turned to Zhou Qin, saying, "Thank you today; otherwise, I would have been thoroughly chewed out!"

Zhou Qin’s gaze kept sweeping over Li Yundong’s face, her eyes filled with curiosity, as if trying to understand why he had changed so drastically in such a short time.

She smiled faintly and said, "Actually, I really do have something to ask of you."

This statement surprised Li Yundong quite a bit: "Oh? What is it?"

"In three days, it will be my birthday. Can you come?" Zhou Qin stared at Li Yundong. Her expression remained unchanged, but her tightly clenched fists betrayed the deep nervousness within her; this was the first time she had ever actively invited a boy out.

Feng Na and Cheng Cheng exchanged a glance, secretly amazed: Are we seeing things? Zhou Qin actually invited a boy to her birthday party? That girl is known for being super arrogant! Did she lose her mind today? Or maybe she took the wrong medicine? Wasn't it rumored that she even rejected Li Yundong’s confession last time?

But what shocked them even more was yet to come.

Li Yundong paused, turned to look at Su Chan, and asked, "Can I bring my girlfriend?"

This sentence made Cheng Cheng’s eyes widen. Cheng Cheng silently gave a thumbs-up in her mind: Saying something like that right in front of the Tiannan University campus beauty—isn’t that slapping her face? So bold!

Feng Na, while shocked, felt a shade of disappointment cloud her expression.

Hearing Li Yundong's reply, Zhou Qin was also momentarily stunned. She instinctively glanced at Su Chan, only to see the young girl with her dark hair piled high, resembling clouds settled on a peak. Amidst her pure and lovely demeanor, there emanated an alluring charm—truly beautiful enough to draw admiration even from other women.

Zhou Qin did not erupt in anger as Cheng Cheng and Feng Na had expected. Instead, she flashed a bright smile and said graciously, "Of course, you can!"

Then, she smiled at Feng Na and Cheng Cheng: "You two should come too, alright?"

Zhou Qin’s air of refined nobility made Feng Na and Cheng Cheng feel like junior students in her presence, with Zhou Qin acting more like the senior.

Feng Na smiled: "It’s better to accept an invitation than to decline."

Cheng Cheng seemed much more hesitant, pointing at herself: "Me?"

Zhou Qin nodded: "Yes."

Cheng Cheng brightened up: "That’s great then."

"Then I will await your arrival at my home in three days," Zhou Qin smiled, and with Ding Nan, turned and left.

Zhou Qin’s smile led Li Yundong, Feng Na, and Cheng Cheng to unconsciously recall the smiles of those in high positions they had seen on television, immediately making them all wonder about this girl's family background.

The three of them stood in the corridor in a daze for a while before walking out of the building while discussing Zhou Qin’s family situation.

When they reached downstairs, Cheng Cheng suddenly slapped her thigh: "Hey! All those flowers, fruits, and nutritional supplements were swallowed by that awful woman! Damn it, she took our gifts and still cursed us! She’s utterly shameless!"

Feng Na laughed and chided, "Come on, we were there to visit a patient. Those items were meant to be given away anyway. The gesture was made; whoever she chooses to insult, let her. Those who insult others will eventually insult themselves, right?"

Li Yundong smiled and said, "As long as you feel you did your part, and you don't feel guilty inside, that's enough. Whether others appreciate it is their business, right?"

Feng Na praised, "Exactly! My idol, as expected."

With that, the two burst into laughter.

Su Chan, standing beside them, slightly furrowed her delicate brows and said, "The Buddha says that even those with great cultivation must not obscure cause and effect. I believe this incident has created a direct causal link, and it probably won't end well."

Li Yundong, Feng Na, and Cheng Cheng understood each word individually, but when pieced together, they were utterly bewildered.

Feng Na and Cheng Cheng stared at Su Chan with wide eyes, finding it difficult to comprehend how such a stunning beauty could utter such an obscure, Zen-like statement.

Li Yundong, having spent more time with Su Chan and knowing about her unusual experiences with her master in the mountains, smiled and asked, "Master, could you please explain what 'not obscuring cause and effect' means?"

Su Chan almost blurted out: You don't even know that? That’s common knowledge in the entire cultivation world!

Fortunately, she managed to suppress the words just as they reached her lips, and instead explained, "It means that no matter how powerful a person is, they cannot escape the relationship between cause and effect."

Li Yundong seemed enlightened: "I understand. For example, Zhao Yujian has a mother like that, and she spoils him so much; therefore, he who is near ink will be stained, and he probably won't turn out well either—that’s the cause. Because of this nurturing, this guy developed his current personality, which leads to today’s effect. Is that it?"

Su Chan replied, "That is the meaning."

Cheng Cheng laughed and said to Li Yundong, "Li Yundong, I didn't realize your girlfriend was such a little philosopher."

Li Yundong laughed heartily, happier than if he himself had been praised. He affectionately ruffled Su Chan’s hair: "Don't praise her too much, she gets carried away easily!"

The doting look Li Yundong gave Su Chan made Feng Na feel a slight ache in her chest. She smiled and said, "Be careful, don't spoil her too much. That plants a seed, and if it results in you becoming henpecked later, that will be the fruit!"

After that, they all laughed together.

Yet, none of them knew that inside the hospital room, Zhao Yujian lay turned to his side, his one hand tightly gripping the bedsheet, the other clenched into a fist, his fingernails digging deep into his flesh without him noticing. His eyes were filled with hatred and resentment, and he was deaf to his mother’s loving voice.

A seed of vengeance slowly sprouted in his heart. Just then, an uninvited guest appeared at the door of Zhao Yujian’s room.

"Oh, isn't this the great handsome Zhao? Why are you lying here?" A flippant voice suddenly broke the silence in Zhao Yujian’s room.

Zhao Yujian turned his head to see Xie Fei standing at the doorway, a smile plastered on his face: "What are you doing here?"

Xie Fei sauntered in cheerfully: "Don't mind me, I’m here to see one of my buddies!"

Zhao Yujian’s mother glanced at Xie Fei and subtly frowned. She asked, "And you are?"

Xie Fei nodded towards Zhao Yujian’s mother: "Auntie, I’m Zhao Yujian’s classmate!"

A smile bloomed on Zhao Yujian’s mother’s face: "That’s good. I'll pour you some water." With that, she reached for the thermos by the bed, only to find it empty. She smiled at Xie Fei: "I’ll go get some water. Please sit down!"

Xie Fei chuckled: "Thank you, Auntie!"

Zhao Yujian’s mother smiled: "It’s good that Yujian’s classmates are sensible. Not like those other few who just left—no manners at all, hateful!" Saying this, she grumbled and walked out of the room.

Xie Fei angled his eyes to watch Zhao Yujian’s mother leave and said, "What happened? Did something start?"

Xie Fei and Zhao Yujian had a decent relationship; Zhao Yujian practiced Taekwondo and had even helped Xie Fei settle a few fights privately, for which Xie Fei had also provided him with many benefits. So, he gave a rough account of the preceding events, especially when mentioning Li Yundong, Zhao Yujian growled in suppressed fury: "If this vengeance is not repaid, I swear I will not be human!"

Xie Fei, who already held a grudge against Zhao Yujian, was delighted to hear this: "Good! You’ve got spirit! I’ll find a few brothers to rough him up for you another day!"

Zhao Yujian shook his head, gritting his teeth: "I must take this revenge myself!"

Xie Fei looked at Zhao Yujian with a strange expression and sighed: "Forget it, brother. Take my advice, you can't win a direct fight against him. That bastard is too tough! Unless..."

Zhao Yujian said coldly, "Unless what?"

Xie Fei seemed to have thought of something, a murderous glint appearing in his eyes: "Unless... you have a gun!"

"A gun?" Zhao Yujian’s previously cold and ashen eyes began to shine with an increasingly fanatic and wild light. "Can you get a gun?"

Xie Fei said sinisterly, "I don't have that capability, but I know someone who does!"

...

After parting ways with Feng Na and Cheng Cheng, Li Yundong took Su Chan back to their new home.

That evening, Li Yundong cooked another sumptuous dinner. After they ate, Li Yundong sat alone in the spacious, bright living room to meditate and practice his qi.

Now, practicing qi had become something Li Yundong was extremely obsessed with and passionate about. Not only did it increase his strength, but during the process of meditation, he could feel extreme comfort and pleasure.

Since Li Yundong had completed the Greater Heavenly Cycle realm, his meridians were fully expanded, and the qi could now flow automatically along the meridian riverbeds. Unless a strong external force interfered, Li Yundong could not suffer a deviation of qi.

This reassured the little girl greatly. She only watched Li Yundong for an hour before going into her room to watch television.

Following the lesson from the time he accidentally punched and smashed a television set, Li Yundong had specifically explained electrical appliances like the TV to Su Chan. After her initial shock, Su Chan became fascinated with watching TV, especially engrossed in the prime-time soap operas on various channels!

This leisurely life continued for two days until Tiannan City finally welcomed the highly anticipated Exchange Day.

Early that morning, Li Yundong changed his clothes and left with Su Chan ahead of time.

When the two arrived at the school, it was already decorated with colorful flags and bilingual banners hanging everywhere. The students inside were all dressed up extravagantly, their faces beaming with excitement as they discussed this rare grand event at Tiannan University.

"So beautiful!" Su Chan had visited Tiannan University quite a few times, but seeing the colorful flags and various decorations at the school gate still made her eyes light up, and she applauded with delight.

Li Yundong smiled, about to step inside with Su Chan, when he suddenly heard a voice from beside them: "Hey, hey, where are you two from?"

Li Yundong turned to see a teacher at the school gate calling out to them—this teacher was none other than the middle-aged teacher who had tried to drag Su Chan into service as a greeter before!

Li Yundong frowned slightly and said, "Teacher Liu, have you forgotten me so soon?"

Teacher Liu walked up to Li Yundong, put his hands behind his back, and deliberately looked him up and down, saying, "I’m sorry, there are so many people in this school, I don't recognize you."

Li Yundong patiently stated, "Teacher Liu, I am a student here, Li Yundong from the Sophomore Finance department. Please allow me to enter."

Teacher Liu extended his hand in a bureaucratic manner: "Oh? Where is your student ID?"

Li Yundong felt a surge of anger but patiently took his student ID from his wallet and flashed it: "Here. May I go in now?" Saying this, he was about to walk in with Su Chan.

"Wait!" The middle-aged teacher slowly said again, "You can go in, but she cannot!"

Li Yundong turned back, slightly angry: "Why not?"

Teacher Liu rolled his eyes: "Today is the Exchange Conference; unauthorized personnel are not allowed in and out freely."

Li Yundong erupted in anger: "She is not unauthorized personnel! She was allowed in before, why not today? Does she look like someone who would cause trouble?"

Teacher Liu sneered and dug his ear with his finger: "You can’t be sure. People these days, they all look decent on the outside, who knows what they’re up to!"

Li Yundong was furious and shouted, "What did you say? Say that again!"

Li Yundong’s glare startled Teacher Liu, making him stumble backward three steps. The commotion between the two attracted the attention of surrounding students, and the security guards at the school gate also rushed over.

Teacher Liu immediately regained his courage, puffed out his chest: "What? Are you trying to hit someone? Go ahead!"

Li Yundong’s rage boiled over, his fists clenching until they cracked. Su Chan pulled his hand and gently shook her head: "Forget it, I won't go in today. You go by yourself. I’ll wait for you at the entrance. Just remember to pick me up."

Although what Su Chan said was light and casual, it pierced Li Yundong’s heart with worry. His anger boiled over, and he smiled fiercely through gritted teeth: "Fine. If you won't let her in, then I won't either!"

Teacher Liu let out a strange, mocking laugh: "Suit yourself! Students like you who don't respect their teachers are not missed, nor is their absence noted!"

Li Yundong laughed madly: "A teacher like you—losing one is a blessing from heaven, a cause for great celebration! Idiot!"

With that, Li Yundong spat on the ground, grabbed Su Chan's hand, and strode away.