Siheyuan: I will never tolerate gambling and drugs!

The central courtyard of a traditional courtyard house.

The news of Xu Lin's disciplinary action by the factory spread like wildfire, stirring up a silent celebration in the courtyard in just one afternoon. For most people in the courtyard, it was no less than an early New Year.

Especially the Jia family in the middle courtyard, their joyous atmosphere almost overflowed from the cracks in their doors and windows.

Contrary to her usual behavior, Jia Zhangshi forced a smile at everyone who passed by. She moved a small stool to her doorway and, while slowly sewing shoe soles, embellished Xu Lin's "crimes" and told them to everyone.

"See that? They got their comeuppance! Heaven has opened its eyes!"

Her voice was sharp and penetrating.

"Always putting on airs, acting like some important person, but he's just a show-off! All looks and no substance!"

Spittle flew everywhere with her excited tone.

"Our Dongxu is truly honest, hardworking, and conscientious! He's a great role model for the working class! Unlike some people who, after a few days of mediocre education, forget who they are and even their ancestors!"

She spoke with great enthusiasm, and at one point, she plunged the awl in her hand into the sole of her shoe on her thigh with a dull "thud." This only fueled her excitement, as if the awl had actually pierced Xu Lin's body.

Jia Dongxu stood behind her, leaning against the door frame, his face showing a smugness that he tried to suppress but couldn't hide.

The image of Qin Huairu's exquisite figure, which haunted his dreams, flashed through his mind. He also recalled the humiliating experience of being repeatedly beaten by Xu Lin in the courtyard. The hatred and pleasure in his heart intertwined, making him feel hot all over.

Now, Xu Lin has finally fallen.

This feeling is even more refreshing than chugging a bowl of ice-cold plum juice on a sweltering summer day; the coolness travels from the top of your head all the way to your heels.

"Mom, Uncle said there will be a hospital-wide meeting tonight to help Comrade Xu Lin 'recognize his mistakes'." Jia Dongxu lowered his voice and whispered in Jia Zhangshi's ear, but anyone could hear the gloating in his voice.

"Yes! We have to make him do it!" Madam Jia slapped her thigh. "And he has to give a scathing self-criticism in front of the entire hospital! A deep one! We have to tear him apart!"

As night fell, preparations were quickly made in the central courtyard.

A shiny, eight-immortal table was moved to the center of the courtyard, covered with an old, faded tablecloth. In the center of the tablecloth, an enamel mug was placed neatly, with the words "Serve the People" written in red on it standing out prominently in the dim light.

Three chairs were arranged in a triangular pattern behind the table, exuding an indescribable sense of judgment.

This time, the three old men didn't act coy as usual, waiting for everyone to arrive before making their seniority-based entrance. They were eager to take their seats, harboring their own judgment of Xu Lin.

Yi Zhonghai sat upright in the center, his expression so serious it was almost cold. He held the enamel mug in both hands, occasionally bringing it to his lips for a sip; the scalding tea seemed unable to warm his icy gaze. His eyes slowly swept over the gathered neighbors, his official air perfectly controlled.

His belly was sticking out more than ever from his left bangs. The top button of his slightly worn Zhongshan suit was fastened tightly, making the flesh on his neck bulge. He looked solemn, his chin slightly raised, as if he were ready to deliver an important speech at any moment.

Yan Bugui sat on the right, his hands still busy. A small notebook and a pencil stub were being used to meticulously record something. No one knew whether he was calculating the electricity bill for the conference or pondering what intangible "benefits" he would gain by crushing Xu Lin.

The residents of the courtyard also brought their own small stools and folding stools to sit around. People whispered and murmured among themselves, and the buzzing of their discussions formed an undercurrent that swirled in the air above the courtyard.

Everyone's eyes kept turning towards the front yard, waiting for the real protagonist of the day to make his appearance.

The atmosphere had been built to its peak by this group of people, like a fully drawn bow.

Just then, the door to the west wing of the front yard opened.

Xu Lin walked out unhurriedly.

Behind him, Qin Huairu carried two small stools and followed quietly. Madam Tan, on the other hand, had gone back to the backyard earlier and brought out a stool from there.

The moment Xu Lin appeared in the courtyard, all the noise in the entire courtyard seemed to be cut off by an invisible hand, and it instantly became quiet.

Dozens of eyes, some gloating, some sympathetic, some curious, and some simply watching the spectacle, were all focused on him like spotlights.

Xu Lin ignored these deadly gazes.

He walked straight into the crowd, scanned the area, and found an open space. Qin Huairu understood immediately, quickly set up Xu Lin's chair, and then sat down next to him with Tan Liya.

Xu Lin even spotted Xu Damao winking at him from the crowd. The "good show is coming" expression on the other man's face amused him, and he even turned his mouth up slightly in Xu Damao's direction.

That smile was relaxed and content.

He knew perfectly well that today's meeting was a carefully orchestrated scheme by the bastards in the compound to make a fool of him and to humiliate him.

But his behavior was like that of a casual visitor to an open-air movie theater; he showed no tension whatsoever about the upcoming performance, but rather was full of interest.

"Cough! Cough!"

Yi Zhonghai coughed heavily twice, forcibly drawing everyone's attention back.

He stretched out his finger and tapped on the table covered with a white cloth, making a "tap-tap" sound.

"I've gathered everyone here today for something important!"

His voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority.

"A momentous event concerning the honor and spirit of our entire compound!"

He paused deliberately, his gaze sharp as two swords piercing Xu Lin.

"Comrade Xu Lin from our institute made a mistake at work! He has been criticized and disciplined by the factory! This is not just his personal problem, but also a wake-up call for our entire courtyard!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Haizhong immediately picked up the phone, his voice booming like a bell.

"That's right! The old man is right! What does this show? It shows that individualism is unacceptable! Lack of organization and discipline is unacceptable! And arrogance and complacency are even more unacceptable!"

When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down; when a drum breaks, everyone beats it.

A denunciation meeting against Xu Lin officially began in just a few words.

Liu Haizhong's voice still echoed in the courtyard, filled with the stiff tone of official rhetoric. Every time he said "unacceptable," his fat head would lean forward, the veins on his neck bulging, as if he were the embodiment of justice, judging all the evils in the world.

"Therefore, the purpose of today's meeting is to help Comrade Xu Lin deeply realize his mistakes, based on the principle of 'learning from past mistakes to avoid future ones and curing the disease to save the patient'!" Liu Haizhong finally made his concluding remarks, his face solemn and dignified, as if he could already see Xu Lin crying and begging for forgiveness on his knees.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sharp voice burst out, shattering the solemn atmosphere he had created.

"Help? Bah! I think he's like a rock in a latrine, smelly and hard, I can't help him!"

Sitting on her small stool, Jia Zhangshi leaned forward with excitement, her triangular eyes fixed on Xu Lin as if she wanted to tear two pieces of flesh from him.

"That young punk, just because he's had a few years of schooling, thinks he can look down on us elders! He goes against the old men in the courtyard, and disobeys his superiors at the factory. Now he's got what he deserved!"

Her words were sharp and sarcastic, every single one of them laced with venom.

Xu Damao and several other young men who were always eager to stir up trouble immediately burst into laughter.

Sha Zhu stood in the crowd, nodding incessantly. Ever since Qin Huairu married Xu Lin, he hadn't slept well a single night. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the image of Qin Huairu being brutally abused by that beast Xu Lin, causing him unbearable heartache and pain. As for why, he himself couldn't explain it.

Yi Zhonghai raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling everyone to be quiet.

He cleared his throat, adopted a serious tone, and looked at Xu Lin.

"Although Comrade Jia Zhangshi's words were a bit rough, the reasoning is sound. Xu Lin, the eyes of the masses are discerning."

"You are young and talented, which is a good thing, but it must not become a reason for you to be arrogant and complacent. Today, in front of the entire neighborhood, you should talk about your understanding and make a deep self-criticism."

Having said all that, the true intentions are now revealed.

He was trying to pin Xu Lin to the ground, forcing him to bow his head and confess his crimes in front of everyone.

Once Xu Lin confesses, the authority he built in the courtyard through his fists and tricks will crumble instantly. What right will someone who publicly confesses have to stand tall in the courtyard? Won't he be at their mercy, manipulated and tossed around by them?

All eyes were once again fixed intently on Xu Lin.

They waited to see how he would handle it.

Will he fly into a rage and overturn the table as usual? Or will he be as dejected and disheartened as anyone who has made a mistake?

The people in the compound weren't worried that Xu Lin would actually hit anyone. After all, the factory's notice was clearly posted, confirming the mistake and proving it wasn't just idle gossip.

However, to everyone's surprise,

Xu Lin made a move.

He calmly stood up, took two steps forward, and walked to the octagonal table that symbolized judgment, facing everyone with equanimity.

There was no anger, no frustration, not even a trace of gloom on his face.

Instead, there was a faint, humble smile.

He first looked around, then nodded slightly to the three old men, and finally focused his gaze on everyone in the courtyard before speaking loudly.

"Thank you to all my neighbors for holding this 'helping session' for me today." As soon as Xu Lin opened his mouth, he characterized the other party's "criticism meeting" as a "helping session," and immediately seized the high ground in the discourse.

Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of unease in each other's eyes. This kid doesn't play by the rules.

Xu Lin continued, "I did make a mistake, and I deeply acknowledge that. I've been reflecting on it all day; where did I go wrong?"

He paused for a moment, whetting everyone's appetite.

"After reflecting on it again and again, I found that I made three main mistakes."

"First, my mistake was being too eager for quick results." Xu Lin's voice was steady and powerful. "Seeing the weakness of our country's industrial base and the need to improve the production efficiency of our steel rolling mill, I was anxious! That's why I worked day and night on research and improvements. The blast furnace upgrade was like that, and so was the centralized heating system. I always thought I could be faster, even faster, so that our factory could become a national benchmark as soon as possible, and so that our workers could live better lives sooner. I didn't fully consider that technological innovation takes time, and I neglected to communicate and consult with the older colleagues and leaders in the factory. This was my 'personal heroism' at work, and I apologize!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of some of the younger workers in the factory changed. So that's why Xu Lin did this? He was doing it for the country, for the factory, for everyone's good! What kind of mistake is this?

Yi Zhonghai frowned even more deeply.

"Secondly, my mistake was being too engrossed." Xu Lin's voice carried a hint of regret. "To overcome the technical difficulties, I often ate and slept in the workshop, forgetting about time and family. This was especially true for the production of this special steel. I was only thinking about how to make the steel better, but I neglected the supervision and management of the production process, which gave some unscrupulous people the opportunity to sabotage it and caused losses to the factory. This is my dereliction of duty, and my work was not meticulous enough. I apologize!"

He cleverly shifted the narrative from "his own mistake" to "being sabotaged," while simultaneously portraying himself as a tireless and selfless individual. This swayed even some previously neutral older women, who now looked at him with sympathy and admiration.

"As for the third mistake..." Xu Lin changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui, "My mistake was not getting everyone's revolutionary enthusiasm going sooner!"

Everyone was stunned. What did this mean?

Xu Lin spoke passionately, "Today's meeting has enlightened me! My individual strength is limited, but the collective strength is boundless! Our courtyard is full of hidden talents; everyone here is a master of the steel rolling mill, and we all have the responsibility and enthusiasm to share the burden of the mill and contribute to the country! Before, I was only focused on my own hard work and failed to organize everyone, which was my biggest mistake!"

He slammed his hand on the table, startling the three old men.

"Therefore, I propose!" Xu Lin's voice suddenly rose, "In response to the factory's call and to prevent similar production accidents from happening again, let's mobilize the best workers in our courtyard and establish a 'Sanitation Supervision Team' at the steel rolling mill tomorrow!"

Everyone in the hospital was stunned. The situation had changed so quickly. How did it go from criticizing Xu Lin to forming a task force?

Xu Lin gave them no time to react and immediately began to "deploy troops".

"Yi Zhonghai!" He looked intently at Yi Zhonghai. "You are currently the only Level 6 fitter in our institute, a highly skilled and respected expert! I think you are the only one suitable to be the group leader! Your task is to use your spare time to lead a few young people in the institute, such as Jia Dongxu and Xu Damao, to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all the toilets and garbage dumps in the factory every day after get off work to identify potential hazards. This is also to safeguard the production safety of our factory!"

Yi Zhonghai's face instantly turned green. Every day? Inspecting every toilet and garbage dump in the entire factory? Are you kidding me? So Yi Zhonghai immediately demurred, "I...I'm old, my energy isn't what it used to be..."

"Hey! Zhonghai, what are you saying!" Xu Lin immediately interrupted him, "You're just being cunning, like Yu Laomi, a role model for these young people! It's settled then! After all, I know a few leaders. If Jia Dongxu gets a different mentor, you'll be stuck with your retirement..." The threatening words sent chills down Yi Zhonghai's spine, and he remained silent in his seat.

Xu Lin then turned to Liu Haizhong, his face full of "respect": "Liu Haizhong, you have no official rank all day long, yet you act all high and mighty. It seems you're quite good at organization and management! The disciplinary inspection work of the supervisory group is yours! Your task is to lead Sha Zhu, Liu Guangqi, Liu Guangtian, and Liu Guangfu on a three-hour voluntary patrol around the factory area after get off work every day, catching saboteurs, preventing fires and thefts! This is protecting state property, a very important responsibility!"

Liu Hai was most susceptible to this kind of talk; the moment he heard "imposing official authority" and "important responsibility," his back straightened instantly. But then he thought, patrolling every day? With his two sons by his side? Wouldn't that make him a free security guard? He opened his mouth, then refused, saying, "That won't do. Guangtian and the other two aren't steel mill workers; it's not suitable for them to do this..."

Xu Lin took out a cigarette, lit it, and after taking a puff, said in a threatening tone, "Then I'll submit a report tomorrow and transfer you to the cleaning department. From now on, you'll be a glorious latrine cleaner!"

Upon hearing Xu Lin's words, Liu Haizhong was furious: "You dare! What gives you the right! Let me tell you the truth, I know quite a few leaders, big and small. Let's see if you dare to touch me!"

"Hehe, let's see if I dare. Anyway, I just changed jobs and I'm short-staffed right now. If anyone dares to protect you, I'll report them and transfer them to the cleaning department. I'm not afraid of anyone now."

"you!"

Liu Haizhong's face flushed red with anger, and he dared not utter any more threats, fearing that Xu Lin might have some other underhanded tricks up his sleeve. So he had no choice but to nod and agree.

Then, Xu Lin's gaze fell on Yan Bugui. Yan Bugui's heart skipped a beat, and he knew something was wrong.

"Yan Bugui, you can at least be considered a cultured person, you can write a few words!" Xu Lin laughed. "Our group's publicity work depends entirely on you! Every day after get off work, you need to follow these people and write down their work progress in a factual manner as publicity articles, then post them on the blackboard at the entrance of the compound to promote positive energy! This is a top priority in building spiritual civilization!"

Yan Bugui nearly choked. Writing articles every day? And for free? This was worse than death! His limited education was only good for teaching elementary school students, not writing propaganda? This was practically killing him! You can threaten Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai, but you can't threaten me! So he immediately refused.

"Something came up at school, and I won't have time to leave work, so you..."

Before Yan Bugui could finish speaking, he saw Xu Lin rubbing his chin, his eyes darting back and forth between him and Jia Zhangshi. Yan Bugui immediately broke out in a cold sweat; how could he have forgotten that? He quickly changed his tune.

"Alright! This is an honorable thing to do, school matters can wait!" He then painfully pounded his thigh, not just for the wasted ink and paper, but also for the fact that he couldn't keep watch at the gate after get off work to ask for favors.

Seeing Yan Bugui lower his head, Xu Lin then looked at Jia Zhangshi: "Old widow!"

Hearing Xu Lin's blatant insults, Jia Zhangshi opened her mouth wide, wanting to curse, but found that Xu Lin seemed to be right. She held back for a long time, not knowing how to lash out, so she had no choice but to endure and listen to what Xu Lin had to say next.

Xu Lin was somewhat puzzled that the old woman wasn't making a scene, and he had even thought of kicking her a couple of times, but he felt a little regretful.

"Old widow, you have the loudest voice! From now on, you'll be in charge of the call to action when everyone comes back from get off work each day! And then loudly read out the propaganda draft written by Yan Bugui! If you can't read, just repeat after Yan Bugui when he says a line."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi immediately objected. "Isn't this just playing with people?" she exclaimed. "I won't shout. Let whoever wants to shout, shout. They may be afraid of you, but I'm not."

Xu Lin laughed. "Fine, if you don't want to, then I'll transfer your son to the Ministry of Health to clean toilets. I want to see where your Jia family will find a daughter-in-law if he's cleaning toilets."

After hearing this, Madam Jia was filled with rage! But seeing the terrified expression on Jia Dongxu's face, she could only keep quiet!

As soon as Xu Lin finished explaining his instructions, the entire courtyard fell silent.

Everyone stared at him in disbelief. This wasn't a self-criticism; it was clearly a pretext to give everyone who wanted to cause him trouble a hardship!

Moreover, because Xu Lin held leverage over them, even though they knew he was just toying with them, they could only grit their teeth and let him make a fool of them. Only now did they realize that while Xu Lin might have fallen on hard times, he was still someone they couldn't afford to offend. In the courtyard, Xu Lin was still the same Xu Lin.

Yi Zhonghai's face went from green to white, then from white to blue, a truly remarkable display. His meticulously planned denunciation meeting, a scheme to crush Xu Lin in the mud, was thwarted by Xu Lin's few words, who not only shrugged them off but also turned the tables on them.

Xu Lin was secretly delighted to see their constipated expressions. He concluded with a statement brimming with "sincerity."

"Everyone, this is my self-criticism. I realize that becoming detached from the masses was my biggest mistake. From now on, I will definitely unite closely with everyone, try to discover everyone's strengths, actively correct my own mistakes, and contribute to the construction of the steel rolling mill! That concludes my self-criticism. Thank you all!"

After saying that, Xu Lin nodded in a fake manner, pretending to repent and change his ways. He glanced provocatively at Yi Zhonghai and the others who were questioning their existence, before leisurely walking back to his original spot and sitting down again next to Qin Huairu and Tan Liya.

Qin Huairu and Tan Liya looked at him, their worries turning into admiration and barely suppressed smiles.

Inside the courtyard, the three old men stood frozen in place, like three clay statues struck by lightning. The atmosphere in the courtyard had shifted from tense to incredibly bizarre and comical. Xu Lin's expression clearly told the three men, "Come and fight me if you dare!"

The wall wasn't toppled. Instead, those who had tried to push it down were pulled over by Xu Lin and turned into clowns to amuse him. After a long silence, the entire college meeting ended in an eerie quiet and unpleasant atmosphere.

The three old men looked as if they had swallowed flies, their faces growing increasingly grim. They sheepishly packed up their tables and chairs, unable to utter a single polite word. The neighbors who had initially been waiting to see a good show now looked at them with a hint of mockery.

When Liu Haizhong got home, he kicked over the threshold and yelled at his two sons, "What are you looking at! Go to sleep!"

Yan Bugui returned home, locked himself in his room, and sighed while looking at his notebook, feeling like he had lost a hundred million.

Yi Zhonghai, the most shrewd of them all, returned home without a word, closed the door, sat down, and sipped his now-cold tea. Zhou Jinzhi, seeing his gloomy face, cautiously said, "Old Yi, if things don't work out, let's just give in!"

"Give in?" Yi Zhonghai spat out the two words through gritted teeth. "He deliberately played us all for fools! And now he expects us to give in! Humph!"

Xu Lin's meticulousness and cunning methods far exceeded his expectations. He thought he could defeat his opponent by seizing a single mistake, but unexpectedly, his opponent used his strength against him and brazenly threatened him with various reasons, leaving him with no way to resist.

......

On the other hand, the situation at Xu Lin's home was quite different.

In stark contrast to the eerie, oppressive atmosphere of the central courtyard, the basement of the west wing in the front yard, a small world for only three people, completely shut out all the noise, resentment, and scheming in the courtyard. The world instantly fell silent, leaving only the dim yellow light from the light bulb and the faint fragrance in the air.

Qin Huairu and Tan Liya stood on either side of Xu Lin, their beautiful eyes shining so brightly they seemed to overflow from their sockets.

It wasn't worry, nor was it relief; it was a radiance that bordered on worship.

They witnessed firsthand how Xu Lin, with a few words and a laugh, turned a public denunciation meeting against him into an absurd and farcical spectacle.

"You're so mean."

Qin Huairu finally couldn't hold back any longer and gently punched Xu Lin's arm with her small fist. The force was soft and gentle, and it was more like an extreme expression of coquettishness and admiration than a reproach.

She tilted her pretty, flawless face up, her eyes sparkling, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, forming a captivating curve.

Tan Liya pursed her lips, a gentle smile spreading across them. She said nothing, simply turned and walked away, returning a moment later with a basin of steaming water.

The sound of rushing water was particularly clear in the quiet basement.

She walked up to Xu Lin without hesitation, naturally squatted down, placed the enamel basin at his feet, and tested the water temperature.

"Look how angry they are, their faces have turned a liverish color."

Tan Liya raised her head, smiling as she skillfully rolled up her sleeves, revealing her two fair wrists, ready to wash Xu Lin's feet.

Her actions were so natural, as if it were the most self-evident thing in the world.

Xu Lin did not refuse; he savored this tenderness that was uniquely his. His feet were immersed in the warm water, and a warm current instantly dispelled the fatigue of the day, rushing from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, making every pore on his body open up.

"You can't reason with these people."

Xu Lin leaned back in his chair, his voice calm yet possessing a penetrating power. He looked at Qin Huairu, as if explaining to both women.

"The more you back down, the more they will take advantage of you."

His gaze was deep, as if it could penetrate the walls of the basement and see the furious faces in the yard.

"You have to be more unreasonable than them, and use their own logic to trap them completely."

"Doesn't Yi Zhonghai like to stand on moral high ground and shout 'For the honor of the compound'? Fine, I'll give him a chance to serve the people of the whole factory. Let him inspect the toilets and see how high his 'awareness' really is."

"Isn't Liu Haizhong fond of putting on airs and dreaming of being an official every day? Fine, I'll give him the power of 'disciplinary inspection' and let him take his son on voluntary patrols to satisfy his desire for officialdom."

"Isn't Yan Bugui all he cares about money and scheming? Then I'll make him use his brains and pen to do something that will bring him absolutely no benefit: 'spiritual civilization construction'."

Xu Lin's voice was soft, but every word struck the hearts of the two women, allowing them to clearly see the man's skillful planning behind the scenes of that conference.

Qin Huairu listened intently, never imagining that words and logic could become weapons sharper than fists.

Tan Liya paused in her movements, looking up at her man, who had not only given her a stable life but also opened up a whole new world for her.

Feeling the gentle touch of Tan Liya's fingertips, Xu Lin abruptly changed the subject, a mocking smile curving his lips.

"Trying to mess with me?"

He chuckled softly, a laugh that carried absolute confidence and a hint of barely perceptible chill.

"joke."

"I could make a few of them disappear without a trace, it would be so easy."

The moment those words were spoken, the temperature in the basement seemed to drop several degrees.

Qin Huairu's smile froze.

Tan Liya stopped what she was doing.

Vanished without a trace.

The way Xu Lin uttered those four words was so nonchalant, yet it carried a chilling sense of reality. They had no doubt that he could actually do it.

Seeing their expressions change instantly, Xu Lin changed the subject, shrugged, and his face returned to its usual nonchalant and lazy demeanor.

"It's just that I'm kind-hearted and generous."

These words shattered the chilling atmosphere instantly.

Qin Huairu and Tan Liya were both taken aback.

The two looked at each other, both seeing a hint of disbelief in each other's eyes. Then, that disbelief quickly turned into a wry smile.

Kind-hearted?

generous?

Making Yi Zhonghai and his accomplices run wild, forcing them to do things like inspecting sanitation, patrolling, and writing blackboard bulletins—is that what you call being kind-hearted?

Is it called magnanimity to be able to tell someone to "disappear from the face of the earth" without batting an eye?

Qin Huairu's lips twitched involuntarily, but she couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing. She laughed so hard that she swayed and her body went limp against Xu Lin's body.

Tan Liya also lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, clearly amused by Xu Lin's shameless self-praise.

They knew, of course, that their men were no good.

His exceptional skills and meticulous thinking meant he never showed mercy to his enemies.

But it is precisely this ruthlessness and strength that makes them feel incredibly at ease.

In this turbulent era, women's fates are like duckweed, adrift and uncertain. Xu Lin, however, is their most steadfast harbor. His domineering nature, his unreasonableness, and the power that instills fear in even the most malicious, all transform into the warmest and strongest shield protecting them.

A man's strength is a woman's sense of security.

This statement was perfectly illustrated at this moment.

After the laughter subsided, the basement returned to silence.

Qin Huairu nestled beside Xu Lin, tilting her head back and gazing intently at his sharply defined profile.

Tan Liya lowered her head again and gently wiped the water droplets off his feet with her soft, boneless hands.

Under the lamplight, the man's contentment and the woman's gentleness created a harmonious and touching scene.

All the turmoil and scheming were kept outside the door.

Here, they find only peace and warmth.

At this moment, all three of them were filled with happiness because of each other's presence...