Tian Mengyao lifted her chin. "Don't worry, when Borun Pharmaceutical reopens, you'll witness what a real money-printing machine is."
She patted Lin Fan's shoulder. "You'll become the richest man in Shimen Town, even Shimen County."
"Give it a rest, no one's buying your empty promises," Lin Fan pouted.
"Can you please take this seriously? You must keep a close eye on that guy who opened the beauty salon. Tell me immediately if there are any problems," Tian Mengyao cautioned.
"Don't keep saying 'opened a beauty salon', that's all in the past," Lin Fan advised.
"I will say it, and I will say it again. She's a beauty salon owner, so what?" Tian Mengyao retorted stubbornly.
"Alright, alright, say whatever you want."
Lin Fan stretched. "It's getting late, let's go to bed."
With that, he put his arm around Tian Mengyao's shoulder and walked towards the clinic.
"Take your dirty hands off me!"
Tian Mengyao slapped Lin Fan's hand. "I think you've been getting up to no good outside, being so handsy. What do you want?"
"On this beautiful, moonlit night, of course, I want to go back to our room and rest, my dear wife," Lin Fan said in a nasally tone.
"Wife, your head!" Tian Mengyao huffed. "Hmph, you only know how to make me angry all day."
"Let me have a kiss," Lin Fan didn't let go.
"You dare..." Tian Mengyao struggled with all her might, but how could a frail girl be a match for a strong young man?
Half an hour later, the clinic door opened.
Tian Mengyao's face was flushed, and her beautiful eyes were slightly moist.
"From now on, you're not allowed to force me to do things I don't like, understand?"
"Got it."
"You don't sound sincere at all."
Tian Mengyao pinched Lin Fan hard. Then, noticing his dejected look, she quickly asked, "Hey, are you mad?"
She poked Lin Fan's chest with her delicate, green onion-like fingers.
"No," Lin Fan denied.
"You have a face like you've eaten bitter gourds, yet you say you're not mad," Tian Mengyao pouted.
She pondered for a moment, then lowered her head and whispered, "It's not that I don't like being with you, it's just that my father is very demanding, and his temper is as stubborn as a mule. Without his permission, we..."
"We what?" Lin Fan asked, feigning ignorance.
"Oh, you're so annoying," Tian Mengyao playfully hit Lin Fan's chest.
"My dad will break my legs, really, I'm not kidding," Tian Mengyao said with a serious expression.
"Oh." In truth, Lin Fan had been coveting that snow lotus for a long time.
Tian Mengyao was different from Jiang Duxue.
Jiang Duxue might never be able to leave Lin Fan due to her chronic cold illness.
If Lin Fan didn't take it, would she have to find another man?
Tian Mengyao clearly had many options. Given her father's status and position, the talented young men pursuing her could fill Shimen Town.
"I'll ask my dad when he's free and take you to meet him. My mother is easy to deal with, but I'm worried about my dad being so stubborn," Tian Mengyao said, fiddling with the hem of her clothes.
"Okay." Lin Fan secretly chuckled. May your esteemed father remain stubborn forever!
"I'm going back." Tian Mengyao looked up at Lin Fan, then opened her arms to hug him and kissed him.
Lin Fan gently stroked Tian Mengyao's hair, his expression dazed. How much longer could their relationship last?
Where would it lead in the future?
After sending Tian Mengyao off, Lin Fan returned to the clinic and dragged a heavy box from under the bed.
A clattering sound echoed as the army of gu insects, sensing Lin Fan's presence, excitedly flapped their wings against the box.
Lin Fan unlatched the clasps, and the little creatures eagerly flew out, swirling around their master.
"At least I have you guys."
Lin Fan smiled happily. Suddenly, he felt that these ferocious, bloodthirsty, iron-headed gu, which fed on flesh and blood, were not terrifying but rather endearing.
At least, they wouldn't betray him, nor did they have any ulterior motives.
As long as they were provided with food and a box to live in, they would follow him loyally, never abandoning him.
"Let's see who the lucky one is today."
Lin Fan extended his hand.
Buzz!
The gu insect army immediately erupted into chaos, scrambling to fly towards Lin Fan's palm.
Only the fastest and strongest iron-headed gu could overcome its companions and land on Lin Fan's hand first.
"It's you."
Lin Fan closed his palm. The other iron-headed gu, unwillingly, circled his fist, as if waiting to see if there was still a chance.
"Go back and sleep."
Lin Fan pointed at the box.
Buzz buzz buzz...
The gu insect army was obedient and flew back into the box one after another.
Lin Fan closed the box and put it back under the bed, then lay down on the sofa.
"Little ones, evolve diligently."
As he spoke, Lin Fan activated his dan tian, circulating spiritual energy to his hand.
The Primordial Purple Qi was also called spiritual energy; there was no difference between them; both were the essence of heaven and earth.
A wisp of spiritual energy, like a trickling stream, slowly entered the iron-headed gu's body.
...
The next morning, the sky was gloomy, with lead-gray clouds obscuring the rising sun.
The wind howled, and raindrops formed a continuous line, pattering against the windowpane.
Lin Fan rolled over and slept soundly amidst the wind and rain.
On days like these, few people would come seeking medical treatment.
Therefore, he could sleep in.
A small, golden insect with six transparent wings on Lin Fan's shoulder slowly fell to the ground.
Along with its fall was a black and yellow casing, which now looked like decaying deadwood, completely devoid of life.
The peculiar little insect flapped its wings and flew back to Lin Fan's shoulder. Its ruby-like eyes gleamed with intelligence, and it crawled forward with light steps.
After a moment, it crawled forward again and stood on Lin Fan's face, seemingly enjoying the warm breeze from Lin Fan's exhalations.
"What is that?"
Lin Fan, in his sleep, felt an itch on his face, mumbled something, and reached out to swat it away.
Instantly, his hand and face both hurt!
"Ah!"
Lin Fan exclaimed, his eyes snapping open as he sat up. He instinctively shook his hand.
The golden silkworm gu was flung away. It nimbly flapped its beautiful six wings, regaining its balance in an instant, and flew back towards Lin Fan.
"It's you, you scared me," Lin Fan said irritably.
The golden silkworm gu fluttered up and down, seemingly nodding in communication with Lin Fan.
Knock knock knock!
Just then, a knock came from outside.
And Xia Xue's voice called out, "Xiao Fan, hurry up and open the door."
"Okay, I'm coming right away."
Lin Fan reached out his hand, and the golden silkworm gu gently landed on it, remaining still.
He quickly ran into the inner room, dragged the box out from under the bed, and opened the clasps.
The gu insect army, thinking their master was going to feed them, flapped their wings and rose into the air.
"Back!" Lin Fan commanded.
The gu insects were somewhat reluctant. A few obedient ones flew back into the box, while most hovered in the air, looking at Lin Fan with expectant eyes.
Lin Fan was getting angry and was about to shout again. However, at that moment, the golden silkworm gu on his hand suddenly jumped up and flew towards the iron-headed gu that refused to return to the box.
Even though the golden silkworm gu was smaller than the iron-headed gu, it exerted immense pressure on them.
With the golden silkworm gu above, the iron-headed gu began to descend. None of them dared to fly higher than it, nor did any dare to approach it.