Chapter 233: To Live Well, One Must Wear…
"Hmm, Old Qian is back already… is he here to catch us in the act?"
Inside the laboratory, Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, amused and curious.
He didn't feel any psychological burden—after all, Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo were only in a fake marriage. Besides, it was Xian Lin'er who had seduced him first.
Since Ye Chen had already eaten his fill, naturally, there was no way he would let Qian Duoduo get a taste now.
After all, to live a decent life, one must… wear a little something on the head.
Ye Chen couldn't help but marvel at how melodramatic Shrek always was.
It had started all the way back during the Douluo I era, and even now it persisted—still going strong over tens of thousands of years later.
Mu En had been cheated on for years without realizing it, yet he still lived blissfully, as though nothing ever happened.
Shrek's leaders truly had the messiest love lives.
Naturally, their subordinates were even worse.
…
Moreover, given Qian Duoduo's cultivation and strength, getting women was never an issue.
But honest men had one defining trait—devotion.
For childhood sweethearts or first loves, they always carried a special attachment.
Though his marriage to Xian Lin'er was a sham, in Qian Duoduo's eyes, it was still a wonderful opportunity.
Originally, Xian Lin'er had only wanted to provoke Yan Shaozhe. If he had just taken one small step forward, Xian Lin'er would have divorced Qian Duoduo immediately.
But to her surprise, Yan Shaozhe hadn't gotten angry at all—he had even sent a two-hundred-coin wedding gift!
Meanwhile, Qian Duoduo was ecstatic, deluding himself into believing that Xian Lin'er might actually fall for him.
Ye Chen was just about to open the door when he heard a soft click. Xian Lin'er emerged from the lounge next door.
Clearly, she had sensed Qian Duoduo's arrival as well. She had already changed into a clean outfit and draped a lab coat over herself.
The front of the coat was left open, revealing a professional outfit underneath—a blouse and slacks, paired with her signature high heels.
She had also put on sheer black stockings—clearly, out of habit…
"Don't stare. Dean Qian is coming in soon. You better not make a sound, or I won't forgive you!" Xian Lin'er pinched Ye Chen lightly, warning him in a whisper.
If she were alone, it wouldn't be an issue—Qian Duoduo would never suspect anything.
But Ye Chen was unpredictable, and his wandering eyes could easily give something away if Qian Duoduo noticed.
"Teacher, I know~ I'm just here researching soul tools. How could Dean Qian suspect me?" Ye Chen shrugged and added teasingly, "But really, Teacher, the dean's pretty pitiful. Maybe you should introduce him to someone?"
Xian Lin'er: …
"Enough! Stop talking."
She glared at Ye Chen helplessly before heading to the door.
No one understood Qian Duoduo better than she did—he was hopelessly stubborn and incapable of liking anyone else.
Back then, she'd acted on impulse, asking Qian Duoduo to stage a fake marriage with her.
Only three people in the world knew the truth: herself, Qian Duoduo, and Ye Chen.
To everyone else, they appeared to be a loving couple—just one without children.
Her own mother had even urged her to go get checked several times…
The reason she hadn't given herself to Ye Chen before was fear—fear of getting addicted and being caught by Qian Duoduo.
The consequences of that would be unthinkable.
Hmm… since what happened today with Ye Chen had already happened—
—then it was time to bring up the matter of divorce with Qian Duoduo.
It wasn't that she meant to string him along, but rather, Qian Duoduo refused to let go no matter what.
Many times, she had told him to find a nice girl and divorce her peacefully.
But Qian Duoduo loved her too deeply. Every time she mentioned divorce, he would cry, throw a tantrum, even threaten to hang himself. What could she do? She could only pacify him.
After all, he was a Titled Douluo. If his mental state broke down, it would be a huge loss for Shrek Academy…
…
…
Xian Lin'er pondered all this as she approached the door.
"Beep—Identity confirmed, access granted."
With a soft hiss, the heavy metal doors of the lab slid open.
Qian Duoduo's weary yet expectant face appeared in the doorway.
When he raised his eyes and saw Xian Lin'er, he froze completely.
"Lin'er… you… what happened to you…"
Qian Duoduo rubbed his eyes, half thinking he was seeing things.
Xian Lin'er's beauty in that moment left him utterly speechless, his mind going blank.
It wasn't just that she looked healthier; her features seemed softer and fuller, her delicate face glowing with renewed vitality.
Her eyes—usually sharp with intelligence—now gleamed with crystalline clarity, like springwater freshly freed from winter ice. Even the faintest lines had vanished, leaving her radiating the vibrant energy of youth.
A few strands of dark, glossy hair fell gently beside her ear, silkier and smoother than ever before.
And whether it was because of Ye Chen's influence or not, Xian Lin'er's aura had become even more irresistibly captivating.
For the ever-innocent Qian Duoduo, this was simply an unbearable temptation!
"What do you mean, what happened to me?"
Xian Lin'er's tone was calm, betraying no emotion.
Qian Duoduo opened his mouth wide, eyes round, swallowing hard before stammering out in disbelief, "Lin… Lin'er, you… you look amazing today… heh… hehehe…"
Embarrassed, Qian Duoduo scratched his head and avoided her gaze.
Despite being married to her for so long, her cold demeanor always made him feel like a nervous teenager. At work, he was confident and outspoken, but in front of her, he was painfully cautious—afraid that one wrong move would make her leave.
Seeing his awkwardness, Xian Lin'er frowned slightly, irritation creeping into her tone. "Did you need something? If not, stop standing here and disturbing my research."
She even shifted her body slightly, clearly intending to close the door and block him out again.
"W-wait, I just… I wanted to…"
Qian Duoduo opened his mouth, but one sharp glare from her silenced him.
He finally managed to muster the courage to say, "Actually… it's nothing important. It's just that it's noon already, and… I just got back from my trip, so I thought maybe we could have lunch together? I know you're busy… but even a quick meal or a cup of tea would be nice?"
He sounded sheepish, knowing full well this request would probably make her uncomfortable.
But Xian Lin'er was simply too stunning today.
Just the thought of sharing a meal with her was enough to make his fatigue evaporate.
He'd probably even smile in his sleep tonight.
At this moment, Qian Duoduo felt incredibly lucky to have married such a beautiful woman.
Unfortunately for him, Xian Lin'er rejected him without hesitation.
"No need."
She made up an excuse smoothly: "My soul tool research is at a critical stage. I'll be very busy—please don't disturb me."
(END CHAPTER)
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