It was almost dark when they came out of the mall.

Yin Yan drove with a calm expression, and Yu Zhen played with the cat with a calm expression. One was in the driver's seat, the other on the right side of the back seat, with what felt like an entire galaxy between them.

“Meow~”

Xu Wu stood up in Yu Zhen's palm, its front paws struggling to press against his face as if puzzled by his appearance, stretching its head to sniff him continuously.

Yu Zhen indulgently held it up in front of his face, letting it sniff around, his eyes fixed on its twitching ears, the affection in them nearly overflowing.

“Xu Wu.” Yin Yan suddenly spoke.

The kitten froze, obediently retracted its paws, meowed once at Yu Zhen, flicked its tail, and disappeared.

“...”

Yu Zhen lowered his hands and stared at the back of Yin Yan's head without speaking.

Yin Yan said matter-of-factly, “Xu Wu is still too weak. It’s not suitable for it to stay outside for long periods.”

Yu Zhen's expression drooped as he turned to look out the window. A few seconds later, he suddenly turned his head back, tilted his body to an angle where he could see Yin Yan's profile, and said, “Thank you.”

For helping clean out the old box, for taking the trouble to help him accumulate power, for finding an excuse to buy him clothes... Although Yin Yan was always expressionless and would inexplicably keep his distance from him from time to time as if he found him repulsive, he could feel that the other person was genuinely good to him, like family—natural and warm.

Yin Yan still didn't turn around, not even altering the rhythm of his driving, but Yu Zhen noticed him suddenly blink twice—two very abrupt blinks.

“This identity as Yin Yan is my Karma. The ultimate purpose of buying you clothes is to fulfill the obligations that come with this identity. You've been implicated because of me, so there's no need to thank me. I should be the one apologizing.”

His tone was still calm. Just then, an oncoming car passed by, its headlights sweeping across and blurring Yin Yan's expression as he spoke.

Yu Zhen leaned against the car window, a sudden itch blooming in his heart. He couldn't help but ask the question he hadn't dared to ask before: “What is your name?”

Another car drove past. This time, Yin Yan didn't answer immediately. He was quiet for a moment before saying, “Yin Yan.”

“I mean your real name.” Yu Zhen lifted his head from the window.

The car turned into the hotel where the Yin Family was staying and came to a steady stop. Yin Yan unbuckled his seatbelt, turned to look into Yu Zhen's eyes, and said, “Yin Yan. In this realm, I only have one name: Yin Yan.”

As he said this, he pointed a finger upward, toward the sky that had now completely darkened.

Yu Zhen was stunned, then suddenly understood his meaning.

He couldn't say it. He couldn't tell his real name to anyone, because the Heavenly Dao would find out.

A faint sadness inexplicably filled his heart. Yu Zhen followed Yin Yan out of the car and into the hotel. Before stepping into the elevator, he couldn't help but take a step forward, grab his sleeve again, and ask, “Then when will I be able to know?”

Yin Yan turned his head to look at him, then suddenly raised a hand to cover his eyes. “When you become strong enough, when my soul has been fully mended through your body, this heaven will no longer be able to do anything to me,” he replied.

Ding, the elevator doors closed and began to ascend slowly.

Outside the elevator, Han Ya stood frozen two steps away from the entrance.

That handsome man in the elevator just now, who turned his head with a slight smile, his eyes gentle yet tinged with pride—was that Yin Yan? The Yin Yan who reeked of the vulgar aura of money? The Yin Yan who always put on a look of being deeply affectionate yet weak?

No... How could Yin Yan be like that? How could he have that kind of expression? It wasn't him. It definitely wasn't.

“Xiao Ya!” Wu Xuan ran over, his sharp brows furrowed and his eyes betraying a hint of impatience. Suppressing his temper, he persuaded, “The Yin Family has made it clear they don't want to see you. Why do you insist on chasing them around to apologize? It's just a small shipment that got held up. I'll find another channel to get a new batch for your dad!”

Han Ya snapped back to her senses. She had finally heard what she wanted to hear from him, but suddenly, she didn't feel happy at all.

“I'm sorry, I was being willful.” She lowered her head, her long, soft hair sliding over her shoulder, further accentuating her frail and delicate frame. In a low voice, she said, “I'm just scared. My dad only has me, his one daughter, yet I'm so useless...”

Wu Xuan's furrowed brow relaxed. He looked at her with a mix of helplessness and pity, sighed, and put an arm around her shoulders, leading her away. His voice softened, “You're just too filial. Don't think so much about it. The new year is almost here, and your dad is waiting for you to come home.”

...

The Yin Family had no idea someone had been chasing them all over H Province wanting to apologize. At that moment, they were enjoying a lively dinner, and Chou Feiqian, with selfish intentions, had arranged for Yu Zhen to sit next to her.

When Yin Yan had brought Yu Zhen back earlier, she almost hadn't recognized him. Once she did, she was ecstatic.

She already knew Yu Zhen was good-looking; even a bulky padded coat couldn't make him look bad. But she never expected him to look this handsome after being properly dressed up. His looks were in no way inferior to those young heartthrobs in the entertainment industry who relied on their faces for a living.

Especially now. After arriving at the restaurant's private room, Yu Zhen had taken off his coat and was sitting there in just a white sweater. He looked so well-behaved and fluffy that just looking at him made one's heart feel warm.

After his car accident, her son's taste and aesthetic sense had simply taken a qualitative leap.

“This sweater is nice, and your haircut is great too. Mom will buy you a few more outfits later so you can wear something different every day!”

The cold-faced, strong career woman of the mall instantly transformed into a warm, nagging mother. She would praise Yu Zhen every few moments and glance at him from time to time, embarrassing him so much that the tips of his ears were constantly red. He couldn't even eat in peace and almost forgot how to hold his chopsticks.

Sitting opposite them, Yin Le watched and stifled his laughter, spilling half his bowl of rice in the process.

“Xiao Le will be taking the college entrance exams next year. Mom, Dad, have you decided whether to send him abroad or have him attend a university here in the country?” Yin Yan suddenly spoke. As he talked, he casually moved a dish for Yu Zhen, and then, with a plop, a meatball landed in Yu Zhen's bowl.

Yu Zhen paused, then quickly scooped up the meatball with his spoon and popped it into his mouth, cautiously glancing at Chou Feiqian, afraid she would notice.

However, the attention of the Yin Family members had already been diverted by the topic Yin Yan had brought up. They all turned to look at Yin Le.

Seeing this, Yu Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. Feeling the medicinal fragrance spread in his mouth and the temperature of his ears return to normal, his discomfort eased considerably.

“He'll stay in the country and attend university in B City!”

Chou Feiqian made the decision on the spot. She shot a glare at her husband, who was about to object, and leaned in to say in a low voice, “You should know full well how Xiao Yan met Han Ya back then. I don't want Xiao Le to go abroad and bring something back with him.”

Upon hearing this, Yin Hexiang decisively shut his mouth. He glanced at his younger son, who had let out a huge sigh of relief, and raised no further objections.

After dinner, Chou Feiqian went to get rooms for Yin Yan and Yu Zhen. She originally wanted to get them a room with a king-sized bed, but Yin Yan suddenly appeared and insisted on changing it to two separate rooms.

“You brat, you're the one who wants to get a marriage certificate, so what's all this fuss about now!” Chou Feiqian was furious, scolding him in a low voice.

“We have to get up early tomorrow to catch the flight back to B City. He needs a good rest tonight,” Yin Yan explained with a calm face, his reason incredibly perfunctory.

Chou Feiqian's mind immediately went in the wrong direction. She looked him up and down, then glanced at Yu Zhen, who was being engaged in conversation by Yin Le not far away. She shoved the room key into his hand, averted her gaze, and mumbled, “I know you're young and full of vigor, and you've been holding it in for years because of Han... because of that menace. But Xiao Zhen is a boy. You... you be gentle. You can't be too unrestrained, even if you're newly married.”

“...” For the first time, the pure Mr. Great Power didn't know how to respond to the words of a mortal.

“Anyway, you better take it easy! I'm very fond of this kid, Xiao Zhen. Don't you go messing around and scare him away!”

Chou Feiqian was also a bit embarrassed saying this. She left him with those words and walked away in her high heels, leaving Yin Yan alone holding the room key. He lowered his eyes and remained quiet for a long time, then slowly turned his head, fixing his gaze on the beautifully smiling Yu Zhen in the distance. Then, his gaze shifted downward, landing on the area below Yu Zhen's waist.

Thump, thump... Thump-thump-thump.

Yu Zhen stopped talking, raised a hand to press against his chest, and frowned in confusion.

“Brother Yu, what's wrong?” Yin Le asked, puzzled.

Yu Zhen shook his head. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yin Yan striding into the elevator. He paused for a moment, then quickly pulled Yin Le along to chase after him, raising his voice, “Wait, let's go together—”

Ding. The elevator doors closed.

Yin Le scratched his head, his eyes full of confusion and bewilderment. “Strange. Why didn't my brother call for us if he was going up? And I'm sure he heard us calling him just now.”

Yu Zhen had a numb, blank look on his face. “Maybe his ‘mysophobia’ is acting up again,” he said.

Yin Le: “Mysophobia?” When did his big brother pick up that problem?

At nine the next morning, everyone boarded the plane. Yin Yan had arranged for Yu Zhen to sit by the window. Yin Hexiang and Chou Feiqian were in front of them, while Yin Le and Weng Xiping were behind, giving him a great sense of security.

After sitting down, he pulled off the scarf from his neck. Just as he was about to turn and speak to Yin Yan, he noticed that the Yin Family members in front of and behind them, who had been chatting, suddenly all went quiet.

“What's wrong?” he asked, confused.

Yin Yan glanced at the two figures approaching in the aisle, rubbed the ring on his finger, and said nothing.

Han Ya never expected that the Yin Family, whom she had painstakingly searched for for days without success, would end up on the same flight back to B City as her. And by a strange coincidence, they were seated in the same row.

To be precise, she and Yin Yan were in the same row, separated by the aisle.

Although she hadn't recognized Yin Yan at first glance.

Today, Yin Yan was wearing a smoky-gray, mid-length overcoat, paired with a high-collared black sweater, black trousers, and black leather shoes. Aside from a gemstone brooch on the coat's lapel, there were no other bright colors on him.

They were all basic pieces of clothing, yet he managed to wear them in a way that exuded an air of noble elegance.

Especially when, with a calm expression, he turned his head, lowered his eyes, and reached out a long, fair hand to take a camel-colored scarf—a warm tone completely opposite to his attire. The sense of magnificent, understated quality that erupted from the clash of cool and warm tones was like a perfectly composed high-fashion photograph, captivating people and making it impossible to look away.

He was too dazzling, as if his entire being was glowing.

The Yin Yan before her only had vaguely familiar facial features; his expression and posture were completely foreign.

Han Ya was stunned once again, as if she were truly seeing his face for the first time. Her gaze was glued to his calm profile and his long, strong fingers. She unconsciously took a step forward and called out in a low voice, “Yan...”

Wu Xuan, standing beside Han Ya, frowned. Chou Feiqian, sitting in the seat in front of Yin Yan, immediately exploded.