The lakeside wasn't a place to talk. After some introductions, the group relocated to a small teahouse inside the park.

The gentle-looking man talking to Yin Yan was named Wen Yi. He was also from B City's business circles. His family's business wasn't large, placing him on the periphery of the circle. He and Yin Yan were high school classmates. Their relationship wasn't particularly close, but it was slightly better than just nodding acquaintances. They would chat when they ran into each other.

"I didn't expect that after just a few months, you'd be the first among us to start a family. Congratulations."

Wen Yi's looks were merely delicate, but his temperament was gentle and refined. He spoke unhurriedly with a friendly and natural tone, making people feel as pleasant as a spring breeze when he chatted and laughed.

Yu Zhen naturally had little resistance to people with such a friendly aura. He quickly rated his impression of him as above standard, and the awkwardness in his heart from the public embrace unknowingly dissipated a lot.

"Thank you."

Yin Yan expressed his thanks. Under the table, the hand he held with Yu Zhen moved slightly, and he pried the Boundary Lure from Yu Zhen's palm.

Yu Zhen turned his head to look at him, asking with his eyes what he was doing.

"Why did you come to this park? And with a group of children."

Yin Yan didn't look at him and continued chatting with Wen Yi. He let go of their hands under the table, raised his, and placed it on the tabletop to get a sugar packet.

Having lost the only source of heat, his body temperature began to drop again. Yu Zhen's body reacted before his brain could; with a shuffle, he squeezed right next to Yin Yan, pressing tightly against him. His hand under the table landed on Yin Yan's thigh and even rubbed it twice.

'So cold, I still want to hug him.'

Yin Yan paused for a moment, then nonchalantly took the sugar packet back, tore it open, and poured it into Yu Zhen's coffee. He picked up a spoon and, while stirring for him, said, "Have some coffee to warm up first."

As he spoke, with a flick of his finger, he dropped the Boundary Lure into it.

Yu Zhen's eyes widened, and his hand tightened unconsciously. "You..." 'What are you doing, dropping the Boundary Lure in there!'

"Is your chest feeling uncomfortable again?" Yin Yan asked with a calm face.

Yu Zhen's attention was diverted. He felt his heart, which had started to pound erratically again, and nodded repeatedly.

"You'll be fine after drinking this," Yin Yan continued to spout nonsense with a calm face.

"..."

Yu Zhen stared at the coffee cup with a look of deep suffering, weighing "arrhythmia" against "drinking something strange." In the end, he withdrew the hand on Yin Yan's thigh and picked up the coffee cup.

Yin Yan imperceptibly shifted a little to the side and looked at Wen Yi, who had politely averted his gaze across from them. He said, "Sorry, he's not feeling well. Please excuse us."

"It's alright." Wen Yi turned his head back. His gaze lingered for a second on Yu Zhen, who was obediently drinking his coffee with his eyes lowered, before he politely looked away. Facing Yin Yan again, he said with a smile, "Your relationship is so good, it's enviable. When are you planning to have the wedding? I'll have to be shameless and come for a wedding toast then."

"The wedding is being planned. Our parents want a grand celebration, so the official date will probably be set for a year from now."

"A year is a good amount of time. You can prepare well. Right now, wedding planners and hotel venues are hard to—"

WHOOP—WHOOP—WHOOP—

The park's alarm suddenly blared, interrupting their conversation and also stopping Yu Zhen's motion of putting down his coffee cup.

"What's going on?"

"What happened?"

The customers in the teahouse immediately grew restless. Wen Yi quickly turned to comfort the children he had brought, then frowned at the teahouse manager who was rushing in.

"It's alright, it's alright, everyone, don't panic. It's just that in the small woods by Crescent Moon Lake, a tree suddenly fell, broke the lakeside fence, and triggered the alarm. Just don't go toward Crescent Moon Lake, and you'll be fine. It's nothing!"

After the manager finished his explanation, the park's broadcast also started, reporting the same situation as the manager had described.

The customers were relieved and gradually quieted down.

After hearing this explanation, Wen Yi's face turned pale. He said with lingering fear, "These children are my girlfriend's students. I came today to accompany her while they sketch. Before I ran into you, one of the kids had an upset stomach, so my girlfriend took him to the restroom. She told me to wait with the other children by the lake for a while. If we hadn't run into you..."

The consequences would have been unimaginable.

Hearing this, Yu Zhen abruptly looked down at the coffee cup he had already emptied, then turned his head to look at Yin Yan.

Yin Yan had said before that if the Boundary Lure wasn't removed, something terrible would happen sooner or later.

"It's good that you're alright. Next time you take the children out, remember to avoid places with deep water and dense forests as much as possible, just to be safe."

Yin Yan squeezed his hand gently under the table, but on the surface, he was still talking with Wen Yi.

"You're right. I was careless this time." Wen Yi nodded in fear, glanced back at the children who were sitting together obediently eating snacks, and thanked Yin Yan again.

Five minutes later, Wen Yi's girlfriend arrived at the teahouse in a hurry with the child who had an upset stomach. After hearing Wen Yi explain what had happened, she also thanked Yin Yan repeatedly out of fear and, along with the children, gave them a painting.

"Running into a ghost is scary, but this painting is really beautiful."

On the way back, Yu Zhen sat in the passenger seat, treasuring the landscape painting with its still-immature style. He stroked it gently, his eyes curved into crescents, full of satisfaction.

"Mm."

Yin Yan responded with a low sound and held out a pill.

"What for?" Yu Zhen was stunned.

"Eat it. It suppresses the effects of the Boundary Lure. The previous one you took is about to wear off."

Yu Zhen was puzzled. "The previous one? I don't remember taking any before... Ah, you didn't just drop the Boundary Lure into the coffee?"

Yin Yan nodded, holding the pill closer to him again.

"..." 'So just how many strange things have I been fed today?'

Yu Zhen muttered, took the pill, and ate it. He belatedly realized that his body hadn't felt cold since he drank the coffee. His eyes curved into crescents again. He glanced at Yin Yan's serious profile as he drove and couldn't help but praise him, "You were so cool today, saving so many childr—"

Screech—

The car screeched to a halt. Yin Yan swiftly unbuckled his seatbelt and got out.

Yu Zhen stared wide-eyed, watching as Yin Yan walked around the front of the car and headed for a convenience store by the roadside. He couldn't help but roll down the window, stick his head out, and ask loudly, "What are you going to do now!"

"Buying daily necessities," Yin Yan answered without turning his head, his long legs already stepping through the convenience store's door.

"..." As if I'd believe you!

When the two arrived home, dinner was just being served. Chou Feiqian had already calmed down. Seeing Yin Yan return with only two boxes of underwear, she didn't say anything and greeted them for dinner as usual.

After dinner, Yin Hexiang and Chou Feiqian went to the third-floor study to handle the backlog of business affairs. Yin Le, not wanting to be a third wheel, thoughtfully returned to his room to read.

Yu Zhen followed Yin Yan back to their room. As soon as he entered, he snatched the underwear from Yin Yan's hand and said with red ears, "You- why didn't you leave them in the car? It's so embarrassing for Mom and Dad to see."

Yin Yan didn't speak. Instead, he raised his hand and waved it lightly in front of him.

Pop.

As if an invisible protective shield had been pierced, Yu Zhen's body trembled. His body temperature rapidly dropped, and at the same time, his heart began to pound wildly. The cries of countless ghosts and monsters converged, clamoring in his ears. A sinister wind rose, and something was desperately trying to burst out of his chest.

"Breathe deeply, sit cross-legged, practice Five Hearts Facing Heaven, and silently recite the incantation I taught you before."

The bag of underwear in his hand fell to the floor. Yu Zhen instinctively took a step forward, wanting to touch Yin Yan who stood before him, but the other man dodged away.

"Yu Zhen, this is your own path. I can't help you."

His vision gradually blurred, as if a layer of black gauze was covering his eyes, trying to drag him into darkness.

He tried his best to open his eyes wide but could only see the blurry silhouette of Yin Yan through the black gauze.

"Control the Boundary Lure and sink it into your Dantian. Stabilize your soul. Do not let yourself be controlled by the Boundary Lure."

In his chaotic consciousness, only this cool voice remained clear. He slowly calmed down, imitated how his grandfather used to meditate, sat cross-legged with Five Hearts Facing Heaven, and sank his consciousness downwards.

Thump, thump, thump.

In his left chest, a tiny, bean-sized drop of crimson blood was pulsating, contracting and expanding in rhythm with his heartbeat.

A few strands of golden light suddenly appeared, then gathered more and more, quickly forming a vortex that rushed fiercely toward the drop of blood.

"What a great Asking Heaven Sect! What a great world-renowned noble sect! After tearing off your hypocritical facade, how are you any different from that evil demon!"

"Who are you?"

"Master, please accept this disciple's bow."

"This disciple does not seek eternal life, only to accompany Master forever."

"Abyss of Suffering, Infinite Hell, Desolate Ancient City, Copper Beard Illusionary Realm... What a Pagoda of Xu Wu! It turns out... even you were lying to me."

"This path to eternal life... I won't walk it anymore."

"This departure is a final farewell... I adore you, and you?"

Boom—

The golden light dragged the drop of blood straight into his Dantian, then exploded with a rumble, suffusing the area with a vast expanse of golden light.

Warmth returned to his limbs, and his consciousness floated upward. Yu Zhen opened his eyes, and the hazy morning light washed over him. Yin Yan was still in the same position as before his consciousness faded, standing two steps away with his back to the dawn, quietly watching him.

A suppressed and desperate emotion echoed in his chest. He raised a hand to touch his cheek and indeed felt a trail of wetness. He asked blankly in a low voice, "Strange, why am I crying... I think I dreamed of something terrible."

"My heart is with you."

"What?"

He came back to his senses, wiped the tears from his face, and tried to stand up and get closer. But his legs, having been crossed for too long, were stiff, and his body tilted, about to fall.

Yin Yan stepped forward and steadily caught him, pulling him into his arms. He pressed Yu Zhen's head down, not letting him see his face.

"Than... What's wrong with you?" Yu Zhen asked, puzzled. After steadying himself against Yin Yan, he tried to push him away but couldn't move him.

Yin Yan was silent. After a long moment, he replied, "You're cold."

"???"

Yu Zhen felt his body temperature and looked up to reply, "I'm not cold. It's just that my heart feels heavy and very sad, and my nose is a bit stuffy. Am I catching a cold?"

Yin Yan slowly released him. His expression was hard to see because he was backlit. He didn't answer the question but instead turned and strode into the bathroom, locking the door behind him.

Yu Zhen: "..."

'What's wrong with him now? Could it be that my crying scared him?'