Quan Shao Cheng's car was stopped outside. While they were being announced and inspected, the two of them also arrived.
Luan Yu, supporting herself on the guard post, felt dizzy. Others were talking with the people protecting Zhu Zhongyan. Upon seeing Zhu Ji return, their focus immediately shifted.
"Miss Gu, you're finally back. This gentleman..."
"Shao Cheng." Sheng Qing Chi saw his old friend, showing rare excitement. "Long time no see."
Quan Shao Cheng greeted him with a smile and, through him, met Zhu Ji.
Zhu Ji was looking at everyone in a daze when Luan Yu, staggering, lunged at her. "You're finally, back."
The moment Zhu Ji touched her, she felt how broken Luan Yu's body was. Knowing Luan Yu's abilities, she was intensely curious about whatever could injure her to this extent. She set aside any past grievances and stabilized Luan Yu.
Luan Yu's body recovered slightly, and she gained some strength, managing to stand steadily.
"What happened to you?"
Luan Yu opened her mouth to speak, then glanced around. "Let's talk inside. I, I almost died."
"I can see that."
Zhu Ji turned to Sheng Qing Chi and the other. "Thank you, Mr. Quan, for bringing my friend here. It's too late to entertain you tonight. I'll come to thank you another day."
"Miss Gu, you're too kind."
He had initially thought that woman was an interloper in their marriage, but now it seemed he had been mistaken.
"I'll thank him for you. Miss Gu, you should go back and rest. See you tomorrow."
"Farewell."
After seeing them off, the two walked back.
Although Luan Yu felt a bit better, she still had no strength, hanging onto Zhu Ji like a boneless corpse.
"Don't cling to me, it's uncomfortable."
Luan Yu straightened herself up, but after two seconds, she slumped back. "I don't want to, but I really have no strength. I almost didn't make it back."
"Where did you go? What did you encounter?"
With her abilities, even if she couldn't win a fight, escaping would be more than enough. How could she have been injured to this extent?
"I... it's a long story."
As they reached the doorway, the person inside opened it first.
Zhu Zhongyan stood at the entrance and his expression turned to surprise upon seeing Zhu Ji. "You're back!"
"Mhm."
The three walked into the living room together. It was already early the next morning, and the housekeepers were asleep. Zhu Zhongyan didn't want to disturb them, so the lights were kept dim.
"Her, what's wrong?"
"Just a little injured." She pushed Luan Yu onto the sofa. "You look quite disheveled too. Why don't you rest for tonight? We can discuss anything in the morning."
Zhu Zhongyan realized belatedly. "The person they were talking about just now, was that her?"
"Mhm." Zhu Ji actually guessed that Luan Yu must have mentioned her name, but since her public name was Gu Ji, they hadn't reacted immediately.
As for what that man originally intended to do with this matter, it was unknown.
Luan Yu nodded. "I can't talk much now. We'll talk tomorrow."
"Then I'll go check the guest room."
"No need." She waved her hand weakly. "Which room does Dong Ling stay in? I'll share with him."
As the saying goes, it's better to let a house be a place for mourning than for a couple. Zhu Zhongyan thought their relationship was at most boyfriend-girlfriend, so he hesitated at her words.
"We're not in an improper relationship. We've been married for decades, it's fine to share a room."
Zhu Zhongyan: "..." He wanted to ask how many decades she had lived?
Zhu Ji pointed to a guest room upstairs. "The second room on the left. Don't mind them, go rest."
After saying that, she pulled Zhu Zhongyan upstairs.
Zhu Zhongyan had many questions, but he also felt that Zhu Ji had just returned and didn't want to dampen her spirits, so he kept them to himself.
Back in the room, Zhu Ji saw the baby sleeping soundly on their bed. She leaned over and kissed her cheek, then moved the baby to the nearby crib.
Zhu Zhongyan was confused. "What's wrong? You don't want the baby to sleep with us?"
"I'm afraid I'll crush her."
He was even more perplexed. "How? You never crushed her before. I held her..."
"I will crush you." Zhu Ji pushed him down onto the bed. "Don't worry about her, or I'll crush you too."
Zhu Zhongyan gently kissed her cheek. "You're already crushing me now."
"Learned to be naughty?"
"Learned to be obedient?"
"You've always been very obedient."
No matter the world, Zhongyan couldn't deviate too much from his essence. Unless something that could break him happened, he wouldn't be too crazy, at most a little perverted.
Of course, in front of her, he had always been very obedient.
---
At half-past eight the next morning, the management office with the prepared magnetic disks opened, and people received notices to collect and wear them at different times. Su Dan Novel Network.
Including Zhu Zhongyan and Zhu Ji, the notice specifically reminded them to bring the baby.
Their appointment was in the afternoon, and the management point was only a few kilometers from their residence, so they leisurely had breakfast first.
Luan Yu had recovered some strength after resting for the night.
Dong Ling Sui, knowing she was injured, was even more anxious than she was. He was happy to be ordered around by her and even proactively let Luan Yu kiss him.
Zhu Ji walked into the dining room, holding someone. "Behave yourself."
Dong Ling Sui's face turned red as he sat to the side.
Luan Yu showed no signs of shyness and looked at Zhu Ji meaningfully. "You've eaten and drunk your fill, you should be more considerate of me. I haven't had any 'meat' for months, I'm starving."
Before Zhu Ji could say anything, Dong Ling Sui looked genuinely heartbroken. "Are you hungry? Didn't you eat properly while you were away? Eat quickly, I'll serve you."
Zhu Ji burst out laughing.
Luan Yu was depressed and tugged on his face. "When will you ever catch on?"
Dong Ling Sui looked confused. "Catch on to what?"
Zhu Ji laughed even harder.
Zhu Zhongyan also walked in. After greeting the other two, they began to eat breakfast.
After breakfast, Luan Yu was taken to the study by Zhu Ji.
"Talk."
Luan Yu slumped her entire body onto the sofa, listlessly. "I met my future self."
Zhu Ji was slightly surprised.
"I've always wondered where those things came from, so I caught one and traced it back, then I went to another world. My other self there hadn't met Dong Ling. Her behavior... damn, she was like a lunatic! She attacked me on sight. Not only that, but I also met you, who was also a lunatic. I was attacked by them and almost killed."
"Me?"
Luan Yu nodded with a slight heaviness.
"Impossible!"
She was not bound by rules. There was only one of her in the world, she couldn't be replicated.
Unless...
"What did you think of?"
"A mirror."
That mirror had replicated her. That "her" not only had her abilities but could also come to the real world.
In that world, she had only passed through that mirror once, and she had already killed that replica.
Why would it appear again?
Zhu Ji had two guesses in mind. First, she had passed through the mirror more than once, and there was more than one replica. Second, the replica could also replicate "her" replica.
"What did you think of? What mirror?"
Zhu Ji's expression turned grim. "A mirror that can replicate me."