Chapter 126: Master of the Imperial Harem

The boundary of this map? The southeastern corner? The blocked area?

This answer sparked a multitude of questions in Wen Nan’s mind, but he didn’t ask further. Instead, he silently fixed his gaze on the man before him, listening intently as he continued speaking.

Yang Mingzhong spoke in an even, unhurried tone:

“That place is about ten kilometers from here. It used to be a nearly untouched wasteland. As for now... I estimate there are quite a few NPCs guarding it, and they’re top-level NPCs, equipped with the best gear. For players to break through that blockade would be extremely difficult.”

So? What does that have to do with deleting your account and starting over?

Just as this question formed in Wen Nan’s mind, he suddenly realized what the man opposite was doing—

9527: [Your item, Truth Serum, remaining active time: 5—]

9527: [Your item, Truth Serum, remaining active time: 4—]

*Click.*

The metallic snap of a lighter opening sounded.

Then Yang Mingzhong lit a cigarette that had somehow been clenched between his teeth.

9527: [Your item, Truth Serum, remaining active time: 1—]

9527: [Your item, Truth Serum, active time has ended; now entering cooldown period. Please be informed.]

Taking a deep drag, Yang Mingzhong exhaled a satisfied plume of white smoke and looked back at Wen Nan.

“Where were we? Oh yes, you asked me why I deleted my account and started over.”

At this, Yang Mingzhong chuckled twice and shook his head. “Chairman, don’t joke around. Didn’t I already say when you asked that I’m not an old player who deleted and restarted? Have you forgotten so quickly?”

Wen Nan fixed a cold stare on the middle-aged man’s face, silent.

Yang Mingzhong clearly knew Wen Nan had used the Truth Serum on him. According to the item’s mechanics, during its effect, the target is compelled to answer one question truthfully. Having drunk the coffee laced with the serum, Yang Mingzhong could not refuse Wen Nan’s question.

However, the item had another limitation—the effect lasted only 60 seconds.

He had to answer truthfully, but how he answered was up to him.

He did his best to drag out the 60 seconds and gave Wen Nan a truth that seemed entirely unrelated.

If Wen Nan wanted to press further about the motivation behind deleting the account and starting anew, that would be another matter.

Wen Nan had neither the time nor the resources to squeeze more truth out of him now.

To use the Truth Serum again, he’d have to wait until the next main quest was triggered.

And knowing for certain that Wen Nan possessed the Truth Serum, would Yang Mingzhong still casually drink from a cup Wen Nan had touched without caution?

At this thought, Wen Nan’s gaze darkened.

Yang Mingzhong noticed the change in expression. “Chairman, don’t like people smoking? Sorry, sometimes I get carried away when chatting.”

He stubbed out the cigarette he’d just taken two puffs from in the ashtray on the table and smiled at Wen Nan.

Wen Nan didn’t play along any longer. Leaning back in his chair with a calm expression, he spoke plainly:

“You didn’t come here without a purpose. We both know that, so there’s no need to pretend.

“You’re experienced—I was careless just now.

“But don’t forget, we have a contract—you’re a member, I am the chairman. You can use tricks to deceive me now, but when the next main quest starts and I, as chairman, assign you a task requiring you to take the Truth Serum and speak with me, will you still be able to dodge it like this time?”

At this, Yang Mingzhong’s smile faded.

After a moment of silence, he looked Wen Nan squarely in the eyes and spoke again, his tone much more sincere:

“Whether you still believe me or not, Chairman, though I have my own motives, I harbor no ill will. I would never do anything that harms the guild or your interests.

“I simply came here to say goodbye.”

Just as he finished, the glass door of the café was pushed open. A server greeted the newcomer at the entrance: “Welcome! May I get you something to drink?”

A small figure walked straight to Wen Nan’s side.

“Brother, you really are here?”

Wen Nan turned and smiled as soon as he saw Qiqi.

“What brought you here?”

Qiqi pouted. “I made dinner and sent you a message. I was going to wait for you at home, but the food was getting cold and you didn’t reply. I asked Xiaojun; she said you were at this café, so I came over.”

At that moment, Yang Mingzhong stood and smiled at the two.

“I’ll be going now, so as not to disturb your business.”

Wen Nan wanted to say more, but Qiqi grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the door.

“Come on, brother, if you don’t go back soon, the food will be stone cold!”

Helpless, Wen Nan let himself be dragged. As he reached the door, he whispered into Yu Shujun’s ear:

“Keep an eye on Yang Mingzhong. If anything happens, report to me immediately.”

“Yes, master,” Yu Shujun replied softly.

...

Half an hour later, seated at the dining table in his rented room, Wen Nan looked silently at the spread of food before him.

Qiqi’s cooking clearly showed the influence of her aunt, Lin Xuemei.

Seeing Wen Nan not touch his chopsticks, Qiqi took a long, dark brown strip out of a shallow bowl filled with pale yellow liquid and placed it in his bowl.

“Brother, don’t just sit there—eat it while it’s hot.”

Wen Nan picked up the piece, staring at the steam rising from it.

It looked... exactly like it should.

“Try my cooking!” Qiqi looked at Wen Nan expectantly.

Wen Nan, a straightforward type, didn’t hesitate. He bit into the strip and chewed thoughtfully.

“Even better than Aunt Mei’s cooking!”

Qiqi beamed, pursing her lips as she giggled and put two more pieces into Wen Nan’s bowl.

“Eat more, brother!”

Holding his bowl, Wen Nan changed the subject.

“What about Wang Jialing and Sun Yi?”

With her mouth full, Qiqi mumbled indistinctly.

“They’ve both returned to school. Yesterday’s matter has been handled for you. I made an agreement with them — we’ve established a peace treaty for friendly coexistence—

“On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights, Sun Yi will come over; on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights, Wang Jialing will come. They’ll take turns keeping you company, so there won’t be any fights like before.”

...Keeping company?!

Does she really think this is a harem?

Wen Nan looked at Qiqi’s round little face with exasperation and teased, “Well, that’s quite an effort, Chief Steward Liu.”

A flicker of an unusual expression passed across Qiqi’s face, but she quickly suppressed it, smiling again and waving her hand.

“It’s my duty to help His Majesty with his worries.”

Wen Nan thought that was the end of it.

Yet, unexpectedly, his casual remark planted a small seed of resentment deep in Qiqi’s heart, which grew quickly.

That night, as Wen Nan lay in bed lost in thought—

Qiqi, wrapped only in a thin bath towel and barefoot, climbed onto his bed.

Just out of the shower, water vapor still rising from her body, she leaned close to Wen Nan, droplets from her hair falling one by one onto his chest.

“Brother,” her voice trembled slightly, but her gaze was resolute, “I want to stay by your side. I don’t want to be Chief Steward anymore. I want to be... the mistress of the harem.”

(End of chapter)