Chapter 333: Encountered an Attack

Zu An was startled to see her serious expression. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Qiu Honglei hesitated for a moment before saying, "Zu An, are you truly planning to be a live-in son-in-law for the Chu family your entire life?"

Zu An chuckled, "My stomach isn't great, so I suppose I'll have to live off women my entire life."

Qiu Honglei sighed. "A talented young master like you is hardly as useless as you claim. And if you truly wish to live off women, the Chu family isn't the only option in this world."

Zu An couldn't help but laugh. "Can I live off you too?"

A subtle blush appeared on Qiu Honglei's face. "If that's what you wish, you are always welcome."

Zu An sighed. "Unfortunately, I'm rather greedy; I prefer to have my pick of many options."

Qiu Honglei stared, dumbfounded. After a long silence, she remarked, "Few people other than you could describe their philandering so eloquently and tastefully."

Zu An said, "It's mainly because I'm honest; I don't pretend like those other hypocrites."

Qiu Honglei pursed her lips and smiled. "Alright, let's get to the point. I recently received information that the Chu family is headed for ruin. As a friend, I wanted to warn you to abandon this sinking ship as soon as possible."

Zu An's heart skipped a beat. "Could you elaborate?"

The Chu family, though facing some difficulties, was still a ducal manor with considerable resources, including a significant private army. He truly couldn't imagine what kind of event would lead to the downfall of such a powerful family.

Qiu Honglei shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I cannot disclose my source of information. I came specifically to warn you out of friendship."

Zu An knew her identity was mysterious, so he didn't press her. "Though I have many flaws, abandoning friends isn't one of them. With disaster looming for the Chu family, how could I possibly leave now?"

Qiu Honglei was somewhat puzzled. "But as far as I know, the Chu family doesn't treat you well."

Zu An smiled faintly. "While there are those who treat me poorly, there are also those who treat me well. I naturally cannot let down their kindness."

A gentle smile appeared on his face as he thought of Chu Huanzhao and Chu Chuyan.

Qiu Honglei remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking. "Alright, I understand. It seems I can't persuade you to change your mind. All I can do now is bid you farewell and take care."

Zu An smiled faintly. "So, does your offer to be my concubine still stand?"

Qiu Honglei was speechless, surprised by his audacity. Yet, instead of being offended, she found herself, as if by some strange impulse, replying, "Next time we meet, if you are still safe and sound, then yes, it will certainly count."

Zu An tentatively asked, "Next time we meet, will we be friends or foes?"

Qiu Honglei hesitated for a moment. "Friends, of course."

Zu An let out a sigh of relief. "Then there's no problem. As the saying goes, 'Good men die young, but villains live a thousand years.' A scoundrel like me will definitely live long enough to take you as my concubine."

"You..." Qiu Honglei playfully chided, without anger. "Alright, I look forward to our next meeting."

After her carriage departed, Zu An stood rooted to the spot, lost in thought, pondering the implications of her words.

"She's gone, why are you still staring?" Chu Huanzhao remarked, approaching him from behind with a hint of dissatisfaction.

Zu An said in a low voice, "Come, let's find your sister."

Seeing his serious expression, Chu Huanzhao dared not delay and hurried to follow him with small, quick steps.

After hearing him out, Chu Chuyan seemed puzzled. "A crisis? The Chu family should be doing quite well now. The Giant Whale Gang was eliminated, illegal salt on the market has significantly decreased, and the Chu family's income is beginning to recover. Things should only be getting better."

"Regardless, it's always best to be cautious." Zu An didn't want to betray Qiu Honglei; after all, she had come to warn him out of goodwill, and it would be utterly disloyal to expose her.

"Don't worry, we will be careful." Chu Chuyan smiled faintly, a truly radiant sight.

Chu Huanzhao couldn't help but hug her shoulder. "Sister, I've noticed you've been smiling much more lately."

"Really?" Chu Chuyan touched her face, then subconsciously glanced at Zu An.

Her face flushed slightly as their eyes met.

When he returned to his room, Old Man Mi was already waiting there.

Zu An quickly said, "That box you mentioned, I'll find another opportunity to visit the Wei family next time..."

He was interrupted before he could finish. Old Man Mi chuckled, "No need for that. You won't have to go to the Wei family for a while."

"No need?" Zu An was taken aback. "Could it be that you've already found it, Senior?"

"Not exactly, but I've found a method, so I'll go look for it myself from now on," Old Man Mi said, watching Zu An intently.

Zu An looked at him strangely, thinking, *If you had a method, why did you send me to look for it earlier?*

And why was the way he looked at me so odd?

It was as if a beast was eyeing its prey, or a chef was eyeing ingredients.

Zu An shivered, a chill running down his spine. *Surely this guy isn't a cannibal, is he?*

At that moment, Old Man Mi stood up to leave. "Nothing else, just came to advise you not to risk going to the Wei family's place recently. Also, pay attention to your safety generally."

"Pay attention to safety?" Zu An was momentarily bewildered. One moment, the man was acting intimidating; the next, he seemed genuinely concerned. It left Zu An utterly confused.

However, he had no time to dwell on that. After nightfall, he quietly headed in the direction of Qingyin Pavilion.

With "Bright Mirror, Not a Stand," moving around the manor was now effortless, like a fish in water.

Arriving outside Qingyin Pavilion, he gave a gentle push. The window wasn't latched, which delighted him even more.

Chu Chuyan was staring nervously in that direction. Once she recognized him, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Why are you here?" she asked.

Zu An thought to himself, *Aren't you stating the obvious? You deliberately left the window unlatched for me, and now you're pretending.*

However, knowing Chu Chuyan's shyness, he didn't call her out. "Of course, I missed you," he said, then immediately pulled her into an embrace.

Feeling his mischievous hands, Chu Chuyan's face flushed. She took a key from nearby and handed it to him. "Keep this key; it will bypass the restrictions of Qingyin Pavilion for you."

Zu An was delighted. It seemed his shy wife had truly accepted him completely.

"But I find coming through the window more exciting," Zu An whispered close to her ear.

Chu Chuyan, being ticklish, recoiled slightly. "But I don't like that feeling; it always makes me feel like I'm doing something illicit. And every time I leave the window open, I'm constantly on edge, worrying that someone else might enter."

Zu An considered this. "My wife is indeed more considerate. Come here, let your husband give you a kiss~"

"You're annoying~" Chu Chuyan chided playfully, yet her soft, lotus-root-like arms still instinctively wrapped around him.

Feeling her growing desire, Zu An felt as if his entire body was about to explode.

With Zheng Dan, it was more about seeking a thrill, but with Chu Chuyan, his heart was filled with tenderness and pity, and his actions were far more gentle and considerate.

Indeed, one doesn't need to be considerate of other men's wives.

...

He didn't know how much time had passed when Zu An suddenly stiffened. Chu Chuyan looked at him with her large, moist eyes and said softly, "It's alright."

"But you're currently busy managing the Chu family estate. If you were to become pregnant, it might be quite inconvenient for your affairs." Zu An was certainly not the type of person to try and trap someone with a child.

Chu Chuyan shook her head, her face completely flushed. "It's fine; I can force it out afterward using my primal energy."

How could Zu An possibly hold back any longer?

...

The next day at Brightmoon Academy, Zu An and Chu Huanzhao keenly noticed that Bai Susu's eyes were also swollen. Unlike Lu De, both of her eyes were severely puffy.

Lu De couldn't help but gloat. "Well, well, isn't this our Teacher Bai? Did you perhaps bump your eyes when you got up last night? And both of them at once, too?"

"Hmph, Lu, are you holding a grudge and deliberately retaliating against me?!" Bai Susu clenched her 'orchid finger' and trembled with rage.

"Don't spout nonsense! What you do to yourself has nothing to do with me!" Lu De felt utterly refreshed, his vexation from yesterday completely gone. He hummed a little tune and swaggered into the school.

...

For a period afterward, new teachers would show up with minor injuries every day, causing widespread unease in the school. People began to wonder if the place was haunted.

One evening, Jiang Luofu was returning to her dormitory from the office, walking along the tree-lined avenue. Under the dim light, her two long, straight, beautiful legs radiated an alluring sheen; it was hard to tell if it was the reflection from stockings or the natural glow of her skin.

She suddenly frowned and stopped. "All these strange occurrences at the school recently, I presume they are your handiwork?"