"Oh—"
Liu Erlong suddenly clutched her stomach and ran outside, gagging violently.
Lu Yuan, halfway through sipping his wine, raised an eyebrow. "Hm?" He tilted his head, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Then, with a grin brightening his entire face, he slapped the table.
"My child's last name!" he declared proudly.
Who else's could it be? Of course the child was his.
"You…"
Liu Erlong turned her head with helpless fury, face flushing. Where in all the heavens could one find such a brazen, shameless man?
"Wait, Little Chili, don't run!" Lu Yuan called, already disappearing from the room like a gust of wind.
Lu Yuan's "Care"
An hour later, he returned, crashing in through the door with overwhelming energy.
"Little Chili, I'm back!"
Excitement glittered in his eyes as he held out a radiant stalk of fairy grass, its leaves trembling with hidden energy. "This! This one's for you—and for the baby. Good for the fetus!"
He had just run to consult the "old poison man," Dugu Bo. Though Lu Yuan didn't know exactly what the herb was called, he could feel instinctively that its aura was mild, nourishing rather than invasive. Dugu Bo had quickly confirmed the same.
Liu Erlong paused. For a long moment she held her breath, before slowly, carefully taking the fairy herb into her hands. "…This is what you owe me."
She tucked it away with uncommon gentleness.
Lu Yuan, however, wasn't finished. "And hey—look what else I brought." He swung out a tray of fragrant dishes. "This is for you too. Pregnant women need to eat properly. So, open your mouth, Little Pepper!"
He held a piece of food toward her lips like she was already his cherished wife.
"Eat. For the baby," he coaxed with a grin.
Liu Erlong swatted at his hand, glaring. "My mother can eat by herself!"
"I'm serious, you must take care," Lu Yuan continued in his drunkenly earnest way, lecturing about diet, rest, and avoiding stress. His mouth refused to close, his nagging had no end.
By the time another hour had passed, Liu Erlong was sitting red-faced and angry, while Lu Yuan leaned back, completely satisfied with himself.
"Alright, you rest well tonight. I'll come see you again tomorrow," he announced, leaving as though he'd accomplished divine deeds.
Farewell Words
But as he reached the doorway, Liu Erlong's voice stopped him.
"Lu Yuan."
He turned back, surprised by the heaviness in her tone.
A long silence… then she spoke.
"I… I'm going to leave Tiandou City."
Her eyes darted away. This was a decision she'd already made quietly. She wanted to find a remote, peaceful place, away from gossip and chaos, where she could safely bring this child into the world.
The words struck Lu Yuan like a hammer. His head reeled, his chest leapt violently.
"What? Where?" His voice rose, unsteady. "Where are you going?"
"I don't know yet," she replied softly.
"Then I'll go with you!"
"No." Her rejection was firm, cutting. "I will contact you when I settle down. Don't you dare follow me, or…"
Her eyes sharpened, filled with steel and fire. "…or I'll make sure you never see this child."
Lu Yuan's heart nearly stopped. He stared, speechless, wine jar trembling in his hand.
Finally, he tilted his head back and swallowed a large mouthful of liquor. "…Alright."
But as he walked away, uneasy waves boiled within him. He strode a distance, then turned back.
"I'll just borrow your jars of wine. You can't drink now anyway." With that, he tucked them under his arm and left again.
Moments later, he shoved his way back inside. "That fairy grass—you must take it sooner rather than later!"
Gone.
Back again.
"Your roof leaks when it rains. Shouldn't you move to my place for a while?"
"I'm not as fragile as you think!" Liu Erlong shot him a glare, but finally softened her voice. "Don't worry. I'll contact you soon enough."
Her eyes glimmered faintly as she added almost unconsciously: "…Baby's father."
Lu Yuan's heart nearly exploded. His ears rang with the sound of that phrase, sweeter than any wine. His arms opened wide in pure joy. "Little Pepper… hehehe…"
But even before he could embrace her, she raised a palm, retreating. Her expression cooled instantly.
"I admit the child is yours. But I never said… that I am yours too."
The tenderness faded like smoke. Only fire remained.
Lu Yuan's grin froze. His chest ached. Yet somehow, just hearing her acknowledge the child was his—the tiniest of victories—was enough to make his blood roar with excitement.
The Morning After
The next morning dawned across Shrek Academy.
"Xiaogang! Xiaogang!" Flender pounded hard on Yu Xiaogang's door.
Groaning, Yu Xiaogang opened it. His body still throbbed from last night, when Erlong had blasted him away like trash. He shuffled out stiffly, barely able to straighten his back.
"Look at this." Flender shoved a piece of paper into his hands.
It was a note, written plainly and directly in Liu Erlong's hand:
"Boss Flender, I will be away for a period of time. Don't try to find me."
Yu Xiaogang's breath hitched. His vision blurred. "Erlong… left?!"
Yesterday, hope had finally sparked in him—after twenty years of fear and retreat, Flender's words had at last given him the courage to step forward. But now? She was gone.
His ears buzzed, his head reeled. Muttering frantically, he searched the empty room, as though the walls themselves might hold some hidden message.
"Xiaogang, what are you looking for?" Flender frowned. Was his brother cracking under the blow?
"Strange… why isn't there more?" Yu Xiaogang stammered in collapse. "Why didn't she leave me a confession? A letter—something!"
Flender pressed his temples as the scene pounded reality into him. This man still didn't understand. Thirty years trapped by fear and rules, and when he finally took a step forward—it was already years too late.
Yu Xiaogang stumbled suddenly for the doorway. "Flender, I have to chase her! I'll bring Erlong back!"
Ignoring the ache in his battered body, he charged off with desperation.
Flender sighed deeply at the silhouette fleeing the academy. Stupid brother…
How many times had he begged Yu Xiaogang to cherish the people before him? How many times had Xiaogang chosen cowardice instead?
Now, after more than twenty years… he wanted to go after her?
Too late. Far too late.
When someone who waited decades finally changes their heart, could she still be reclaimed?
Lu Yuan's Preparations
Meanwhile in his own home, Lu Yuan sat at his table, a thick stack of papers before him. With a brush in one hand and wine in the other, he scribbled names across the sheets in messy handwriting.
"Chen Xin… Ning Fengzhi… Dugu Bo, Gu Rong, the Dragon and Snake couple… Mengshenji, Qin Ming, Feng Xiaotian…"
The list continued endlessly, names of sect leaders, friends, rivals. Anyone and everyone.
He grinned proudly. "I'm going to be a father. A banquet must be held! And all these people must be invited."
"Oh, wait!" He smacked his forehead. "How could I forget Shrek's lot? Erlong's from there. Yu Xiaogang, Flender…"
On and on he added names, amused at the thought of bringing them all together. For once, he was glowing with pure joy, buzzing with excitement greater than any victory in battle.
The more he drank, the wider his frame of plans expanded. Only one regret festered in his chest—that Erlong had departed without giving him even a chance to send her off.
When he finally went back the next day, only a letter remained on the table. Her scent lingered faintly, mocking his longing.
He sat there quietly, scratching his head. "Hmm… why do I feel like there's still something undone?"
Then he snapped his fingers.
"Right! The name of the child!"
Another night passed as he tried desperately. Scrolls of half-thought ideas piled high. For all his cunning, his sly wit, his ruthless instincts in combat—when it came to naming a child, Lu Yuan was utterly useless.
His head felt three times larger than before.
"This… really isn't my strong point…"
Sighing, he collapsed face-first into the table.
--
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