The young stepson's knee was hard and a bit uncomfortable, yet his movements were gentle and slow.
Yu Deng was actually very afraid of pain and ticklish.
His sensitive skin would leave marks at the slightest touch, and now, being deliberately touched, the gentle rubbing made that patch of his leg feel both itchy and numb.
Yu Deng couldn't hold back a soft hum. The stimulation made his earlobes quickly turn red, and a faint sheen of tears appeared in his eyes.
Yu Deng glared fiercely at Cheng Xiao.
Which family's stepson flirts with the young widow under the table while discussing serious matters?
So uncivilized!
Seeing Yu Deng's glare, Cheng Xiao felt even more itchy in his heart and continued teasing under the table without showing any emotion.
Yu Deng simply moved a bit further away.
After moving away, Yu Deng finally realized what Cheng Xiao had written in his palm just now.
Wanting to kiss him again. No way.
His hand was still held by the young stepson, with his fingertips being repeatedly rubbed.
Yu Deng shook his hand a few times, then slapped Cheng Xiao's hand away with a light "smack".
The two players across from them, already mentally strained by the instance, immediately became alert.
"Wait, what was that sound just now?"
Cheng Xiao lightly coughed, "It's nothing, just made the little cat angry."
Ke Qi looked confused, "Huh, where's the cat?"
But Zhang Ziyun glanced at Cheng Xiao opposite her, then at the little widow NPC, and had a sudden realization.
No kidding, the little widow was indeed delicate and pretty, like the kind who could be very affectionate but would scratch if upset.
Yu Deng himself was just as confused as Ke Qi. He raised his eyes, his beautiful watery gaze silently accusing and urging Cheng Xiao to continue speaking.
Cheng Xiao didn't dare to further provoke his little mom and continued, "Additionally, among those keeping vigil these past few days, there's one person who's been here almost every night."
The newbie player followed along, "Ah, you mean the culprit might return to the crime scene to relive their crime? That's what happens in novels, right?"
Everyone suddenly realized and started confirming their suspicions, muttering vague comments.
Yu Deng listened for a long time, feeling like he wasn't on the same page as everyone else. In his anxiety, his eyes began to redden slightly.
He lowered his head in a bit of grievance, pretending he wasn't interested in any of this.
He hoped the next instance wouldn't require much thinking; it was too unfriendly to him.
The two newbie players, having received new clues, left gratefully without further disturbing Cheng Xiao and Yu Deng.
"Little mom." Cheng Xiao moved closer, hugging the slender young widow into his arms.
Yu Deng was annoyed. "I don't want to hear riddles."
Though the young widow was naive, he had quite a temper.
"No riddles," Cheng Xiao lowered his head, nibbling Yu Deng's still slightly red earlobe, coaxing him more skillfully, "I only said it because Little Mom wanted to hear it."
After speaking, he whispered a name in Yu Deng's ear.
Yu Deng blinked blankly.
Ah, so the culprit was that person.
He never suspected that person from the beginning; he knew he wasn't suited for this kind of instance!
...
At that moment, the butler came over to find them. The butler told Cheng Xiao that Cheng Zhaoxia was looking for him. After Cheng Xiao left, the butler reminded Yu Deng.
"Madam, tomorrow is the first young master's death anniversary."
Yu Deng responded but got slightly distracted.
Come to think of it, didn't Cheng Xiao mention that the Cheng family had him do something and advised him to sever ties for his own good?
"Madam, what is your opinion?"
Still distracted, Yu Deng spoke without thinking, "I was considering severing ties."
The butler paused subtly, his gaze faint. "Forgive me for being presumptuous, madam. Do you have a new love interest?"
Yu Deng regretted his slip of the tongue and shook his head. "No, I don't."
The butler nodded in understanding and silently retreated.
After the butler left, Yu Deng heard a reminder from System 01.
[By the way host, there are new additions to your special mission. Please remember to check and complete them.]
"Oh, right." Yu Deng remembered hearing the main system speak when he was trapped by a ghost wall last night.
But he felt dizzy and unwell then, so he didn't pay attention to it.
It was strange; what happened last night that caused the hidden fierce ghost to suddenly become a huge threat when it had been quiet before?
Yu Deng couldn't figure it out, frowning as he glanced at the task list.
His stepson's task wasn't completed yet, and the hidden fierce ghost's task was waiting for him. So many tasks.
"Wait, hold on." After worrying for a while, Yu Deng realized something important, "System, do I really have the ability to seal the hidden fierce ghost?"
His special abilities came from the instance, similar to ghostly powers.
Wouldn't his rudimentary skills be like a kindergartner performing before a professor if he tried to seal a ghost king?
Yu Deng's vision darkened.
Could he really fight it?
[Don't worry, Host. You can do it.] The system's electronic voice carried a tone of certainty. After reassuring the host, the system gently reminded him again.
[However, the system advises the host to seal the hidden fierce ghost as soon as possible. The longer it drags on, the more unpredictable it becomes.]
Yu Deng sighed, looking outside.
It was already close to noon, but it was still dark outside. The light of white lanterns flickered in the shadows, like malicious spirits.
"Alright," Yu Deng hugged himself, trying to warm up a bit, "I'll set off in a moment.."
[Yes, the system will guide you to the location.]
Walking to the door, Yu Deng finally realized something.
The system had previously said that after encountering the hidden fierce ghost, he would be able to track or receive alerts.
Now that it could pinpoint the location of the hidden fierce ghost, did that mean he had already met the ghost boss?
Yu Deng was shocked. When did this happen without his knowing?!
As Yu Deng prepared to seal the ghost boss, Cheng Xiao completed a minor side task and was in the Cheng family's library, flipping through business records from past years.
Light footsteps sounded at the door. Lin Zhiyue entered, stuffing a book or ledger onto the shelf.
Her sleeve slipped a bit under the force of gravity, revealing a circle of mottled marks on her wrist.
Noticing Cheng Xiao's gaze, Lin Zhiyue smiled with her mouth, but her eyes lacked any warmth. "Brother Cheng Xiao."
Cheng Xiao glanced at her, raising an eyebrow slightly. "If I called you 'sister-in-law,' you wouldn't like it, right? Should I call you Miss Lin instead?"
The smile on Lin Zhiyue's face faded, her gaze unwavering.
Cheng Xiao had already obtained a clear answer, his eyes showing understanding. "I see."
Lin Zhiyue took a step forward, her gentle and beautiful face devoid of expression.
"How much of the truth do you know?" She shook her head. "Are you going to report me to those people? Aren't you afraid I'll do something if you test me like this?"
Lin Zhiyue thought this person was a weirdo, seemingly born without fear, chatting with her so casually.
The temperature in the library suddenly dropped, as if heralding the arrival of danger.
"It's not exactly the truth, so there's no need to worry." Standing a few meters away, Cheng Xiao looked at her calmly. "I'm not particularly interested in revealing Miss Lin's past or reporting you. I have no emotional attachment to the Cheng family."
Lin Zhiyue's gaze flickered.
Cheng Xiao said, "I'm only thinking about how to win over my little mom."
Lin Zhiyue was momentarily stunned, her lips moving slightly as if she wanted to say something but then falling silent.
She remained silent, but Cheng Xiao inexplicably felt the urge to confide. "In a few days, I might leave the Cheng family."
Cheng Xiao had deliberately avoided thinking about what to do after the instance ended, but now he had to face it.
This instance only lasted seven days. After seven days, he would either fail the task and be eliminated or complete the task and clear the instance, leaving the mansion and no longer being the so-called young master of the Cheng family.
Leaving the instance also meant he might never see the beautiful little mom again.
Yu Deng, Yu Deng...
Cheng Xiao suddenly raised his head, earnestly asking Lin Zhiyue for advice.
"Miss Lin, do you have any way to make my little mom leave with me?"
Lin Zhiyue was speechless. At such a critical moment, how could this person still be thinking about such things?