The Local Government began to handle the matter.

Zhou Li said to Mr. Xiong, "Relax. If nothing unexpected happens, it will be resolved very soon. You're both not in a good state right now. If you get too tense, it might backfire, which wouldn't be worth it."

"I understand," Mr. Xiong nodded, forcing a smile. "About that tree, do you need it now, or..."

"Contact me in advance when you start the demolition," Zhou Li replied.

"No problem."

"I have to get busy now. By tomorrow at the latest, I'll bring over the statue. Just place it in the bedroom where you usually rest; it will help calm your mind."

"A statue?" Mr. Xiong's first thought was a shiny, glittering deity statue.

"A wood carving."

"Thank you so much!"

Mr. Xiong had already decided to consecrate it. He immediately ordered people to purchase relevant items and instructed his subordinates to carve out a cabinet in his bedroom wall to place the shrine.

They talked a bit more, and Zhou Li gave a few simple instructions before leaving the haggard couple undisturbed.

He still needed to follow up on the Local Government's progress and provide some assistance at the appropriate time.

「Evening.」

The investigation was basically complete, and then came the arrest.

With Huai Xu's intervention, things went very smoothly.

The troublemaker was indeed a little demon who had made a deal with another businessman. The Local Government hadn't conducted an interrogation yet, but Huai Xu speculated that this little demon was most likely part of Lin Zhong's faction or a believer in Lin Zhong's ideology.

This only made Zhou Li sigh at how deeply Lin Zhong had penetrated human society. This infiltration was probably not limited to business. It was just more visible in that sector, while other aspects were undoubtedly much more subtle and not so easy for them to detect.

Zhou Li, still lacking in ability, didn't ponder it further. Unusually, he started reading a book as soon as he got home.

Not until after he had showered and lay in bed ready to sleep did he take out his phone, open the class group chat, and scroll through the message history.

Very few students had decided to return to school. These people were always mumbling about how boring it was at home and how suffocating they felt. Yet, when they truly could return to school, many of those who had been the most vocal fell silent.

Zhou Li registered with Zhou Qianqian.

Zhou Qianqian said he was sick.

Zhou Li was getting annoyed when Zhou Qianqian sent another message—

Zhou Qianqian: You and your girlfriend are both sick!

PHEW...

A joyful mood indeed helped with sleep.

「May 8th, morning.」

The holiday was over, and online classes began.

Xiao Yuan and Lao Hui looked at the two Zhou Lis, somewhat stunned. Huai Xu's transformation into Zhou Li was not only identical in appearance but also in aura and behavior, leaving them unable to tell the real from the fake.

"Let's get started," Zhou Li said.

"I'm going to class now, so don't make any noise," Huai Xu said, sitting down at the desk. "Don't disturb my studies."

"..."

"Especially you. Don't get in the camera's view, or others might think we're twins and then start asking you for your brother's WeChat."

"Got it."

Zhou Li still pushed a plate filled with snacks in front of Xiao Yuan and Lao Hui. This time, it included pork jerky. He said with a smile, "Just like the other night, help yourselves. Have a chat and snack on whatever you want."

"Okay, thank you, Lord Zhou Li," Xiao Yuan said cutely.

"Then I shall humbly accept," Lao Hui added.

"Oh, by the way—" Zhou Li began, as he slowly perfected the last details of the statue, comparing it with Xiao Yuan's appearance. "Yesterday, a human merchant was harassed by a demon that crossed the line. He happened to find me—he's the developer in charge of demolishing this residential area.

"He said the demolition won't happen for at least a year or two. They've just started discussing compensation with everyone. I asked him to preserve the tree you live in after the demolition and move it to your new residence. He agreed. How about we give him this carving as a token of thanks?"

"Of course, we can!" said Xiao Yuan.

"That's really very kind of Lord Zhou Li and that gentleman," Lao Hui said. Jerky was stuck in his teeth, making his usually mature tone comically unclear, almost childlike.

"I'm glad you agree," Zhou Li said.

By the afternoon, Zhou Li had almost finished the statue. After a simple test, the effects were satisfactory; its efficacy was decent, and its effective range wasn't too large.

So, he drove straight to Mr. Xiong's house and handed him the cartoonish, chubby mouse statue.

Mr. Xiong's expression was a bit strange at the time, but Zhou Li didn't mind.

He then informed Mr. Xiong of the name of the developer who had conspired with the demon, effectively wrapping up the deal.

As for the couple's mental state, it couldn't recover all at once and needed to be slowly adjusted. In similar situations, Zhou Li's clients almost all showed understanding.

It couldn't be helped. This was a market led by the service provider, and it would remain so for a considerable time to come.

「Evening.」

Zhou Li and Brother Nan walked hand in hand by the river.

Brother Nan subtly squeezed Zhou Li's hand, hard, as if trying to make him yelp, while asking, "When are we going back to Chunming? You need to have a meal with your uncle and mother a few days beforehand, right? Once you're in school, you can't come out, and you'll have to stay in the dormitory too!"

"That's right," Zhou Li responded calmly, as if unaware of Brother Nan's mischief.

"Then we need to set off at the end of the month."

"Mm."

"So when are we going to Mingjiu Mountain?"

"What do you think?"

"How about mid-month, when the weather is better?"

"Sounds good."

Brother Nan's fingers were still pressing hard, increasing the pressure. By the end, one could hear her gritting her teeth as she stole glances at Zhou Li. What was infuriating was that this guy didn't seem to feel any pain at all.

If an exclamation mark represented the strength of a typical guy's grip, the process was roughly:

Brother Nan: !

Brother Nan: !

Brother Nan: !!

Brother Nan: !!!

...

Brother Nan: !!!!!!!!!

Brother Nan huffed. She stopped pinching!

Glancing at Zhou Li's still calm face, she remarked offhandedly, "You're such a blockhead for not even crying out when it hurts that much!"

Zhou Li opened his mouth, then thought better of it.

Never mind. Even if he said it didn't hurt, Brother Nan wouldn't listen. Better to save her face.

Suddenly, Zhou Li's expression changed slightly.

Ahead, two familiar figures appeared.

He gently squeezed Brother Nan's hand. "Brother Nan..."

"Hmm? You dare to fight back?"

"No, it's my dad and Aunt Jiang..."

"What?"

Brother Nan's heart skipped a beat too. She turned her head, following his gaze, and indeed saw Old Zhou and Aunt Jiang walking side by side, with Tuanzi taking tiny steps ahead of them.

Almost simultaneously, the older couple also spotted them.

But Brother Nan was still Brother Nan. Even as a novice in love, she quickly regained her composure, even looking somewhat satisfied. She had seen many young lovebirds in high school panic when they encountered teachers or parents, immediately letting go of each other's hands as if terrified of being caught. She had thought to herself back then, if she were to date someone, she would do it boldly. That's just the way she was. If she didn't dare to do something, she wouldn't do it. If she did it, she wouldn't be afraid. Luckily, Zhou Li hadn't let go of her hand; otherwise, things would have gotten messy, and she'd be fishing him out of the river right now.

"Stay cool, don't panic," she said.

"Yeah," Zhou Li replied.

Zhou Li remained very calm. He only let go of Brother Nan's hand when he saw Tuanzi running towards him from a distance. After bending over to pick Tuanzi up, he took Brother Nan's hand again and continued walking forward.

Panic was unnecessary. Old Zhou and Aunt Jiang had long been aware of his and Brother Nan's relationship—very early on. It was so early that even before he and Brother Nan had officially gotten together, Old Zhou and Aunt Jiang already 'knew' they were a couple. It was quite paradoxical, which just showed how early it was. And according to his guess, there was more than a 95% chance that the older couple had deliberately come this way to 'catch' them.

"Hey," Zhou Li greeted them expressionlessly.

"Hello, Uncle and Auntie!" Brother Nan smiled warmly.

"Walking by the river, huh?" Old Zhou nodded with composure.

"Gotcha this time!" Aunt Jiang winked at them. "I just bought some seafood," she said. "Xiao Nan, come to our place for a meal in a few days? My cooking may not be as good as your father's. You won't mind, will you?"

"...Of course not," Brother Nan said helplessly.

"Then it's settled!"

"Sure, I'll definitely come!"

"Then carry on with your walk; we won't disturb you anymore," Aunt Jiang said, looking at Tuanzi. "Is Tuanzi coming with us, or...?"

"I want to be with Zhou Li!" Tuanzi declared, turning towards Zhou Li and hugging him, her little front paws trying to wrap around his neck.

Aunt Jiang didn't insist.

Once the older couple was gone, Tuanzi immediately tattled, "Zhou Li, let me tell you! When we came out, Old Zhou and Jiang Yi asked me if I wanted to come out and watch you and Xiao Lan on your date! They said they wanted to catch you! They said not to let you find out!"

"Tattling isn't good, you know," Zhou Li said.

"Lord Dumpling was afraid you'd get beaten, so I followed them!"

"Oh, is that so?" Zhou Li rubbed her head, casually changing the subject. "A stroll in the evening is the most comfortable. How about you come down and walk, okay?"

"No."

"There are little bees by the river."

"There are also wild cats and dogs, and they're so fierce."

"And little butterflies, so beautiful."

"Put Lord Dumpling down!"

Just a few days ago, Lord Dumpling had wanted to catch some butterflies to keep. But the butterflies in the neighborhood were too crafty for her to catch. She could only sit on the ground, forlornly watching them in a daze.

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