The dawn on Mount Qinshan washed away the remnants of dew with a clear golden glow. Inside the master bedroom, the scent of last night's harmony still lingered, but the atmosphere had shifted from thick passion to sharp discipline. At 6:30 a.m., Wei Yan stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror. His athletic body was now neatly clad in his school uniform—a crisp white shirt, a precisely fitted tie, and a blazer that accentuated his strong shoulders.
Despite his uniform, the aura he exuded was still that of an emperor in disguise. His breakthrough to the Eighth Level of Earth Integration last night made him appear calmer, but his eyes held a depth that could shake the souls of anyone who gazed at him for too long.
Outside the gates of the magnificent mansion he had built in just three days through the manipulation of matter and chaotic energy, a shiny black Toyota Alphard awaited. Li Yuantong stood by the door, dressed in an elegant business suit, but his gleaming eyes conveyed absolute obedience to the man who had just emerged.
"Good morning, dear," Li Yuantong said as he opened the door.
Wei Yan nodded slightly and stepped into the cool cabin. As the Alphard began to move down the lush slopes of Qinshan, Wei Yan stared out the window, observing the landscape he was beginning to master.
"Just now, in the corner of my vision as we rounded the bend below," Wei Yan said dryly, "there was a plot of land with a beautiful view. It faces a valley with a clear stream."
Li Yuantong glanced through the rearview mirror. "The land near the edge of the protected forest? Yes, that's a promising area. What do you plan to use it for, dear?"
"Resort," Wei Yan replied curtly. "Build a resort there. It doesn't need to be too big, but make sure every corner is luxurious and exclusive. I want it to be a getaway for those willing to pay a high price for tranquility—and also serve as an outer fortress for our mansion. And also, it's the place for me to expand my thread to catch a big whale of the Yonghe City."
Li Yuantong smiled faintly, his fingers tapping the steering wheel in a steady rhythm. "Brilliant idea. It also disguise our activities at the summit under the guise of high-end tourism. Any other special instructions?"
"Yes. Use your connections in the government and police," Wei Yan continued, leaning back. "Help me get legal identity documents for Liu Caixi, Yao Moli, Lan Xiyi, Feng Xiuyi, and several other women who have recently joined. I want them to have clear status as expert staff or management at the resort legally."
Li Yuantong nodded in understanding. As a ruler of the underworld, faking or "legalizing" identities was child's play to her. "Of course, dear. They'll have impeccable resumes as professionals from out of town. So, what about recruiting employees below the management level? We still need manual labor for daily operations."
"Just leave a contact with the labor exchange," Wei Yan replied calmly. "Do that later when the building is finished and in the pre-operational stage. Let the local community feel like there are new jobs, and that will ease their suspicions about what's happening on Mount Qinshan."
----
Meanwhile, inside the prestigious Yonghe National High School dormitory, the morning bustle was beginning to fill the hallways. In one of the tidy girls' dormitory rooms, Ning Shuang was standing in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of her school uniform. Her aura of beauty, enhanced by her energy union with Wei Yan, made her stand out, even amidst the steam of morning tea.
"Oh my, Ning Shuang!" exclaimed one of her roommates, Xiao Rou, who was busy combing her hair. "Why do you look more radiant every morning? What's your skincare secret? Don't tell me you used some secret potion during the holidays."
Ning Shuang simply smiled, hiding the blush on her cheeks as she continued to straighten her uniform. "Just get enough sleep, Xiao Rou. No secrets."
Another roommate, Mei Ling, suddenly approached with a curious expression and suspiciously narrowed eyes. "Ning Shuang, be honest with me... do you have a boyfriend? There's no way a girl with your aura would still be alone at this school."
"Yes, Ning Shuang! Please tell us! We've seen you staring intently at your phone," Xiao Rou chimed in urgently, putting down her comb to give her full attention.
Ning Shuang paused for a moment, imagining Wei Yan, who had now become the center of her world. "Yes," she replied briefly but firmly. "And he's arranged for us to be in the same class starting today."
"WOW!" Xiao Rou and Mei Ling exclaimed almost simultaneously, startling the girls in the next room.
"In the same class? That's really protective!" Mei Ling said, her eyes sparkling. "It seems like your friend comes from a wealthy family, huh? Suddenly transferring classes at Yonghe High School isn't something you can do without significant influence."
Ning Shuang shook her head slowly as she stuffed her books into her bag. "Not really. She's just lucky to have a kind and influential foster mother."
"Foster mother? Uh..." Xiao Rou frowned, her tone turning slightly gossipy. "Has he ever told you about his background? I mean, sometimes men who rely too much on their 'adoptive mothers' have lives that are... you know, a little complicated and full of secrets."
Ning Shuang turned her head, looking at her two friends with a gaze far more mature than her years. "That's my boyfriend's privacy. I know he has a heavy burden on his shoulders, and I know he wouldn't want me to worry or have my studies disrupted by his affairs. I just need to trust him completely."
"Ohh... so romantic!" Xiao Rou exclaimed, cupping her cheeks with both hands. "He protects you from the harsh outside world. He's truly your ideal type, Ning Shuang. I can't wait to see who your mysterious prince will be in class!"
Ning Shuang couldn't help but smile inwardly. Her friends would never have imagined that the man they were talking about wasn't just a "protective boyfriend," but a figure who carried the sovereignty of the multiverse beneath his high school uniform.
In the distance, the engine of the Alphard carrying Wei Yan began to rumble its way through the main gates of Yonghe National High School.
The black Toyota Alphard came to a precise stop in front of the main lobby of Yonghe National High School, just as Ning Shuang, Xiao Rou, and Mei Ling were just stepping out of the dormitory area. The car's automatic sliding doors slowly opened, revealing Wei Yan sitting quietly inside the cool, luxurious cabin.
As soon as Wei Yan stepped out, the atmosphere around the lobby seemed to be sucked in. His usually standard Yonghe High School uniform now looked like high-end designer wear as it clung to his athletic body.
"Honey!" Ning Shuang couldn't contain her excitement. She jogged over and threw herself into Wei Yan's arms.
Wei Yan greeted her with a faint, deadly smile, wrapping his arms around Ning Shuang's waist. The sight left Xiao Rou and Mei Ling frozen in place. They elbowed each other, their eyes widening at Wei Yan's exceedingly handsome looks.
"Oh my God... is that her boyfriend?" Xiao Rou whispered, her voice trembling. "He's more handsome than any drama actor I've ever seen!"
"Look at her aura... she really makes the other female students look like extras," Mei Ling added, amazed.
Shortly after, Li Yuantong stepped out of the driver's door. She looked stunning in her office attire, perfectly hugging her curves, exuding the aura of a successful and sophisticated career woman.
"Sister—cough!" Ning Shuang almost blurted out "sister," accustomed to the dynamics of the mansion, but quickly recovered. "Uhmm... Aunt Yuantong!"
Li Yuantong smiled meaningfully, his gaze sweeping over Ning Shuang and her two friends with elegant warmth. "Oh? Looks like little Ning Shuang has made new friends here, huh?"
Xiao Rou and Mei Ling hastily curtsied, stunned by Li Yuantong's youthful yet dignified beauty. "Um... Hello, Auntie... Good morning," they said in unison, awkwardly.
"Hehe, it's okay. Just call me Auntie or Auntie," Yuantong replied with a melodious chuckle. She approached and patted Xiao Rou's shoulder. "Please take care of Ning Shuang while she's at school. She's still a bit naive, sometimes she daydreams about her boyfriend and forgets where to go."
"Eee... ummm... that's actually a bit troublesome, Auntie," Xiao Rou replied, glancing at Wei Yan, who was still hugging Ning Shuang. "Seeing her boyfriend like this, I think we'll be the ones having to protect Ning Shuang from the other students!"
Wei Yan laughed softly at this. He then looked at Ning Shuang gently. "Ning Shuang, how's Auntie? Are there any improvements?" Wei Yan asked, referring to Ning Shuang's mother.
"Much better, honey. The doctor said she can go home the day after tomorrow," Ning Shuang replied with a gleam of relief in her eyes.
"Thank goodness. At least Auntie has regained consciousness and passed her critical period. I'll arrange the best possible pick-up for her discharge," Wei Yan said, making Ning Shuang's heart melt even more.
Li Yuantong glanced at his luxury watch. "Okay, I have to get to work. I have some resort paperwork to finish," he said, giving Wei Yan a secret wink. "Bye, kids... behave at school."
"Bye... Mom!" Wei Yan exclaimed, acting perfectly natural.
"Bye, Auntie!" Ning Shuang and her friends chimed in, waving.
After the Alphard disappeared around the corner, Wei Yan turned to Xiao Rou and Mei Ling. He politely extended his hand. "I'm Wei Yan. Nice to meet Ning Shuang's friends."
"I-I'm Xiao Rou!"
"I'm Mei Ling! Nice to meet you, Wei Yan!"
Wei Yan then held Ning Shuang's hand tightly, leading her toward the school gates. Xiao Rou and Mei Ling trailed behind them, feeling like they were escorting a royal couple. Along the way to the administration building, all eyes were on them. Whispers of admiration and envy began to fill the corridors of Yonghe High School.
At the re-admissions desk, Wei Yan handed over his and Ning Shuang's identity documents. The administration officer was briefly stunned by Wei Yan's documents—documents that had been "cleaned" and prepared under Li Yuantong's influence.
"You two are in class XI-A, the top class," the officer said, handing them student IDs and a classroom map. "Please proceed to the west building, second floor."
Wei Yan accepted the documents gracefully. "Thank you."
As they began walking toward their classrooms, Ning Shuang whispered, "You really arranged everything, didn't you? XI-A?"
Wei Yan squeezed Ning Shuang's hand gently. "I won't let you be in a place where I can't reach you. I've already manipulated the student divisions in that class. Everyone there... will become part of the stage I've created."
They walked confidently, passing the rows of lockers. Wei Yan could already feel the energy emanating from the students in the class. Behind the closed doors of Class XI-A, there were small destinies waiting for him to claim, and perhaps, a "protagonist" who didn't realize that the true ruler had just arrived.
"Ready for the first day, honey?" Wei Yan asked right outside the classroom door.
Ning Shuang took a deep breath, staring into Wei Yan's sovereign eyes. "As long as I'm with you, I'm ready for anything."
Wei Yan opened the classroom door, and instantly, all the noise in the room vanished. All eyes were on the newlyweds, marking the beginning of a new chapter of Wei Yan's sovereignty in the real world.