Prologue

Zhong Zhen immediately smiled and said, "Not bad, right? I like it too, it's my boss's!"

When others praise his skills, he will tell them: "It might be related to my profession; my fingers are quite nimble, which I developed while handling a knife regularly"

She pretended to be bored and walked back and forth a few steps, finally stopping discreetly behind the boy, and then she brazenly scrutinized him

Cong Rong suddenly came to his senses, appearing to seriously examine the car, "This car is nice, whose is it?"

Lin Chen invited everyone to a gathering at the house he rented near the school. Coincidentally, she had a class that day, and she hurried over right after her class ended

Whenever Zhong Zhen feels guilty, she stops calling her cousin and instead refers to her as "A Jie," which sounds much more affectionate.

Cong Rong approached and smiled as she raised her hand to ruffle Zhong Zhen's hair, "Long time no see, Zhong... Zhen... little cousin."

Over time, Congrong also began to have doubts. Although she found it somewhat unbelievable, she couldn't help but probe Lin Chen and ask, "Is that Wen Shaoqing really a member of the foreign underworld, as they say?"

As soon as the two entered the room, Lin Chen, with a smile on his face, put his arm around the man's shoulder and introduced him to everyone: "Wen Shaoqing, my brother for many years."

By chance, she discovered that he had posted several video commentary threads on a gaming forum. The voice in the videos had been carefully altered, and most of them were real-time recordings of him playing games while providing commentary. It was quite impressive how he could multitask like that. In her free time, she would often watch these videos. After watching them repeatedly, even someone as oblivious as Zhong Zhen noticed something unusual and started paying attention to that person.

Cong Rong nodded and admitted, "Yes, I had planned it early on. At that time, I secretly took the graduate entrance exam, secretly went through the interview process, and got the admission notice. But I didn't dare to say anything because I didn't know where their bottom line was and I didn't have confidence in the success of the revolution. It just so happened that you came to bother me. So I sacrificed you a bit. Even if the revolution fails, you will just follow the previous plan to study law, and there won't be much loss."

When she first met Wen Shaoqing, it was also a warm and blooming spring season, with flowers blooming all over the city, and the sunshine and wind treating each other gently. The white clouds lazily floated above, and that person naturally appeared.

It is ridiculous that, at that time, Wen Shaoqing had already returned abroad to continue her studies. She had only met Wen Shaoqing once, and besides a simple greeting, there was no proper communication. Even in the game, they were mostly on opposing sides. How could she easily say...? ...like?

The crowd sighed in lamentation

Conrong looked down on him and said, "You're just realizing it now, isn't it too late?"

It is indeed the powder blue apron that encircles the "professional butcher" before him... that truly complements him...

Cong Rong did not ask Lin Chen whether, if he could foresee the events that would later unfold, he would still introduce her to Wen Shaoqing.

Suddenly went offline in the middle of playing, reply: "Emergency situation, the boss called me to go crack someone's head."

Wen Shaoqing, facing the murmurs of the crowd, exchanged a glance with Lin Chen and smiled slightly with a raised corner of his lips, yet Cong Rong keenly discerned the hint of cunning lurking in his eyes

Why do elderly people nowadays prefer this style of car

Zhong Zhen drove around the airport twice before he finally spotted Cong Rong walking out from the exit with a suitcase. She wore a loose-fitting white shirt with a V-neck and batwing sleeves, which modestly concealed her delicate collarbone. Her dark denim cropped pants revealed her slender ankles, and she draped a trench coat over her arm. Despite having been on a plane for such a long time, she appeared energetic and showed no signs of fatigue.

I always thought he was a rough and burly man, but it turns out that Wen Shaoqing looks like this. The fierce and formidable Wen Shaoqing in the game has such a striking visual impact!

Cong Rong, as the only woman present, symbolically stood at the kitchen door assisting while continuing to observe Wen Shaoqing

I have bought it, waiting for the elevator downstairs, and will go up shortly

Cong Rong finally saw his face, his brows and eyes were exceptionally well-formed, possessing an indescribable beauty. It is rare to find a man who looks like this, with a clean and tidy appearance, yet unexpectedly... captivating

Someone invited him to hang out in the evening, and he would respond: "I promised my boss to go to the venue tonight, so I can't play."

Cong Rong opened the window, allowing the wind to blow in and awaken the mind. It is often said that one should not encounter anything too stunning in youth, and indeed, there is truth to this statement

At that time, a multiplayer battle game was all the rage, and very few girls were interested in it. However, she happened to be intrigued and was quickly pulled into a gaming group by Lin Chen. In addition to the boys she knew from her department, there was also one person, said to be Lin Chen's friend, named Wen Shaoqing, who was abroad and played exceptionally well

Zhong Zhen raised her hand and waved in front of her, "Cousin? Cousin! What are you thinking about?"

His voice was deep and magnetic, with a hint of gentle delicacy. Cong Rong could only see his profile, and that face was quite fitting with the voice. His skin was fair, his features deep and grand, yet his contours were rarely soft. The brows and eyes were not visible; only the light could be seen passing through his fine eyelashes, leaving a faint shadow.

While waiting for the elevator downstairs at Lin Chen's home, a young man stood beside me, dressed in a crisp white shirt and gray pants. One hand was tucked into his pocket, while the other held several bags of ingredients that seemed somewhat mismatched with his attire, yet there was no sense of incongruity at all. He appeared completely relaxed and carefree.

Zhong Zhen knew that arguing with the lawyer was not a wise move, so he immediately raised the white flag and began to mutter: "I have already thanked you long ago... Moreover, when the incident came to light back then, I did not expose you as an accomplice. No wonder, when the matter of my application to medical school finally settled, you packed your bags and came here for graduate studies! You had it all planned out from the beginning!"

I just didn't expect that after such a long time, they would meet again in this way, and she also learned his name

I tilted my head slightly, thinking seriously, "You know that everyone in our family studies law, right? I don't have any aversion to studying law, but what I can't stand is... ever since I started taking my major courses, I've been surrounded by familiar faces. In my sophomore year, my major course teacher was my aunt, your mother. In my junior year, it got even more ridiculous; I was completely under the influence of my uncle and aunt. After finally escaping their clutches, in my senior year, I fell into the trap of my own mother again. The name of your mother is written as my thesis advisor, don't you find that awkward? In my junior year, it got even more ridiculous; I was completely under the influence of my uncle and aunt. After finally escaping their clutches, in my senior year, I fell into the trap of my own mother again. The name of your mother is written as my thesis advisor, don't you find that awkward? Occasionally, when the school invites seniors to give lectures, I see either my dad or your dad, or some uncle or elder. Even the textbooks are compiled by my grandfather, your maternal grandfather. I don't want to be in a courtroom as a lawyer in the future, facing this kind of scene: "Dad, look, I've been debating with my second uncle for a long time, hurry up and pass judgment." Occasionally, when the school invites seniors to give lectures, I see either my dad or your dad, or some uncle or elder. Even the textbooks are compiled by my grandfather, your maternal grandfather. I don't want to be in a courtroom as a lawyer in the future, facing this kind of scene: "Dad, look, I've been debating with my second uncle for a long time, hurry up and pass judgment." Also, I can't even decide to cut my hair short myself. I feel that if I don't break out of this circle, I will be trapped in it for the rest of my life.

Cong Rong turned her head to glance at the boy behind her. If it wasn't about her, then it must be about him

From Rong, we have met in the game.

When asked what he was doing, he replied after a while: "I'm doing laundry. I got blood on my clothes while working today."

There is a smile in his eyes, warmth in his smile, spring breeze in his warmth. She heard the sound of her heart beating in the wind of books.

With the revolutionary friendship forged through their common struggle, they quickly became acquainted. After getting to know each other in the group, they became increasingly interested in Wen Shaoqing, who was only known by name but never heard from. However, the occasional remarks made by Wen Shaoqing left them astonished.

Zhong Zhen hates it the most when someone elongates their voice and calls him "Zhong Zhen" with a frown, struggling to break free from the clutches of the thicket. He tugs at his hair twice and says, "Cousin, why did you cut your hair again?"

Indeed not, the first time they fought as a team, she happened to use Zhong Zhen's account. After targeting him, in order to prevent exposure, she always used Zhong Zhen's account every time. By only looking at the ID, he shouldn't recognize her, unless...? Has he also paid attention to her before? Does he remember her actions?

However, during her time abroad in recent years, she still occasionally recalls the scene of her first encounter with Wen Shaoqing. The image of that man, scholarly yet slightly cunning, lingers in her mind, along with the memory of the day she first met him, as if the scent of the sunlight from that day still lingers in the air.

Her first defeat in that period was in the team battle with Wen Shaoqing, but she accepted it gracefully.

Cong Rong stood still for a moment, then gestured for her to enter the elevator first. Cong Rong hesitated for a moment and quickly stepped into the elevator, pressing the floor button.

The warm sun and gentle breeze have just begun to break the frost, the willows are budding and the plum blossoms are blooming, and one can already feel the stirrings of spring in the heart

Zhong Zhen immediately jumped up, "Cousin!"

She only knows that he has a very good relationship with Lin Chen, and the intimate and seamless cooperation in the game is not something that ordinary friends would have, not to mention Lin Chen's statement "my good brother of many years" and the weight it carries.

Lin Chen's response was rather ambiguous, "What do you think?"

Cong Rong bent her index finger and tapped on the central control panel in front of her, "As a vested interest, how can you say such a thing? The biggest beneficiary of this matter is you, alright? Who was it that cried with tears and snot, saying they would rather die than study law? You have achieved your long-held wish; shouldn't you thank me?"

The young man came in, glanced around, but did not press the floor button. Cong Rong couldn't help but take another look at him, then slowly withdrew her gaze. Are we on the same floor?

Zhong Zhen turned to take a glance at Cong Rong, feeling that she seemed a bit different since stepping into this city. Tentatively, he asked, "Cousin, to be honest, why did you come here to pursue your master's degree back then?"

Cong Rong could not help but scrutinize him closely; this man was refined and elegant, and he did not appear to be a member of the underworld in any way

In fact, she does not discriminate; the profession of a lawyer inherently navigates between right and wrong, and knowing a more complex array of individuals is not an issue.

He spoke with certainty

Zhong Zhen asked while driving, "Cousin, are you here to seek refuge with me?"

At the end of the game, Wen Shaoqing suddenly asked her: "Have we met before, in the game?"

It can be proven that the two individuals share a deep karmic bond

Cong Rong initially did not take it to heart, but whenever she thought she would never encounter him again, he would appear in the same room with her, and their occasional meetings would evoke a subtle feeling in her heart.

Cong Rong immediately felt a tightness in her heart; she suspected that Wen Shaoqing must have placed a spell in the dish just now. Otherwise, how could someone she had only known for a few months, a person she was meeting for the first time, evoke such joy in her?

The crowd continued to scramble for the fruit after the meal in the living room, while Cong Rong quietly stood outside the kitchen, watching the man separated from her by a glass door. The sleeves of his white shirt were neatly rolled up, revealing his strong arms. After washing the dishes, he began to wipe the grease off the stove.

Cong Rong found it uninteresting and simply chose not to ask anymore

The elevator doors opened quickly, and he took a step forward first, then extended his hand to lightly block the elevator door, slightly turning his body to look at Cong Rong.

In that match, they were still rivals, with familiar IDs and well-known strategies. Cong Rong felt a subtle emotion, which had gradually faded with time, showing signs of rekindling.

Cousin, cousin, that person has released another commentary video! Did you see it?

Zhong Zhen chuckled twice, helped her place the suitcase in the trunk, and after getting in the car, spoke with admiration: "Cousin, you are really bold; you returned to the country and didn't even go home before coming here."

In the year when Zhong Zhen took the college entrance examination, she was preoccupied with studying for the graduate entrance exam, so that year, she hardly played that game at all, and gradually forgot about the person in the game who was both an enemy and a friend.

Cong Rong considered herself quite talented in gaming. During the time she encountered Wen Shaoqing, she was in excellent form, experiencing a phase of contradictory solitude in her pursuit of victory, and indeed, someone appeared who made her "wish come true".

Zhong Zhen pitifully sniffed and said, "Cousin, you are too dark!"

"Why is it taking so long to buy groceries?" As soon as Lin Chen opened the door, he began to complain. However, upon seeing Cong Rong, he paused and smiled, explaining: "... I'm not talking about you."

He wiped for a long time, and Cong Rong watched for just as long. Later, he washed his hands, took off his apron, neatly folded it and set it aside. As he lowered his sleeves, he looked up at her and then suddenly smiled.

So why have you come back now

Cong could not help but silently praise, truly a professional butcher...

In that moment, when Zhong Zhen mentioned that professor, she unexpectedly thought of Wen Shaoqing. If Wen Shaoqing put in a little more effort, becoming a professor at this age wouldn't be an impossible feat, would it

Brothers and women have been a source of melodrama since ancient times, and thus, under completely unaware circumstances, classmate Wen Shaoqing was confessed to, subsequently leading to an innocent rift with Lin Chen.

Later, a group of people were chatting in the living room while Wen Shaoqing was preparing lunch in the kitchen

He slightly lowered his gaze, staring at the number on the elevator display, which had not changed for a long time. He did not appear anxious; his fingers, holding the bag, were long and clean, with rounded and full nails. The phone rang, and he took out his phone from his pants pocket to answer it

Lin Chen, after seeing the wonderful expressions of everyone, stifled a laugh and added, "Those studying medicine also completed their undergraduate studies at our university and are now studying abroad. But you know, their profession is quite similar to that of the underworld; both are high-risk industries"

Having studied law for a long time, Cong Rong, in order to train herself, always consciously or unconsciously maintains a sensitivity to the things around her. Over time, she has developed a professional habit, becoming meticulous about details

Zhong Zhen decided not to speak to this cousin for the entire journey

Cong Rong fastened her seatbelt and glanced at him, "How could I be braver than you? Back then, the whole family helped you choose a school to apply to law school, and you actually dared to go study medicine!"

Haha, just kidding, " Cong Rong immediately put on a serious expression, " Actually, I was thinking... what kind of virtue or ability do you possess to be able to be admitted to the graduate program of such a person? "

After laughing heartily, Zhong Zhen suddenly furrowed her brows, pondering for a long time. After much hesitation, she finally realized, "Oh, no wonder you urged me to secretly apply to medical school back then; this was your stepping stone, wasn't it?"

That day was forever etched in the depths of Congrong's memory, captured in that smile, a smile so enchanting that not long after, when Lin Chen subtly confessed his feelings to her, she inexplicably replied that she did not like lawyers

She remembers that her answer is that she likes doctors

No! Cousin, I won't log in again before the college entrance examination, please do not delete my account!

When Wen Shaoqing was not present, everyone crowded around Lin Chen and asked, "What exactly does this expert do?"

Zhong Zhen was left utterly confused, while Cong Rong felt a sense of melancholy

What do you like? Lin Chen asked directly

Cong Rong studies law, and most people who study law are calm and rational. Therefore, in her mind, games are just games, separated from reality by a dimensional wall. However, she never expected to see the true form of Wen Shaoqing; this matter is still to be credited to Lin Chen.

Cong Rong smiled as she looked at the pouting Zhong Zheng, then she ruffled his hair before turning to look out the window

Cong Rong stepped out of the elevator and immediately sensed that someone had been following her. She stopped in front of a certain door, and the footsteps behind her also came to a halt.

In the spring, the forest blooms with beauty, the spring sun brings warmth, the spring breeze is filled with affection, and it blows open my silk garments

Hehe—" Cong Rong laughed in a sarcastic manner, but silently, a barrage of thoughts rose in her mind. She was the mastermind behind the crimes committed by the two of them in perfect cooperation back in the day. What was this kid feeling guilty about?

The Cong and Zhong families maintain strict family discipline, with most members having a legal background, resulting in children who are generally very compliant. However, this older cousin of his, who is a few years his senior, has always appeared to be well-behaved and sensible since childhood, yet she consistently leads him to flirt with the edges of propriety, seemingly provocatively challenging various unwritten family rules, and each time she manages to evade punishment without any alarm. The thrill of mischief greatly satisfies Zhong Zheng's desire for rebellion, and over time, his cousin Cong Rong has become the supreme goddess in his heart, radiating an aura of her own.

There are countless doctors in this world, yet Lin Chen understood immediately

He is Wen Shaoqing

Everyone suddenly realized that he was a medical student. This explained everything; going to the scene was probably going to the hospital, performing a trepanation was likely a neurosurgery, getting blood on oneself also made sense, and wielding a knife was nothing unusual for a medical student

After entering the game and adding friends, Cong Rong finally learned who Wen Shaoqing was, or rather, it should be said that the person was originally named Wen Shaoqing

This chattering little one has finally quieted down; she certainly did not intend to hurt him, but merely wanted him to settle down, as she suddenly felt a sense of unease.

A gentle breeze blew in through the half-open kitchen window, slightly lifting the corners of their garments

Zhong Zhen chuckled and scratched his head, "I must thank my sister for helping me back then, for assisting me in changing my application form at a critical moment"

Cong Rong shook her clean and neat chestnut short hair. It is rare for a girl to look so beautiful with short hair, exuding a subtle charm that accentuates her clear and bright features. She raised her hand to press down a neutral baseball cap and sighed, "I know, I've already been lectured by many people during the video call with my family. I will grow it back after a while."

Cong Rong let out a light laugh, "You? As a reserve in a high-risk industry, you can barely support yourself, right? How can I rely on you? I studied here for a period of time during my graduate studies, don’t you remember?"

Cong Rong's arrogance suddenly diminished, as he touched the tip of his nose and spoke in a muffled voice: "Oh, because something even more terrifying has happened here"

Cong Rong came to his senses and said, "Oh, I was wondering why such an impressive person would be willing to take you as a student"

The entire process was so focused that there were no distractions. Cong Rong could not understand why this man, who was of a similar age to her, could calm himself to engage in such inconspicuous tasks.

In the years that followed, she gained profound insights

Fortunately, no one has sought her out to hold her accountable. Over the years, she has even refrained from contacting Lin Chen, and she has not dared to inquire about the subsequent developments of that matter

Until that year, she met a real person

The first time Cong Rong learned of the person named Wen Shaoqing, she did not know his name was Wen Shaoqing. At that time, she was an undergraduate, and this game had just begun to gain popularity. She spent a considerable amount of time playing it with her little cousin Zhong Zhen. As they played for a long time, they would inevitably encounter interesting people or events. In Cong Rong's view, that person was "both an enemy and a friend"

On a morning in early spring, the temperature was not high. Zhong Zhen looked at Cong Rong's outfit, shivered violently while sitting in the car before pulling over, opened the car door, and ran over, "Stylish cousin! I'm here!"

At that time, Cong Rong was unaware that the scholarly demeanor of Wen Shaoqing was cultivated from his childhood mischief, where he was punished by being made to copy "Compendium of Materia Medica" and "Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold" with a brush, and also from soaking in a pile of Chinese medicinal herbs. The notions of elegance, gentleness, humility, and delicacy were all merely a facade.

Wen Shaoqing, whose name I have only heard but never seen, I have finally met you in person after knowing you for so long

Yet Lin Chen merely smiled without speaking, and the imaginations of the crowd became so vast that even the Nuwa Stone could not mend them

Those who have stayed abroad are all culinary experts, demonstrating skilled movements, particularly excelling in knife techniques

Cong Rong did not expect him to be so sensitive, and quickly replied: "No."

Cong Rong knew that the spring breeze on that day not only lifted the corners of her clothing but also opened her heart

Zhong Zhen was immediately anxious upon hearing this, "He is not an elderly person! He is a very young professor! He is only a few years older than you, and he is both young and handsome, with a strong professional foundation and exceptional surgical skills! The most crucial point is that he possesses charisma! He attended medical school in North America. Cousin, do you know that medical schools in North America are the most difficult to get into!"

There are so many people in the game, most of whom are merely "fleeting relationships"; today teaming up with you, tomorrow teaming up with him, whether we can meet again entirely depends on fate

Send me the address. Also, you are about to take the college entrance examination; if I catch you online playing games again, I will delete your account

Zhong Zhen was completely bewildered by her persuasion, so he simply stopped bringing it up and asked again: "Since you were studying so well here, why did you go abroad?"

Soon, several dishes were served at the table. They were simple dishes, devoid of any flashy gimmicks, yet they were so delicious that everyone scrambled to finish them.

Cong Rong touched the tip of her nose and said, "Because I have discovered something even more terrifying than that matter"

That person truly excels in their skills, with both technique and strategy being superior. During team battles, they can coordinate well with anyone, and their positioning is exceptionally "sophisticated." In this game, whether one is a teammate or an opponent is entirely determined by the system's free matching. They spend more time as opponents, making one feel frustrated when facing them, yet when they are teammates, there is a reassuring sense of reliability.

That year, she meticulously worked behind her family's back to gain admission here for her graduate studies, and subsequently met her senior, Lin Chen, from the same department. Lin Chen is a person of good looks, intellect, talent, and character, a naturally charismatic individual who took great care of her, his junior.

Cong Rong, fully aware of her grave sins, sought to escape abroad by securing a spot as an exchange student before completing her graduate studies, fearing that Wen Shaoqing, who might uncover the truth, would return to the country to seek retribution.

Zhong Zhen waited for a long time, but Cong Rong did not speak again. During the pause while waiting for the green light, he turned his head and asked, "Cousin?"

Cong Rong was taken aback once again, as she happened to know someone who had also been admitted to one of the best universities in North America, specifically to a program that is reputed to be the most difficult to enter

In fact, she and Lin Chen cannot be considered as senior and junior siblings in the traditional sense; according to the hierarchy, she and Lin Chen are from different generations. Lin Chen's mentor is a master in the industry, and Lin Chen is his closed-door disciple, while her mentor is a student of that master. Therefore, she should technically address Lin Chen as "little master uncle." However, this form of address feels quite awkward, so they all casually refer to Lin Chen as "senior brother."

Zhong Zhen is a graduate student in medical school, and Cong Rong wonders how someone who can supervise graduate students could possibly be young.