Chapter 14: The Young Lady Has Been Eating Sand for Three Years—The End

The first weapon's design was naturally the magic sword that Qin Ye favored. After a series of tests, the first person discovered to be able to use the weapon began to operate it following various instructions. As the operator manipulated it, countless streams of energy gathered in a dazzling display; parts assembled and shifted, ultimately forming a radiant flying sword that danced beside its user. It moved faster than the speed of sound, its attack power formidable—test materials were pierced instantly.

The bad news was its immense energy consumption, limiting the user's control time. But flaws were nothing to fear; after all, anything newly invented is improved and refined through generations before it appears before the public. Improvement and optimization were not the real concern; the true fear was losing direction, being unable to develop any results at all.

Qin Ye's dream was realized—he finally wielded a flying sword in a world of science and technology, though it had to be registered, approved, and could only be used in specific places for experimental purposes. Still, that was enough. After all, this was a peaceful world, with no need for violence.

Having fulfilled his wish, Qin Ye's health began to decline day by day. Qin Yue, whose temperament had grown sharper and more mature after years spent traveling abroad, returned home to accompany Qin Ye through his final days.

When Qin Ye closed his eyes and passed away unexpectedly, Qin Yue grieved deeply, handled his affairs, and soon returned to her beloved career.

Before Qin Ye's passing, the aura surrounding the protagonists of this world seemed to fade. Gu Yeting's company ran into trouble, while Ye Xiaoxiao stayed home to care for their child.

Gu Yeting was initially full of ambition, convinced he would soon rise again. But after repeated setbacks, he grew despondent. Ye Xiaoxiao and the child needed money, the household required living expenses, and their home demanded a hefty rent.

Gu Yeting hadn't bought a house when he first earned money; he dismissed ordinary homes, but couldn't afford a villa like the Gu family's. So, they rented. Now, with the company in crisis and no profitable projects, they could barely keep the company afloat, let alone pay expensive rent.

Gu Yeting had no choice but to move Ye Xiaoxiao out of their rented home. Money became a source of conflict between them. As their aura faded, they began to feel the pressures of real life.

Ye Xiaoxiao, who once considered it her pride to stay by Gu Yeting's side, even if it meant being at his beck and call, now argued with him constantly over finances, even talking back. The two ended up fighting in front of their barely one-year-old son.

Things escalated until Ye Xiaoxiao was left bleeding from a head wound; it was only thanks to a neighbor passing by and calling the police that they finally settled down.

From that moment, all their so-called beautiful memories and feelings turned into petty squabbles and ugly confrontations.

Gu Yeting kept failing at his ventures, while Ye Xiaoxiao wanted to leave him, only to be threatened—Gu Yeting warned he'd kill her if she dared to go.

Gu Yeting had always been volatile, quick to start fights; he'd become the school bully because of his temper. Ye Xiaoxiao should have known what kind of person he was.

Threatened, Ye Xiaoxiao dared not truly leave and could only continue living with Gu Yeting. They quarreled every three days and fought every five, with violent clashes breaking out from time to time.

Their son grew up in this environment, and his character gradually became twisted. When they found he was skipping studies to hang out with delinquents on the streets, both parents flew into a rage, dragged him home, and beat him. But this did nothing to change his attitude toward learning.

When Qin Ye passed away and news outlets spontaneously reported on the achievements of the Qin Group, Gu Yeting and Ye Xiaoxiao sat before the television. At the funeral, Qin Yue attended in black; time seemed to leave little mark on her. Compared to her, her peer Ye Xiaoxiao appeared as an ordinary middle-aged woman. Gu Yeting was no better—life had left him with a protruding belly, a distorted figure, and a receding hairline.

Without his aura, Gu Yeting was finally reduced to the crowd.

Seeing an old acquaintance, their memories seemed to drift back to the past; for a moment, both were lost in a haze. The broadcast recounting Qin Ye’s achievements sounded distant.

Gu Yeting thought, if he had always liked Qin Yue, never gotten involved with Ye Xiaoxiao, then even after Qin Yue spent three years abroad, perhaps they would still have cherished memories together.

Or, if Ye Xiaoxiao hadn’t disappeared, if he hadn’t poured so much energy into searching for her, repeatedly disappointing his business partners who then left, maybe the company wouldn’t have collapsed.

Ye Xiaoxiao, meanwhile, wondered: if she hadn’t let secret jealousy and malice grow, if she had truly befriended Qin Yue when she reached out, perhaps she would have gotten into a top university, found a decent job, and experienced a normal relationship.

The ending might not have been perfect, but the process would have left beautiful memories.

Then, perhaps she would have married and had children, but things wouldn’t be as chaotic as they were now—they would have been peaceful and warm. Her child wouldn’t have turned out so rebellious and wild.

The more she thought, the more regret clung to her like a shadow, impossible to shake off.

One believed that without Ye Xiaoxiao, he would still be the Gu family’s eldest son, enjoying the dull life of the wealthy, or at worst, inheriting the family business, not ending up like this.

The other believed that, if not for getting entangled with Gu Yeting and wasting so much energy helping him study, her future would have been far brighter.

The more they dwelled on it, the more convinced they became that the other had ruined their lives, and their hatred for each other deepened.

Then, over a trivial matter, they quarreled again, fought, and ended up hospitalized together.

But none of this concerned Qin Ye anymore.

He had returned to the system space, mobilizing his spirit power to craft a colossal throne formed from countless swords of various shapes and sizes.

He sat upon the throne, but found it too hard, so added a cushion.

Golden butterflies fluttered and finally settled before Qin Ye.

"Three, check the task rating."

Little Three: ...

Nicknamed Little Three, the system manifested as a golden butterfly. It was speechless, but still pulled up the task rating, displaying it before Qin Ye.

A perfect score of one hundred appeared with golden light effects; Qin Ye, quick-handed, gathered all the golden light into his palm.

[I won't fight you for it.]

"You say that, but I know you're not that kind. I'm worried about attracting other shameless creatures—wealth should never be flaunted, you know?"

Before Little Three could retort that it wasn’t human, Qin Ye continued, "Alright, let's start the next task."

Making money—or rather, gathering energy—anyone who isn’t eager must be foolish.

Qin Ye believed he had a real talent for fatherhood. Making him the leader of the 'I’m Your Father' group was, in his view, the headquarters’ wisest decision ever.

Such tasks were mere trifles, easily handled.

Little Three sensed Qin Ye’s mysterious confidence and, uncertain what to say, simply transported him directly into the task world.

Qin Ye hadn’t expected Little Three to be even more impatient than himself. He barely finished speaking before darkness fell; when his senses returned, his head spun, his body burned with hunger, as if he hadn’t eaten or drunk for days—he was utterly weak and powerless.

“My roommate, that middle-aged guy, I haven’t seen him for a week. The stench from his room is unbearable. I suspect he’s gone, so I called you, the landlord, to open the door and check. If he’s really gone, whether you find someone else to rent or whatever, I just hope you’ll get rid of the source of that smell. It’s just too awful,” Zhou Taixian said, pinching his nose and leading the landlady forward as he spoke.

The farther they went, the stronger the stench grew.

The landlady’s face soured. If her property ended up like a kennel, she’d be the most annoyed.

She was about to take out the spare key when the door opened from inside. A middle-aged man appeared, skin and bones, looking like a drug addict.

His face still hinted at former good looks, but now it was hardly commendable.

His hair was long and messy, like a bird’s nest coated with lard, nearly tangled. Even from a distance, a foul smell wafted from him.

The landlady was not particularly fastidious, but even she recoiled in disgust.

“Qin Ergou?”

Qin Ye, barely able to stay conscious, didn’t respond. Instead, he stretched out a trembling hand: “Food…”

Then he collapsed, losing consciousness completely.

The landlady: ...

She was in trouble now!

Panic-stricken, her hands shook. Please don’t die in my apartment!

Zhou Taixian hadn’t expected his roommate to be in such a state. He remembered seeing the man before—plainly dressed, somewhat timid, but overall just an ordinary, unremarkable middle-aged man.

How had he suddenly turned into such a mess?

If he hadn’t been bothered by the smell and called the landlady, would the man have died in his room?

Meanwhile, unconscious, Qin Ye was checking the timely arrival of Bai Juan.

Ruan Jiaojiao had been cherished since childhood, her delicate face inspiring an urge to protect and spoil her.

Anyone who saw her felt an immediate fondness—except for that one person.