Do you want to come home with me and meet my dad?

Lately, Shen Zhizhou has been avoiding Shu Yi. Ji Yao teased him, saying that men grow up and leave home, and who knows, he might suddenly get married one day. Ji Yao smiled kindly and said to Shu Yi, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "If you get married and have children in the future, I'll help you take care of them, just like I used to take care of Xiao Zhou..."

"Sister Ji, don't joke around. We're not like what you think, really!" To make sure Ji Yao didn't believe him, Shen Zhizhou emphasized the last part of his sentence.

Ji Yao nodded, outwardly agreeing with Shen Zhizhou's words, but in reality, she immediately added a sharp remark: "I know, we're not close... but we can hug."

"..." Shen Zhizhou didn't know what to say, so he could only blush and quickly leave the scene of the war.

...

After trying to find jobs for Zhizhi Lili and Huang Daxian, Shuyi realized that she could introduce jobs to them so that the monsters could support themselves.

"So you mean you want to open a job agency to help monsters find jobs?" After listening to Shu Yi's idea, Shen Zhizhou thought about it carefully and found that it was indeed feasible.

"Yes, I have carefully studied the current job market. In fact, there is a huge shortage in the domestic service industry and the general labor industry, and our hardworking and diligent demon race can fill this gap."

After considering his options, Shen Zhizhou asked, "So, are you planning to send them all to screw in screws or to mix cement?"

"Could we do a group broadcast? That would be easier." Shu Yi asked seriously, taking out her notebook and pen to listen attentively to Shen Zhizhou's opinion.

Shen Zhizhou's mind flashed through images of the monsters doing group broadcasts, and he simply couldn't imagine it, so he urgently stopped Shu Yi from having those messy ideas.

"Why not just open an agency? We can arrange some training courses, like in a human university, so that students can learn the relevant knowledge before going out to work. That would be better."

Shu Yi slapped his thigh and praised the method, then immediately ran to Ji Yao to ask for help, but was met with strong opposition from Ji Yao.

"Why are you dragging all the demons to live in the human world? The human world isn't that great. Do you really think what you're doing is for their own good?"

“I know what I’m doing now. I’m doing what my other yokai companions have always wanted to do. Sister Ji, you haven’t really gotten to know your other yokai companions, have you? They have a really tough time in the human world. Apart from a few yokai who really hate humans and are determined to stay away from them, most yokai genuinely want to live in peace with humans.” Shuyi didn’t understand why Ji Yao was so opposed to this, but she still tried to communicate with Ji Yao about the thoughts of the yokai she had encountered, adhering to the spirit of peaceful discussion.

Although humans have seized most of the resources and pristine lands, allowing monsters to flow into the human world, most monsters are more curious about humans than dislike them after arriving. This is why the monsters are willing to listen when Shen Zhizhou tries to communicate with them properly.

"I'll talk to Xiaozhou about this. You just stay with Xiaozhou and clear up the rumors. Don't do anything unnecessary." After saying this, Ji Yao pulled her coat tighter and was about to go find Shen Zhizhou when Shu Yi blocked her way.

"Sister Ji, I don't know why you don't allow it, but I want to say that even if you don't allow it, I will still do it. Humans and demons don't have to be enemies forever. Wouldn't it be better to have a process of mutual understanding?"

"Do you know what will happen? What will happen to humans if a demon goes out of control? Or what will happen to the demons if humans find out about their existence? Have you thought about that?" Ji Yao's five fingers were like claws, and her bright, sharp nails were pressed against Shu Yi's throat like blades. With just a light swipe, she could take his life.

But Shu Yi was not intimidated at all. She looked at Ji Yao with a determined gaze and said, "Even if you kill me, I will still do it."

This is not only the monsters' idea and way out, but also something Shen Zhizhou wants to do, and she wants to accomplish it with him.

"You're asking for it!"

Seeing that Shu Yi remained obstinate, Ji Yao's eyes suddenly turned murderous. She would not allow any variables to cause Shen Zhizhou to get hurt; she had promised to take care of Shen Zhizhou and she had to keep her word.

As Ji Yao's fingertips flashed, Shen Zhizhou, who had been standing at the door watching the farce, spoke in a deep voice: "Enough!"

The two demons looked at Shen Zhizhou, whose back was proud yet revealed a hint of vulnerability, and their hearts stirred. His half-length hair covered Shen Zhizhou's handsome eyebrows and eyes, but Shu Yi could detect a trace of heartache.

Shen Zhizhou grabbed Shu Yi's wrist and pulled her away. Ji Yao watched Shen Zhizhou's departing figure, her voice trembling: "Why did you indulge her? Have you forgotten your mother's death?"

Shen Zhizhou stopped in his tracks without turning around. The air around him seemed to have stopped because of the argument. After a long while, Shen Zhizhou replied in a very tired voice, "Some things should stop here. I have already given my whole life... If I really have a child, I hope he grows up healthy and does what he wants to do, and doesn't have to be a mystery eraser anymore."

Shen Zhizhou did not become a mystery eraser voluntarily; it was only because his family had done so for generations, and his father was still recovering from serious injuries at the time, so he, as a young boy, had to shoulder the responsibility of the family.

In fact, Shen Zhizhou's original dream was to open a flower shop, but no one knew that.

Shuyi has been extremely busy lately. Because of a previous unpleasantness with Ji Yao, she started living near the company. When Huang Daxian saw Shuyi like this, he assumed that she had quarreled with Shen Zhizhou. In the evening, during a break from work, he chatted with Shuyi over a meal.

"Have you and Boss Shen had a fight lately?" Huang Daxian tore off a leg of the lotus leaf chicken he had specially packed and put it in Shuyi's bowl, urging her to eat more.

"No... I don't know how to put it, but I just feel that there's no need for humans and monsters to fight to the death. It's much better to live in peace." Shu Yi chewed on the chicken leg meat in big bites. Actually, after what happened last time, she was too embarrassed to let Shen Zhizhou get involved.

Huang Daxian took a sip of wine, picked up a piece of smashed cucumber and crunched it in his mouth before slowly saying, "Boss Shen is a good person. Since I came down from the attic, I have met all kinds of people, but someone like Boss Shen is truly one of a kind."

Despite being a mystery exterminator, Shen Zhizhou was willing to give the monsters a chance to live. Huang Daxian knew that Shen Zhizhou had worked very hard for them during this time and was always grateful.

"If there's anything I, Huang Daxian, need, just let me know. Although my cultivation isn't that great, I'm quite good at gathering information."

Shuyi chuckled as she looked at Huang Daxian patting his chest. After thinking for a moment, she realized that only Huang Daxian could do this, so she asked, "Huang Daxian, could you please ask my other demon companions if they want to live in the human world? If they are, they can come to me. I'm planning to open an agency to provide employment guidance and arrangements for demons."

"No problem, leave it to me!" Wong Tai Sin downed the last drop of wine in his cup, looked at the twinkling stars in the sky, and couldn't help but sigh, "Life now... is really so wonderful."

Shuyi looked up at the stars, leaned against the glass window, and nodded in agreement with Wong Tai Sin's statement. Whether human or monster, all they wanted was a peaceful and tranquil home.

Shen Zhizhou's gaze softened instantly when he saw Huang Daxian, who was squinting at the sky from inside the security booth and endlessly babbling while holding a wine bottle.

She slowly walked over and knocked on the glass window. When she saw Shen Zhizhou, her eyes lit up immediately. After covering the drunk Huang Daxian with a blanket, she skipped and hopped out.

"Why are you here? Aren't you cold wearing so little?"

"It's alright, it's almost spring now, and it's getting warmer." Shen Zhizhou looked at Shuyi and asked, "Want to go for a walk to digest your food?"

The two strolled leisurely along the street. Shu Yi was in a good mood, kicking small pebbles along the way as if in a relay race. Shen Zhizhou followed behind Shu Yi, watching her skip and hop ahead with a gentle expression.

It seems like it's been a long time since he's gone for a walk with anyone. Apart from coming to the company to handle some things for him, Sister Ji usually doesn't leave the house. Sheyang is even more of a shut-in. Despite his seemingly carefree lifestyle, he's actually a shut-in and doesn't like to interact with others. So most of the time, Shen Zhizhou is alone.

"How about a race? Whoever gets to the intersection first buys the winner an ice cream, okay?"

Shuyi's eyes lit up when she heard the word "ice cream" and she nodded repeatedly. Shen Zhizhou held up three fingers to keep time. Shuyi got into a charging stance and waited for the order to rush forward.

“3” means to concentrate fully.

The number "2" signifies that something is poised to take off.

But before they could even get to number 1, they saw Shen Zhizhou cheat and run away first. Shu Yi yelled at him from behind, "Shen Zhizhou, you despicable scoundrel! How dare you trick me!"

"How come you always get fooled? How can you trust me so much..." Shen Zhizhou said as he ran, glancing at Shu Yi, who was jumping up and down in anger.

Shu Yi rolled her eyes and said irritably, "I just trust you. Even though you always trick me, you always stand in front of me and protect me when it comes to important things."

Shen Zhizhou stopped in his tracks, looking at Shuyi, who had already surpassed him and was clamoring to eat ten of the most expensive Magnum popsicles. Shen Zhizhou rubbed his face, smiled slightly, and invited, "Would you like to come to my house and meet my dad?"

"Huh?" Shu Yi stopped just before reaching the intersection, turning around to look at Shen Zhizhou in surprise.

The two stood a distance apart, gazing back at each other. The wind rustled through the leaves, like the echo of someone's restless heart. Shu Yi heard the strong beating in her chest and put her right hand to her chest, trying to slow the rhythm.

But Shen Zhizhou stepped forward and continued to invite, "Would you like to come back with me to meet my dad? He said he'd really like to get to know you."

If you're willing, if you feel the same way.