Looking at the empty refrigerator in the kitchen, Qin Nan figured she was going to make dumplings that night, so she dragged Bai Muqiu along to buy ingredients. The carrots and cabbages in the family warehouse were running low, and they needed to replenish other vegetables in large quantities.

Upon hearing that there would be dumplings for dinner, Bai Muqiu didn't complain at all and immediately went along. Of course, at Qin Nan's request, he changed his clothes. He hadn't noticed before because of many things, and it was only after Murong Xue gave him a subtle hint that he remembered. Murong Xue had probably already experienced what it felt like to be the center of attention.

Tempted by the delicious food, Bai Muqiu changed into Qin Nan's clothes. The two were about the same height and had similar builds, so the clothes fit her perfectly.

Qin Nan looked at Bai Muqiu, who was dressed in a beige outfit. Although his hair was still pink, it didn't affect his good looks. His face was really attractive. Unlike Bai Hao, who had some sharp features, Bai Muqiu's face was smaller and more delicate. He looked like the boy next door and was especially likable.

Qin Nan regretted taking Bai Muqiu to the market as soon as she left. The journey was fine; they borrowed Zhou Miao's car and drove there. Before they even got out of the car, people exclaimed how nice it was. But once they got out, Bai Muqiu became the center of attention.

Qin Nan wanted to buy things separately, but Bai Muqiu absolutely refused to let him. Before leaving, Bai Hao instructed him not to leave Qin Nan's side for even a moment.

Qin Nan was glad he had brought a scarf to cover his face as he looked down to buy things. Bai Muqiu, on the other hand, was smiling and looking around. When someone took a picture, she would raise her hand and make a V sign. He was already used to this kind of situation.

Purchasing a batch of ingredients felt like going through a battle. Sitting in the car, Qin Nan took off his scarf and let out a long breath. He admired Bai Muqiu for being able to handle things so well.

Bai Muqiu sat in the car with a basket of fruit given to her by others on her lap and was drinking from a coconut that was also given to her.

Qin Nan drove home as if fleeing, and then busied herself preparing dumpling filling, kneading dough, and rolling out wrappers.

After having dumplings for dinner, everyone gathered together to chat contentedly until after 8 p.m. Pi Sheng left with Qin Fang, and Zhou Miao, Lü Zeqi, and Murong Xue also left one after another. They stayed out so late because the adults in their families had social engagements, which they didn't want to go to, so they stayed over.

Before leaving, Pi Sheng packed two insulated containers of dumplings, saying he wanted to bring them to others to try.

Upon hearing this, Bai Muqiu rolled her eyes and immediately understood why. She then silently took a step back, knowing that Pi Sheng was no pushover either.

Chen Qiang and An Bei slept in the front hall. Upstairs, Pi Yuan, Chi Wei, and Tao Xiaolu slept in one room, Xuan Yu and Teng Xue in another, and Bai Hao and Qin Nan in yet another. All three bedrooms were full.

There were no beds in the rooms on the third floor. The only place with a bed was the attic of the warehouse, but there was no heating there and it wasn't well maintained. So, Bai Muqiu finally chose the sofa on the first floor of the house in the backyard. It was a bit small, but she could sleep on it.

The sofa in the front hall was large, but Bai Muqiu didn't want to be a third wheel.

After New Year's Day, life remained peaceful. Qin Nan kept an eye on the news but didn't see anything special.

Two days later, it was snowing lightly. Qin Nan and Chen Qiang were clearing away the fallen snow and dead branches in the front yard. An Bei had returned to normal. Bai Hao had something to tell him, so the two of them stayed in the house in the back yard all morning. The kids were wearing all sorts of pajamas and standing at the front door watching the snowflakes.

"Clang clang clang—"

The door knocker of the tightly closed door was knocked, the sound deep and long.

Qin Nan thought about what Bai Hao had said that day and wondered if it was that so-called "Trickster" they had mentioned.

Chen Qiang also stopped what he was doing and watched Qin Nan open the door.

The door opened, and a man in a dark blue coat stood with his back to the door, one hand in his pocket, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips. Hearing the sound, he turned around, and Qin Nan finally saw his face.

He was truly handsome and unparalleled in beauty, especially his eyes, which were not dark brown, but a deep blue-black like the sea, and his hair seemed to be the same color.

Qin Nan: "Hello, who are you looking for?"

The man said nonchalantly, "If you dare to run, I'll lock you up in the Dragon Palace for a thousand years and never let you see the light of day again!"

The man spoke very casually, as if he were asking, "Have you eaten?" But this seemingly innocuous question sent a chill down Qin Nan's spine. He wondered who the man was talking to, and why he was mentioning the Dragon Palace? Was it the Dragon Palace he was thinking of?

Upon hearing the man's voice, Chi Wei's eyes widened, and he dashed over from the front hall entrance.

Chi Wei: "Master!"

Long Chengxiu looked at Chi Wei, who was running over excitedly, his expression softening. He nodded and then looked at Qin Nan: "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Qin Nan immediately realized what was happening and stepped aside to let him in: "Please come in."

Tao Xiaolu's four cubs stood silently in a row at the door: "Greetings, Senior Dragon!"

They had only heard of Long Chengxiu, but had never met this elder. Chi Wei was unmatched among his peers, and he was trained by Long Chengxiu.

Moreover, Chi Wei was punished to follow Bai Hao because he had caused too much trouble, and his backer was Long Chengxiu. If Chi Wei's parents hadn't found Long Chengxiu and insisted on giving Chi Wei a severe punishment, no one would have touched Chi Wei with him around.

Although Chen Qiang didn't understand why there was such a strange and terrifying atmosphere, he still couldn't help but bow and greet Long Chengxiu when he was met with a glance.

It wasn't until Long Chengxiu went to the backyard that the people in the front yard seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. This person's aura was the kind that made people feel scared from the bottom of their hearts. He didn't need to have emotional fluctuations; just a slight gesture or a casual word was enough to make people obey without any thought of resistance.

Perhaps only Chi Wei was the happiest. He hadn't seen his master for a long time, but he also knew who his master had come for.

Bai Muqiu, who was sitting on the sofa in the backyard listening to Bai Hao and the other person talking and happily eating beef jerky, felt a chill when the door knocker sounded. When Qin Nan opened the door, he immediately realized what was happening and was about to run away when Long Chengxiu pinned him to the sofa with a single sentence.

Long Chengxiu's most outstanding quality is that he keeps his word. He won't easily say something he can't do, but once he does say it, he will definitely do it. He has never broken his promise.

Bai Muqiu was quite certain that if she ran away now, Long Chengxiu would definitely chase after her at all costs, and then imprison her in his dragon palace with chains made of deep-sea black iron. Moreover, since he had said a thousand years, not a day or an hour off, it would be exactly a thousand years.

Bai Muqiu cried her heart out, regretting that she was good at literature but not martial arts. Otherwise, she would have chopped Bai Hao into pieces and thrown him into the river to feed the fish. No wonder she agreed to let him stay. So this was what she was waiting for!

What made Bai Muqiu even more devastated was that life here was so comfortable that he had turned his hair black. Now he was wearing the white knitted sweater that Qin Nan had bought for him. He must look particularly attractive in this state, but he dared not move, otherwise the consequences would be even more terrible.

Anbei was speechless with shock when he saw Bai Muqiu crying her eyes out for no reason, while Bai Hao couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth from turning up.