After deciding to take on the task at the back of Qingcheng Mountain, Mr. Zhou immediately arranged for vehicles and equipment.

Su Lan, on the other hand, was exceptionally enthusiastic, running around, but her gaze kept drifting towards Ling Qingxue, her eyes shining with an astonishing intensity.

Soon, a modified black SUV with an extremely high chassis pulled up in front of the teahouse.

Su Lan opened the passenger door first, gestured to Ling Qingxue to sit in the front, and said with a bright but slightly ingratiating smile: "Fairy Ling, please sit in the front. The view is better and you're less likely to get carsick."

Ling Qingxue glanced at her indifferently, but before she could say anything, Ye Meier, who was standing next to her, became unhappy.

"Oh? Little brat, you're quite the smooth talker, aren't you?"

Ye Meier crossed her arms and said sarcastically, "Why should she sit in the front? Our head of household is the head of the family, so he should be the one sitting in the front!"

Su Lan's face stiffened at Ye Meier's words, but her gaze remained stubbornly fixed on Ling Qingxue.

In the end, Ling Qingxue ignored Su Lan's invitation, opened the back door, and got in.

Ye Meier proudly raised her chin at Su Lan before climbing into the back seat.

A hint of disappointment flashed across Su Lan's face, but she quickly cheered up and got into the passenger seat.

Thus, the seating arrangement for this trip to the back of Qingcheng Mountain became: the driver (a taciturn special agent), Su Lan in the co-driver's seat, and Zhang Shaozhong in the middle of the back row, with Ling Qingxue on his left and Ye Meier on his right.

The car started, drove out of the city, and headed towards Qingcheng Mountain.

At first, the atmosphere inside the car was normal.

Su Lan tried to strike up a conversation with Ling Qingxue, starting with the historical legends of Qingcheng Mountain, then talking about Taoist health practices, and finally about the local customs and culture of Sichuan... She had clearly done her homework, speaking eloquently and enthusiastically.

"Fairy Ling, look out the window. That's Dujiangyan, the water conservancy project built by Li Bing and his son. It's a true miracle..."

"My lady, the Sichuan peppercorns from our region are truly exceptional, with a rich and numbing aroma. Next time, I'll treat you to an authentic spicy hot pot..."

"Fairy, are you familiar with the Daoist Canon? Our branch office has some rare copies in its collection; I'll ask to see them for you later..."

Ling Qingxue mostly listened quietly, occasionally offering a soft "hmm" or a brief reply of one or two words out of politeness.

But the more aloof and distant she was, the more enthusiastic Su Lan became, as if being able to speak with a fairy was a great honor.

Zhang Shaozhong sat in the middle, feeling like an unwanted third wheel.

Listening to Su Lan's undisguised, admiring tone, and looking at Ling Qingxue's perfect profile, that sour feeling in his heart started to bubble up again.

He secretly glanced at Ling Qingxue and saw that the fairy's expression was calm, as if she did not take Su Lan's enthusiasm to heart, which made him breathe a slight sigh of relief.

However, before he could even catch his breath, Ye Meier on his right started causing trouble.

Ye Meier was clearly very dissatisfied with Su Lan's "noisy" behavior, and even more annoyed by the way Su Lan's eyes were glued to Ling Qingxue.

Her eyes darted around, and suddenly she leaned limply against Zhang Shaozhong, wrapping her arms around his and coaxing him in a sickeningly sweet voice:

"Honey~ I'm a little dizzy from the car ride~ Move closer so I can lean on you and sleep for a bit~"

As she spoke, she rested her head on Zhang Shaozhong's shoulder, closed her eyes, and looked weak and helpless.

Zhang Shaozhong's body froze instantly!

He could feel Ye Meier's soft body and burning heat, and her rich fragrance kept wafting into his nose.

Su Lan, sitting in the front row, saw this scene through the rearview mirror, her brows immediately furrowing, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes.

Ling Qingxue also glanced sideways, her cold gaze sweeping over Ye Meier's arm around Zhang Shaozhong. She didn't speak, but her aura seemed to grow even colder.

Zhang Shaozhong felt like he was being roasted on a fire!

On the left is the invisible oppressive aura of a fairy, on the right is the deliberate gentle fragrance of a witch, and in front of them is an official, beautiful captain eyeing them covetously!

He tried to pull his arm out of Ye Meier's arms and whispered, "Big sister... stop it... we're in the car..."

"No way~ I want to lean on you~"

Ye Meier hugged him even tighter, and even deliberately rubbed her cheek against his shoulder, casting a provocative glance at Su Lan in the front row.

Su Lan was indeed provoked. She turned her head and looked at Ye Meier's appearance, and couldn't help but say, "Ms. Ye, we are on a mission, please be mindful of your behavior!"

Ye Meier opened one eye and lazily glanced at her: "Oh? Little girl, you're quite nosy, aren't you? I'm leaning on my own man, what's it to you? What? Envious? Jealous?"

Su Lan was speechless, her face turning red. Unable to retaliate, she could only turn around angrily and stare intently at the road ahead.

Zhang Shaozhong wished he could shrink himself into a ball!

He looked to Ling Qingxue on his left as if seeking help.

Ling Qingxue received his pitiful look, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly reached out and gently grasped his left hand, which was resting on his lap.

Her hands were slightly cool and soft, carrying a soothing quality.

Zhang Shaozhong's heart skipped a beat, as if a clear spring had flowed through him, instantly calming his inner turmoil and embarrassment.

He instinctively reached back and grasped that slightly cool little hand, holding it tightly.

Ling Qingxue's hand trembled slightly, as if she wanted to pull it back, but in the end she let him hold it. Only her fair earlobe was quietly tinged with a blush.

Now, the situation in the back row became: Zhang Shaozhong's left hand was held by Ling Qingxue, and his right hand was held by Ye Meier. He was "held hostage" by the two big shots on the left and right!

Ye Meier sensed Zhang Shaozhong's subtle movements with his left hand and immediately pinched his arm in annoyance, whispering in his mind, "You brat! You're always looking for something better than what you have? You're quite the grabber with your left hand!"

Zhang Shaozhong was on the verge of tears. Could he really be blamed?!

He was the one who was forced!

Although Su Lan did not turn around, she could clearly see the ambiguous scene of "embracing each other" in the back seat through the rearview mirror!

Looking at Ling Qingxue's aloof and ethereal profile, and then at Zhang Shaozhong's "enjoying the bliss of having two wives" appearance, she felt a mix of bitterness and anger, as well as an indescribable sense of loss and...resentment.

Why is it that this seemingly ordinary boy has won the favor of the fairy?

The rest of the journey took place in this extremely strange and awkward atmosphere.

Su Lan stopped initiating conversations with Ling Qingxue and instead stared ahead, occasionally glancing through the rearview mirror. When she saw Ling Qingxue and Zhang Shaozhong holding hands, her eyes dimmed even more.

Ye Meier, as if she had won a battle, leaned against Zhang Shaozhong triumphantly, occasionally harassing him with telepathic messages.

Ling Qingxue remained quietly gazing out the window, but she never retracted the hand that Zhang Shaozhong was holding.

Sitting in the middle, Zhang Shaozhong felt the cool softness from his left hand and the warm fullness from his right hand, his mood was extremely complicated.

He felt more tired than if he had fought the Ghost King before even arriving at the destination!

This damn, irresistible charm...