Dongfang Wantang's words sent a chill down Su Wanwan's spine. The Han Feng she knew, though ruthless and decisive, was never lacking in humanity. How could the man who would silently stay by her bedside during her nightmares...

The sound of porcelain clinking came from the kitchen, followed by the hum of the microwave. Su Wanwan lowered her voice: "Do you think... it's possible that collecting that Star Compendium has influenced his personality?"

Dongfang Wantang was visibly taken aback: "You mean... being consumed by the power?" She pondered for a moment, "No, I feel it's more like... a necessary detachment. Like a surgeon who can't let too much emotion get into the operation."

"And his behavior after he came back..."

"That's normal." Dongfang Wantang's lips unconsciously curled into a smile. "His eyes lit up when he saw you."

Su Wanwan breathed a slight sigh of relief, then her eyes darted around: "Speaking of this..." She suddenly leaned closer to Dongfang Wantang, "Wantang, do you also have feelings for Han Feng...?"

The question struck like a stone thrown into a calm lake. Dongfang Wantang's body visibly stiffened, and the teacup slipped from her hand, making a dull thud on the thick carpet.

"I...I don't know what you're talking about..." She hurriedly bent down to pick up the cup, her long hair falling down to cover her burning cheeks.

Su Wanwan persisted, "Stop pretending! We saw you holding hands just now!" She poked Dongfang Wantang's shoulder with a mischievous grin, "And every time Han Feng is mentioned, your eyes..."

"Wanwan!" Liu Mengran's voice came from the kitchen doorway, holding three steaming cups of cocoa. "Don't bully Wantang."

Su Wanwan stuck out her tongue and took the cup: "I didn't bully her, I was just asking..."

Three cups of hot cocoa sat on the coffee table, their steaming aroma swirling among the three. An awkward silence descended—Liu Mengran stirred her cocoa, Su Wanwan bit the rim of her cup and stole glances at the two, while Dongfang Wantang, like a startled rabbit, seemed ready to flee at any moment.

"Actually..." Liu Mengran suddenly spoke, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible, "You have feelings for Han Feng, don't you?"

Dongfang Wantang looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with fear: "Sister Mengran, I swear I didn't..."

"I know." Liu Mengran reached out and grasped her cold fingers. "I can tell you've been holding back, right?"

These words were like the opening of a floodgate. Dongfang Wantang's eyelashes trembled violently, and a tear uncontrollably fell onto the back of her hand: "I'm sorry... I really tried to keep my distance, but it seems I'm so easily attracted to him, even though we've only known each other for a short time..."

Su Wanwan's eyes widened, never expecting her casual question to cause such a situation. She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Liu Mengran sighed softly and pulled Dongfang Wantang into her arms: "Silly girl, what's there to apologize for?" She stroked the girl's trembling back. "That guy... he's just naturally likable."

These words completely deflated Dongfang Wantang, her voice muffled: "But... that's not fair to you..."

"Pfft." Su Wanwan suddenly laughed, drawing puzzled looks from the two. "Come on, we're talking about Han Feng right now!" She gestured exaggeratedly. "That guy is just too awful, repeatedly deceiving naive girls like us." She looked directly into Dongfang Wantang's tearful eyes. "Do you think he'd let something like 'fairness' bother us?"

Dongfang Wantang was stunned. Liu Mengran, blushing, lightly punched Su Wanwan: "You... why do you say everything..."

Su Wanwan shrugged nonchalantly: "Anyway, we'll be family sooner or later~"

These words made Dongfang Wantang's cheeks flush red.

Su Wanwan continued, "Although I was a little embarrassed at first, since Mengran was the first one to be with Han Feng, I later found myself becoming more and more attracted to him, as if he were a whirlpool."

Dongfang Wantang nodded involuntarily, while Liu Mengran blushed and scolded, "Alright, Wanwan, stop talking."

Outside the window, the rain had stopped sometime earlier. A crescent moon peeked out from behind the clouds, its silvery light shining through the glass onto the three girls. Liu Mengran then said, "Since we can't leave him now, let's not cause Han Feng any trouble. That way, he can leave with peace of mind."

Inside Villa No. 3, Han Feng suddenly sneezed, rubbing his nose in confusion: "Strange, who's talking about me behind my back...?"

Han Feng was sitting on a single sofa, facing his parents and Lin Zhengguo, who were sitting side by side. This tense atmosphere made him unconsciously straighten his back.

"Old Lin has already told us all about this," Han's father spoke first, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his knee. "I'm fine, it's just your mother..."

Before she could finish speaking, tears welled up in Han's mother's eyes: "If I knew Xiaofeng had been in such danger all this time, how could I possibly sleep..." Her tightly clenched handkerchief was soaked through. "Those so-called aristocratic families..."

Han Feng quickly sat down next to his mother and gently put his arm around her trembling shoulders: "Mom, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? Your son is doing really well now."

"No matter how capable he is, he's still my son!" Han's mother lightly punched him, the force as light as a feather. "When your father injured his knee, I stayed by his side in the hospital for three days and three nights... and now you..."

Han's father coughed awkwardly and cast a pleading look at Lin Zhengguo. The old general understood and promptly changed the subject: "Xiao Feng, now that the Shangguan family is completely destroyed, what are your next plans?"

This question immediately pricked up Han's father's ears. As a former member of Longyuan, he knew better than his wife the terrifying power of ancient martial arts families. When Lin Zhengguo told him that his son had single-handedly wiped out the Shangguan family, he was almost speechless—that was a behemoth with a history of nearly a thousand years!

Han Feng handed his mother a tissue, and as he sat back down, his demeanor suddenly changed, his eyes sparkling: "I've had the Dongfang and Zhang families spread the word that a grand gathering of aristocratic families will be held in three days." His voice was steady and powerful. "I will use this opportunity to purge those families that are colluding with forces from outside the region."

Lin Zhengguo and Han's father were taken aback and asked, "The Dongfang family and the Zhang family are both under your command?"

Han Feng nodded and said, "My current identity is the Lord of Star Souls, and they all consider themselves my servants."