Ling Cage: Twelve Talismans? I have everything I need.

Chapter 126 Cow Talisman

Bai Yuekui's gaze was fixed on the daring illustrations on the "game" packaging boxes.

Bunny girls, dancers... each one more shocking than the last.

Her cheek muscles twitched slightly, and her knuckles turned white from gripping the greeting card and wrapping paper tightly.

Bai Yuetian was completely unaware of the terrifying atmosphere that was about to break out.

Instead, they interpreted Bai Yuekui's silence and dark expression as something else entirely.

She was probably worried that Yang Chen would have opinions, so she was too embarrassed to show it!
Bai Yuetian, who thought he had seen through everything, suddenly felt that his older brother was really too considerate and thoughtful.

He chuckled, then reached out and put his arm around Bai Yuekui's shoulder like two buddies, giving him a couple of firm shakes, and said in a reassuring tone that said, "I understand."
"Don't worry, Yuekui! I've already talked to Chengzi! Although he's a bit old-fashioned and might not understand the... well... charm of art for a while, he respects it! He completely respects your personal preferences! See, he didn't say anything!"

As he spoke, he gave Yang Chen a wink.

Yang Chen had already noticed that Bai Yuekui's expression was off, so he silently turned his back.

Seeing that Bai Yuekui was still looking down and her shoulders seemed to be trembling slightly, Bai Yuetian assumed that she was too moved and shy to speak.

At that moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment as the "best older brother in the world."

He leaned closer, his tone becoming more smug and concerned.

"Yue Kui? How is it? Aren't you happy? I knew you were actually..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

Bai Yuekui finally slowly raised his head.

Those eyes were cold, their sharp gaze like tangible blades, slicing cruelly across Bai Yuetian's face.

She practically clenched her teeth, squeezing out two words through the gaps in her teeth, her voice frighteningly low.

"go out."

"Huh?" Bai Yuetian's smile froze. He didn't react in time and subconsciously asked back.

"What? Yue Kui, what did you just say?"

He hadn't let go of Bai Yuekui's shoulder.

Bai Yuekui took a deep breath, as if using up all his endurance, and repeated, word by word:

“I said, get out.”

Bai Yuetian finally realized belatedly that something was wrong.

This look... this tone...

It doesn't look like she's happy or shy.
He abruptly pulled his arm away from Bai Yuekui, his smile replaced by confusion, and stammered, "N-no... Yuekui, you don't like this gift..."

"roll!"

This time, Bai Yuekui didn't give him any chance to speak, interrupting him with a low growl.

At the same time, she suddenly raised her hand and pointed towards the door.

Bai Yuetian shuddered in fright.

Why?! That's not how the script was written!

Shouldn't he be moved to tears and then praise me as the best brother in the world?!

He opened his mouth, still trying to make a final struggle and show understanding: "Yue Kui, I..."

"Do you need me to 'invite' you out?" Bai Yuekui's voice was icy cold.

Bai Yuetian fell silent instantly, all the words stuck in his throat.

He had no doubt that if he stayed another second, his own sister would throw him out, or worse.

"I'm leaving! I'm leaving right now!" He raised his hands in surrender, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot. His eyes were fixed on the uncut, exquisitely decorated birthday cake on the table, his face filled with immense grievance and reluctance, as he muttered under his breath.

"But... but... we haven't eaten the cake yet... I ordered it especially for you, your favorite flavor..."

The tone was like that of a large dog whose bone had been stolen—pitiful yet somewhat comical.

Following his mournful gaze, Bai Yuekui also saw the cake.

The raging anger in her chest miraculously dissipated a little when she saw her brother's foolish appearance.

She took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

Forget it.

She thought to herself, "This rascal brother of mine has had a strange way of thinking for quite some time now."

Although the gift was outrageously extravagant, the initial intention... was probably, maybe, perhaps... good?

He did remember her birthday after all, and even prepared a cake.

His tense expression eased slightly, but his tone remained cold and hard: "Sit down."

Bai Yuetian felt as if he had been granted a pardon, but he was still not completely at ease. He cautiously shuffled to the dining table, chose a seat as far away from Bai Yuekui as possible, and sat down with half of his buttocks touching the edge of the chair.

His eyes kept glancing at the pile of game boxes, filled with confusion.

Seeing this, Yang Chen breathed a sigh of relief and silently walked over to sit down next to Bai Yuekui.

Bai Yuekui picked up the cake knife and deftly cut the cake, handing the largest piece with the most fruit to Yang Chen, then cutting a piece for Bai Yuetian, and finally cutting one for himself.

She picked up a small spoon, scooped up a spoonful of cream, and put it in her mouth. The sweet taste soothed her inner turmoil.

She looked up at Bai Yuetian, who was eating cautiously across from her, but whose eyes were still secretly probing her.

"So, why do you think... I like this?" She pointed at the several fancy boxes with the handle of her spoon.

Bai Yuetian was chewing on cake when she heard this and immediately swallowed: "Last time you were secretly playing..."

The moment the word "play" left his mouth, Bai Yuekui's eyes instantly turned extremely dangerous.

Bai Yuetian was so startled that he choked on his words, and began to cough violently: "Cough! Cough cough cough!"

Yang Chen silently handed him a glass of water.

Bai Yuekui closed his eyes, feeling the veins on his forehead throbbing.

She put down her spoon and spoke in an extremely calm tone.

"Now I think that it might have been a mistake to take your brain back from the life support pod."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Bai Yuetian's face, which had frozen instantly, before slowly adding to the story.

"Have ASH prepare tomorrow, or let's switch back."

The cake in Bai Yuetian's mouth suddenly lost its flavor, her face fell, and she wailed, "No, Yue Kui, I was wrong! I will never guess again. This body is working quite well now."

Seeing his flustered appearance, a hint of a smile flashed in Bai Yuekui's eyes.

But his face remained expressionless; he simply picked up his spoon again and said calmly, "Eat your cake."

This means they're not going to pursue the matter further.

Bai Yuetian immediately breathed a sigh of relief, patted his chest, and resumed his playful grin.

The three of them finished the cake.

After finishing the cake, Bai Yuetian reluctantly got up and prepared to leave.

As he reached the door, he hesitated for a moment, but couldn't resist turning back to point to the pile of "special gifts" on the table, asking with the last glimmer of hope.

"Um... Yue Kui, these... you really don't like them at all? Actually, the content is quite..."

Bai Yuekui didn't even bother to lift his eyelids: "Take it away."

Bai Yuetian: "Huh?"

Bai Yuekui finally looked at him: "Take all these 'good things' away from me right now. Get rid of them."

Hope was completely shattered.

Bai Yuetian slumped his shoulders and resignedly walked back, hurriedly stuffing the hot boxes back into the bag.

He muttered to himself, "He doesn't know how to appreciate art... This is all art..."

Under Bai Yuekui's watchful gaze, he picked up the bag, quickly slipped out the door, and disappeared into the night.

The door closed, and the room fell silent again.

Bai Yuekui looked towards the doorway, shook his head helplessly, and finally sighed softly.

"That idiot..." The door closed, and the room fell silent again.

She turned around and her gaze fell on Yang Chen, who had been quietly standing by her side.

"Just now," Bai Yuekui said jokingly, "my brother said...you respect my personal hobbies?"

Yang Chen's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained as calm as a mountain.

He looked up blankly and asked, "Really? Yue Kui, did your brother say anything just now? I don't remember it."

Bai Yuekui smiled at his "I'll deny it no matter what" attitude and didn't expose him.

She did not press the matter further.

With a simple twist of her body, she sat sideways on his lap.

Yang Chen subconsciously reached out, his right hand firmly encircling her slender yet powerful waist, while his left hand naturally rested on her bare, beautifully shaped thigh.

Bai Yuekui adjusted his posture to make himself more comfortable.

Then, she raised her left hand, her slender fingers stretching out under the light, the unique ring on her ring finger shimmering.

She admired it quietly for a few seconds, a look of satisfaction appearing in her eyes.

Then, she took Yang Chen's left hand, and the two hands were placed side by side. Looking at the rings that were clearly a pair, a clear smile finally appeared on her face.

She raised her eyes and looked at Yang Chen, who was so close to her. His figure was reflected in her eyes, which always seemed to see through everything.

Bai Yuekui asked softly, "What... is this? A marriage proposal?"

Yang Chen looked at the person sitting in his lap, at the ring on her finger, and at the mockery in her eyes.

"If you say so, then it is."

Upon hearing this, Bai Yuekui's smile deepened.

She reached out her other hand, her slender fingertips gently pinching Yang Chen's cheek and tugging at it slightly.

“Then…” She leaned closer, her breath sweet as orchids.

"Call me 'wife' and let me hear it."

Yang Chen looked at the stunningly beautiful face so close to his own and slightly opened his mouth.

"old."

However, he had only uttered one word when he was stopped from speaking the rest.

Bai Yuekui suddenly tilted his head back without warning and kissed his lips.

One of her hands was still on his cheek, while the other arm encircled his neck, pulling him closer to her.

Under the lights, the rings on their ring fingers shone brightly.

Yang Chen was only stunned for a moment before quickly taking the initiative.

He held her tightly and responded deeply to the sudden kiss.

The room was completely quiet.

All that remained were the sounds of their intertwined breaths and heartbeats.

After they separated, Bai Yuekui clearly sensed something.

Bai Yuekui immediately realized it was a talisman.

Just as he was about to get up, Yang Chen picked up Bai Yuekui and carried him away from the living room without saying a word.

Jiuchuan City, Bai Jingyu's residence.

Inside the study, Bai Jingyu rubbed his temples, his brows furrowing even more as he looked at the unusually large expenditure record displayed on the screen once again.

This sum of money is even larger than the last one that disappeared without a trace, and the recipient of the payment still cannot be found.

Last night, I celebrated a wonderful birthday with my daughter, Xiaoyuekui. The little one was overjoyed with her new science picture book and custom-made mini experimental tools.

But those gifts couldn't have cost that much money, and he definitely hadn't bought any expensive items recently, let alone Theresa.

He tried to recall who could have hacked into his account and left no trace.
To be able to easily hack into your own account just to use money? That's a bit outrageous.

Just then, his communicator rang; it was an unfamiliar number.

Bai Jingyu pressed the answer button: "Who is this?"

"Good morning, Mr. Bai Jingyu. Excuse me for bothering you, I am Anna, the chief designer of XX Jewelry." A capable and enthusiastic female voice came from the other end of the communication.

"I just wanted to confirm that you and the two gentlemen are satisfied with the design details and size of the rings. Please feel free to contact me if there are any adjustments needed."

Bai Jingyu: "???"

A ring? Two gentlemen? What's going on?
He was completely bewildered, but his years of experience prevented him from immediately showing his doubt. He simply replied vaguely, "Um... oh, okay, thank you. I'll contact you if I need anything."

Bai Jingyu hung up the phone hastily, staring at his phone, his sense of unease reaching its peak.

Wait, could the person who hacked my account be connected to that phone call I just heard?

He was about to call ASH for more details when there was a gentle knock on the study door, and Theresa pushed the door open and came in.

Her face showed an unusual eagerness and excitement, clearly indicating that something more important was on her mind.

"Jingyu, stop busy." Theresa spoke a little faster.

"The professor has just arrived at the airport. Professor Horn Garcia's spaceship arrived half an hour earlier than expected. Several other authorities in the field of neuroscience were also traveling with him."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jingyu immediately put those inexplicable things out of his mind for the time being.

Horn Garcia, Theresa's mentor, is an expert in the field of brain science.

He is also one of the talents supported by the Coastal Alliance for Hisakawa.

"So fast?" Bai Jingyu stood up, his expression turning serious.

"Is everything arranged for the reception? ASH, prepare the vehicles immediately and head to the airport."

"The vehicle is already waiting at the door," ASH's gentle voice rang out.

“Everything is arranged, and the conference center is ready.” Theresa nodded, her eyes sparkling with anticipation for the upcoming academic exchange.

"The data the teacher brought this time is said to have great potential for advancements in brain neuroscience."

Just then, the study door was gently pushed open a crack, and a small head peeked in—it was Xiao Yuekui.

She blinked her big eyes and looked curiously at her parents who were talking, asking, "Mommy, Daddy, where are you going?"

Theresa turned around, a gentle smile on her face, walked to the door, squatted down, and stroked her daughter's soft hair.

"Mom and Dad are going to the airport to pick up Mr. Horn, the Uncle Horn who used to come to our house often and bring you gifts, do you remember him?"

Little Yuekui's eyes immediately lit up, and a happy smile bloomed on her little face.

"I remember, I remember! Uncle Horn is very kind; he'll guide me through the experiments."

She excitedly tugged at Theresa's sleeve, jumping up and down, saying, "I want to go too!"

Teresa felt a warmth in her heart as she watched her daughter's joyful expression.

But she gently shook her head and explained softly, "It won't work this time, Xiao Kui. After we pick up Uncle Horn, we have to go to a meeting right away to discuss something very important. It will take a very long time and be very boring. Will you stay home and wait for us?"

Little Yuekui's lips immediately pouted, her big eyes filled with disappointment, and she muttered softly, "Oh... okay..."

Bai Jingyu also came over, squatted down, and hugged his daughter.

He rubbed his chin against her little head and comforted her, "Sweetie, Daddy promises you that after the meeting, he will invite Uncle Horn to our house for dinner. He will be staying in Jiuchuan from now on, and then he can take you to the lab every day."

Little Yuekui cheered up a little, hugged her father's neck, and nodded: "Then it's a deal!"

"Okay, it's a deal," Bai Jingyu assured with a smile.

After calming their daughter down, Bai Jingyu and Teresa didn't delay any longer and immediately set off for the airport.

Sitting in the back seat of the speeding luxury car, Bai Jingyu gazed at the scenery of Jiuchuan City rushing past the window.

Although the paths taken are different, all countries are now researching immortality.

The talents that the Coastal Alliance sent to Hisakawa are mostly in the field of life research, which is probably more than just support.

They should also take advantage of the emerging city of Hisakawa.

(End of this chapter)