You're my wife, don't doubt it!

Xiao Yao silently accepted it, knowing that she was only under pressure from "that uncle's" family.

“It’s alright, I’ll go by myself,” Xiao Yao said to his mother, Xu Qiuqin.

In his heart, he naturally wanted to accept Yu Bo's invitation to have New Year's Eve dinner at Yu Luying's house.

Even if all else fails, it's not impossible for him and Tianyun to live together at home.

However, considering her daughter's feelings and in order to meet her needs, Xiao Yao ultimately chose to provide emotional support.

And now you're telling me, "If only I had known..."

"Just thinking about how your cousins ​​rolled their eyes like that," Tianyun continued, still relentlessly, "makes me furious! I just hope that heart-stealing gang can send them a warning letter, sneak into their sanctuary, and make them repent!"

Xiao Yao shrugged, opened his mouth as if to speak, but said nothing.

He knew that Tianyun was just saying things out of anger, and there was no need to lecture her with old-fashioned platitudes like "God's most important gift to mankind is free will."

Moreover, in terms of personal emotions, he deeply sympathized with his beloved daughter.

This group of heart thieves experienced explosive growth in activity starting from winter break, and their behavior became increasingly high-profile.

They would even send "pre-announcement letters" to the victims before each operation.

The proclamation accused the victim of his sins and declared that he was about to come and steal his twisted desires.

As a result, Xiao Yao and Yu Bo were also busy during this period, and they clashed with the "Heart Thief Gang" led by Earl Nottington many times, but in the end they still succeeded several times.

The “glorious” deeds of the “heart-stealing gang” have begun to attract more and more attention, and have even made it to the front page of the Xinmin Evening News.

Although the public is still unaware of the "Shadow," "Hall," and "Spiritual Fortress," the existence of the "Heart Thief Gang" and their ability to alter human minds are already widely known in the streets and alleys.

Opinions about them on the internet are polarized. Some people praise them as Robin Hoods who help people and save lives, while others are worried and criticize them, calling on the police to take action.

Neutrality is extremely rare.

With Yu Bo's consent, Xiao Yao had informed Shen Tianyun of the existence of the "organization," their mission, and their purpose.

Firstly, otherwise he simply couldn't explain to his daughter why he left her at home during summer vacation and went out every day without ever seeing her.

Secondly, he couldn't think of any reason why he absolutely had to keep it from his daughter.

As Xiao Yao had predicted, Tian Yun made a huge fuss after learning about this, insisting on joining the action team as well.

“You and Mom are both Stand users,” Tianyun said at the time. “I’m sure I have that talent too—and, like you said, I was the first person to see you through the mirror, wasn’t I?”

Xiao Yao, however, vehemently opposed it.

“I can’t let you be in any danger,” Xiao Yao told Tian Yun. “If anything happens to you, how will I live?”

Regardless of Shen Tianyun's willingness or displeasure, whether she was happy or angry, Xiao Yao informed Yu Bo that he was not allowed to permit Tianyun to participate, or he would go on strike.

Yu Bo readily agreed.

“Those people are quite funny,” Tianyun continued, talking to herself. “They actually asked the police to come up with a solution. What can the police do? By the way, you just detained that monk like that, and the police don’t care? Isn’t that illegal detention?”

“We now have people cooperating with us in the police force and even within Guoan,” Xiao Yao told Shen Tianyun. “After all, the Heart Thief Gang’s operations, as well as Shadow, have endangered national security and social order, and are our common enemy.”

"Wow, that's amazing!" Tianyun said, sticking out her tongue.

Xiao Yao sighed and frowned, but Tian Yun didn't see it.

He tried his best not to recall that R18+ scene: in a basement, Shi Hui was hung on a wooden frame and whipped until he was covered in blood by a boy in the organization codenamed "Kureni Jailer".

Xiao Yao even felt that the prison guards, Kureni and others, were enjoying the process.

It wasn't that he was being overly compassionate, but the scene was simply too inappropriate for children and didn't seem like the style of a respectable organization.

But the Saint Cloth was still not found, and they couldn't pry open Shi Hui's mouth. Their intrusion into his temple was also blocked by the powerful "Future Buddha Maitreya". In the end, they had no choice but to resort to traditional methods - torture to extract a confession.

Unable to find a reason to object, Xiao Yao could only keep his distance and find an excuse to no longer participate in the interrogation.

Xiao Yao was the number one contributor to bringing Shi Hui to justice.

He independently led his squad to hunt down Shi Hui in both the shadow world and the real world, eventually capturing him. He demonstrated strong leadership and made outstanding contributions in both martial arts and strategy.

Everyone who saw this "Leader" was impressed, and Xiao Yao also discovered his own unique value in the process.

"What about Mom?" Tianyun asked Xiao Yao, "Have you seen each other every day for the past ten days or so?"

"No," Xiao Yao told Tian Yun truthfully, "Our operations are different every day. Sometimes we're together, sometimes we're apart. It all depends on what the higher-ups need to arrange."

"Did you say anything?" Tianyun pressed on. "Fighting side by side, shouldn't the bond be stronger?"

"...There's basically no casual conversation outside of work," Xiao Yao replied.

Is the relationship... a little better?

On one occasion, Shen Jie was cornered by Earl Nottington, whose cultivation level had increased significantly.

Just as Xiao Yao was about to go to the rescue, the "Kureni prison guard" beat him to it.

Looking back, it's really quite annoying...

Of course, the most important thing is that Shen Jie is safe and sound.

The father and daughter chatted idly, their conversation gradually drowned out by the increasingly deafening sound of firecrackers. It was midnight.

The peak of the artillery fire lasted for half an hour, and then gradually subsided.

"Yawn~~~" Tianyun complained, "Why aren't we here yet? Is there enough oil?"

“That’s how it is in Minhang,” Xiao Yao replied. “I suddenly remembered something. Did you go to see that ribbonfish again the other day?”

"Yeah, so what? He went to play ball with me." Tianyun replied nonchalantly, "He's really funny, let me tell you—isn't he your best buddy?"

Xiao Yao frowned again, and after a long pause, he managed to say, "He's not Chu Nan."

“I know,” Tianyun said, “So what? You’re not one either.”

"..."

Xiao Yao stopped talking and just kept quiet, sulking to himself.

"Just kidding," Tianyun punched Xiao Yao on the back. "There's nothing between us, we're just good buddies."

"Really?"

“He’s still cooking it,” Tianyun said. “He’s got a girlfriend, but he still thinks about her.”

"Concerned about a person in a vegetative state?"

"This is what love is all about, don't you understand?" Shen Tianyun pouted.

“Next time you run into Daiyu, could you remind him for me?” Xiao Yao sighed. “There are some things I can’t say to him. Yan Xiao is a member of the Heart Stealing Gang. If he continues to have such a delicate stance… it will be difficult for Brother Bo and the others.”

"Your business is your own business!" Tianyun said irritably. "I'm not getting involved—hey, what's going on over there? There's such a long queue."

“It should be… down… down…” Xiao Yao craned his neck and looked around: “Xia Hai Temple? Everyone’s queuing up to be the first to burn incense here. My uncle-in-law queues up to be the first to burn incense here every year.”

"Oh." At this moment, Shen Tianyun also saw the low yellow wall and the large "Buddha" character on the wall: "In your time, there are still so many superstitious people."

"Hmm, feudal superstition," Xiao Yao muttered to himself.

Seeing the Xiahai Temple reminds him of Shi Hui, and the thought of Shi Hui makes him feel terrible.

"Stop!" Tianyun suddenly shouted.

"What's wrong?" It took Xiao Yao a couple of seconds to react before he squeezed both brakes.

Before the car had even come to a complete stop, Tianyun jumped off, stumbling upon landing.

"Slow down! What the hell—" Xiao Yao shouted as he turned around.

Tianyun has already disappeared.

Xiao Yao waited for a few minutes for no apparent reason, then turned the car around and drove back to look for her. He saw Tian Yun walking back slowly with a dejected look on her face, looking around as she went.

“In the end…” Xiao Yao said.

"I saw Mom!" Tianyun shouted to Xiaoyao, "I saw her queuing up with incense! But when I went back to look for her, I couldn't find her."

“She couldn’t possibly be here now, could she?” Xiao Yao didn’t believe it. “You must be seeing things and have mistaken her for someone else.”

"No way..." Tianyun said somewhat uncertainly.

Xiao Yao pushed the cart and accompanied Tian Yun for another twenty minutes before she reluctantly gave up.

"I must have seen it wrong," Tianyun whispered.

"You miss her too much." Xiao Yao gently patted Tian Yun's head.

When Shen Tianyun got home, she was already somewhat depressed.

Xiao Yao parked and locked his motorcycle downstairs. After going upstairs, he couldn't find Tian Yun in his grandmother's room. When he returned to his own room, he saw her with a stern face, pouting, and leaning against the bed with her arms crossed.

The boy glanced at the misplaced ankle boots on the ground, then at the girl's socks, exaggeratedly sniffed the air, and then fanned his nose with his right hand.

Tianyun rolled her eyes at him and didn't say anything.

"So, it's New Year's Day today," Xiao Yao teased her to lighten the mood, "Let's sleep together tonight and celebrate!"

"I don't want to!" Tianyun retorted irritably, and raised her leg as if to get out of bed: "Old Deng doesn't want to drop gold coins, and you still want to sleep?"

Xiao Yao walked with a smile to the wardrobe he had frequented countless times, opened the door and the drawers inside.

Tianyun looked expectant.

"I've already prepared it for you, you little rascal." Xiao Yao walked over with a bulging red envelope, which was printed with auspicious dragon and phoenix designs.