The ancient return was exposed by his sister's live stream.

Chen Hao sat opposite her, looking at her: "You didn't lose the jade pendant, did you?"

Song Xinxue quickly pulled out the imperial green pendant from her collar. It was intact, but the color was a bit darker than before, as if something had been stored inside.

"Don't take it off while wearing it," Chen Hao said.

Song Xinxue nodded and tucked the pendant back into her collar, close to her chest.

Chen Siyao sat down next to her and took her arm: "Sister Xue, let's have dinner here tonight. My brother's cooking skills should be of some help to you."

Song Xinxue hesitated for a moment: "Wouldn't that be too much of a disturbance..."

"Don't bother us!" Yang Wanqing came over from the other side. "It's just the few of us anyway, it's just a matter of adding a couple more chopsticks."

Song Xinxue looked at them, her eyes welling up again. She took a deep breath and smiled, "Okay."

Chen Hao got up and went to the kitchen to cook. Song Xinxue's gaze followed his back until the kitchen door closed.

Chen Siyao watched from the side, a smile playing on her lips, but said nothing.

Dinner was plentiful. There was braised fish, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, garlic shrimp, pork rib soup, and a type of meat that Song Xinxue had never seen before—thinly sliced, with delicate texture, melting in the mouth, and with an indescribable sweetness.

"What kind of meat is this?" she asked curiously.

Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing exchanged a glance and smiled at the same time.

"Spirit beast meat." Chen Siyao picked up a piece and put it in her bowl. "It's good for your health. Eat more."

Song Xinxue was taken aback for a moment, but didn't ask any further questions. She was already used to it—in this house, it wasn't strange to eat anything unusual.

After finishing their meal, Song Xinxue helped clear the table and then said goodbye. Chen Siyao saw her to the elevator, took her hand, and said, "Sister Xue, if you ever need anything, just come to us anytime. Don't shoulder everything alone."

Song Xinxue nodded and stepped into the elevator.

As the elevator doors closed, she glanced down at the jade pendant on her chest; it was warm to the touch. She reached out and touched it, a smile on her face.

Back home, she took a shower and lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. It wasn't because she was scared, but because a warm current was flowing through her body, like soaking in a hot spring, so comfortable that she didn't want to move.

She remembered the meal she had at Chen Hao's house, the unknown meat dish, and the pale golden tea.

Every time I eat at his house, my body feels different—my skin is better, I have more energy, and today I didn't even get out of breath climbing the stairs.

She turned over and buried her face in the pillow.

Song Xinxue, you're finished.

On Friday after school, the golden rays of the setting sun shone on the corridor of Building B. Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing, carrying their schoolbags, hurried home, their minds filled with their "plans" for the evening.

Pushing open the door, Chen Siyao rushed into the second bedroom—her gaming room, which she had meticulously decorated that day. Three computers were placed side by side; the one in the middle belonged to Chen Hao, the one on the left was hers, and the one on the right belonged to Yang Wanqing.

The gaming chair was pink, the table was covered with various figurines, and RGB light strips hung on the wall, creating a vibrant, colorful display when the lights were on, making it look like a mini esports arena. Chen Hao's computer had never been used.

Chen Siyao started her live stream, and millions of viewers flooded into the chat room instantly.

[I am Ying Zheng: Here I come! What is Yao Yao broadcasting today?]

[Youyou: Yaoyao looks so pretty today! Her skin is even whiter!]

[Dongmen Chuixue: Judging from the background, is this an e-sports room? Is Yao Yao going to play games?]

[A Fudan University history major, a mediocre student: Just stop playing King of Glory. Last time I saw you playing it, my blood pressure went up.]

[Evening Breeze: Yes, yes, yes, don't play King of Glory! I still vividly remember your Luban building tank items.]

Chen Siyao snorted at the camera, "No King of Glory today! I'll show you something more exciting!"

After logging into the game, she chose her favorite character, Mai Xiaowen. Chen Siyao smiled and adjusted the microphone, "Xiaoqing, if you choose Doctor Feng, we can save on medicine costs!"

"Okay. Yao Yao, shall we not match with teammates?"

"We don't need teammates, we'll just run some dungeons and make money faster. I feel like my big red potion is waiting for me."

[I am Ying Zheng: Running away with a knife? Yao Yao, are you sure you're lucky enough to get a red kill?]

[Heroic Spirit Transformation: Don't get killed by your competitors, there are so many more running away with your sword these days]

[Yaoyao's Little Red Riding Hood: Last time Yaoyao played PUBG, she didn't get a single kill in the final circle. She was lying in the grass when a car ran her over.]

[Youyou: I watched that game. When the car ran over her, she even shouted, "This game has cars?"]

Chen Siyao blushed: "That was so long ago! I'm much better now!"

She clicked "match," and the game started.

"Hey, it's seat number one, Yao Yao. Are we just the two of us going in?"

Chen Siyao frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "Okay... let's go in. We'll come out after we get a full refund."

The two ran towards the administration building. As soon as Chen Siyao entered the lobby on the first floor, the background music suddenly changed—a deep, rhythmic drumbeat mixed with electronic melodies.

She tensed instantly, her fingertips pausing on the mouse, her voice trembling with anxiety: "Oh no, Lao Sai's here! Qingqing, stop eating the airline crate, come help me!"

Yang Wanqing's voice came from the side: "Yaoyao, you're playing Mai Xiaowen. Isn't Mai Xiaowen a breeze to beat Lao Sai? One flash, rush in, one slash, and it's over."

[Not to be a beast of burden: The late Qing dynasty was right! Mai Xiaowen's flashbangs defeated Lao Sai!]

[Qin Jia Xiaoyu: Yao Yao, don't be a coward! Go!]

Chen Siyao took a deep breath, crouched down behind the wall, and stared intently at the doorway. Sure enough, after only a few seconds, Said appeared.

She frantically pressed the button, trying to throw the flashbang, but because she was too nervous, the flash hit the wall instead. With a muffled "bang," the flashbang exploded on the spot, taking a full two seconds to take effect.

Before the flash could even start, Chen Siyao rushed forward and swung her knife, but both strikes missed—Sayd reacted extremely quickly, dodging to the side, and then delivered a powerful elbow strike to her chest. The screen instantly went black, and the words "You have been defeated by Sayd" appeared prominently on the screen.

"ah--!"

"Oh dear! I was too slow! Otherwise I could have definitely killed him!" Chen Siyao frowned and argued aggrievedly, her cheeks flushed red.

The live stream chat was in stitches:

[I am Ying Zheng: Hahahaha, you dodged too slowly? You dodged up the wall!]

【Yaoyao's Little Red Riding Hood】: Yaoyao, your flash-throwing skills are on par with those in King of Glory!

[Not a beast of burden: Old Sai: Thank you for the flash, it really brightened my eyes.]

[Youyou: Yaoyao, stop struggling. You're just a delivery person.]

Chen Siyao, unconvinced, turned and shouted, "Qingqing! Come save me!"

Yang Wanqing had already reached the entrance of the administration building. She controlled Feng Yi and threw a smoke bomb into the lobby. White smoke billowed out, completely obscuring the entire lobby.

"I'll kill him!" Yang Wanqing rushed into the smoke, dagger in hand, dodging and weaving through the smoke.

One strike, missed. Two strikes, missed. Three strikes, still missed.

"Where is he? I can't see him!" Yang Wanqing asked anxiously, fidgeting with the mouse.

The smoke cleared. Said was standing directly in front of her, his gun pointed at her face.

"Oh no! Run! Run!" Yang Wanqing turned and ran, but Said had already fired. Rat-a-tat-tat, Dr. Feng fell to the ground.

The screen turned black and white.