Chapter 1542: The Hunt Begin II

Lory and Zhao Li Xin stood shoulder to shoulder on the high vantage point, the night wind tugging at their clothes as they looked down upon the street below. What had once been a quiet stretch of road was now a sea of fire.

Flames surged and writhed like living beasts, devouring asphalt, vehicles, and storefronts alike, painting the darkness in violent shades of orange and red. Thick smoke rolled upward in heavy waves, carrying the sharp scent of burning metal and fuel into the air.

In the distance, sirens began to cry out, first faint, then multiplying, their overlapping wails forming a frantic chorus that echoed through the city. Soon after, pinpoints of light appeared in the sky. Drones descended in slow, deliberate patterns, their searchlights cutting through the smoke as they scanned the inferno below, indifferent and precise.

Lory’s phone vibrated in her hand, the sudden buzz stark against the rumble of destruction. She glanced at the screen only briefly. She didn’t need to read the name to know who was calling.

"Hello, Lory, are you okay?" The voice on the other end was strained, words tumbling over each other with barely restrained panic.

"Hey, brother. I’m fine," Lory answered, a small laugh slipping past her lips, as if she were trying to soothe him through sheer nonchalance.

The effect was immediate. She heard a long, audible sigh of relief, then another, sounds layered together. Obviously, it shows Lucas wasn’t alone. Others were clearly crowded around him, listening in, and Lory could already guess exactly who they were.

"Thank goodness you’re safe, Princess," Fredhart said, his voice thick with relief.

"I told you," Fargo chimed in, confidence edging into smug satisfaction. "An attack like that wouldn’t even scratch her."

Lory let out a soft snort, her eyes drifting back to the burning street below, where flames still clawed at the darkness. "Yeah, well... it didn’t get me," she said lightly. "Just my ice cream. Oh—and my French fries."

There was genuine mourning in her voice, as though that small loss hurt far more than the destruction still raging beneath them. For a heartbeat, the line went completely silent.

"You had a midnight snack," Fredhart finally said, incredulity sharpening every syllable, "at one in the morning, nonetheless?" The criticism in his voice was unmistakable, heavy enough to be felt through the phone.

"No more words, Fred," Lory hissed, cutting him off before he could continue.

But would that stop him? Of course not.

"Hey, I’m just telling you, don’t blame me when you gain a few pounds on TV when you announce your identity later," Fred teased shamelessly, then added with mock wisdom, "You know what they say—a moment on your lips, forever on your hips."

"FRED!" Lory shouted, her patience snapping.

Another voice slipped into the call, calm but edged with intent.

"Calm down, Lory. By the way, do you have any clue who attacked you?" Jay asked.

"No," Lory replied, irritation coloring her tone. "I didn’t exactly have time to check on them before they started blasting us." She pouted, arms crossing instinctively.

"Don’t worry," Jay said, determination hardening his words. "I’ll figure out who’s responsible for this audacity." With his capabilities, there was little doubt he would see it through to the end.

Of course, Jay couldn’t resist adding, "By the way, Lory, it’s fine if you gain a little weight. The chubby look is in demand now."

"Hey! I’m not chubby!" Lory protested hotly, but then paused, the thought creeping in despite herself. Am I? She turned to Zhao Li Xin with a worried look.

Her thoughtful husband immediately shook his head, his expression saying, It’s not true at all.

Lucas chuckles, "Okay-okay, you look fine, Lory, now go home and get some rest...and no more snacking." Lucas immediately hung up the phone before Lory screamed at him.

"You—" what follows is disconnected sounds.

She huffed angrily then slipped the phone back into her pocket, while the distant sirens continued their mournful cry through the shattered night.

Zhao Li Xin turned to her then, a teasing curve tugging at his lips. "They seem worried."

"They are just annoying," Lory pursed her lips in mock annoyance, though warmth lingered unmistakably in her voice.

"Let’s go home", Zhao Li Xin stretched out his hand.

The chaos of the night eventually faded, surrendering to the quiet certainty of dawn. Morning light crept through the curtains, pale and gentle, and Lory woke from a rare, dreamless sleep.

She lingered for a moment, half-aware, grateful for the steady warmth of Zhao Li Xin’s arm around her, like an anchor that had kept the nightmares at bay.

After a quick shower and a change of clothes, she went downstairs. The scent of food guided her into the kitchen, where Zhao Li Xin was already awake, finishing the arrangement of breakfast on the dining table. ℯ

The meal had been delivered earlier by a Noxcra agent disguised as an elite catering service, the sort that served only the wealthy and powerful. Elegant containers were now open, their contents carefully transferred onto pristine plates.

"Honey, you prepared everything without me again?" Lory whined, guilt stirring as she watched him move through the kitchen with quiet efficiency.

Lory knew that in his world, men never did domestic work. Kitchen matters were strictly women’s territory, and someone like Zhao Li Xin, who was raised in a deeply patriarchal society, this should’ve been move him even further from such tasks.

For as long as she had lived in Zhao Li Xin’s world, Lory had never once seen a man cook, nor set the table for his family. Men simply did not step into the domestic sphere at all. She wasn’t even sure Zhao Li Xin would have known where the kitchen was in his own manor back then.

But what could she do? Zhao Li Xin always woke earlier than she did, and with his meticulous, almost obsessive habits, he couldn’t bear the sight of food left untouched in its containers, unplated and left in disorder.

On the other hand, Zhao Li Xin didn’t mind at all. Though his world was rigidly patriarchal, he had long since learned to separate pride from practicality.

In this world, he had seen men take on household chores, not only doing house chores, but they also took care of their children by themselves, meanwhile their wives worked outside, therefore he did not see what he was doing demeaned him.

More than that, Lory was his most beloved; it’s no exaggeration, she was his entire world. Thus, compared to that, what meaning did it have to simply set the table or make a few drinks once in a while? Besides, with the convenient tools of this world, such tasks were effortless; he barely had to lift a finger.

"Come, they made chicken congee, buns, salad, and omelettes," he said, a trace of amusement in his voice as he surveyed the spread. "Quite a varied breakfast."

He suspected the congee had been prepared for his sake, a thoughtful guess at what might be considered a traditional morning meal in Xiya. The consideration, misguided or not, was still appreciated.

"Congee and omelettes, huh?" Lory echoed, her lips curving into a small smile as she took a seat, the odd pairing somehow perfectly fitting the quiet, intimate morning they now shared.

As usual, Lory turned on the television while they ate breakfast. Zhao Li Xin, who normally preferred quiet, didn’t mind at all, partly because he understood that this was one of the quickest ways to stay informed about what was happening in the world.

Before long, the news began reporting on the incident from the previous night. According to the media, it had been caused by an oil tanker truck that lost control and overturned, triggering a massive explosion.

Only two people were officially reported as injured: the truck driver, who somehow managed to escape by jumping from the vehicle moments before it overturned, and a motorcyclist who was conveniently thrown from his bike just before the collision, suffering nothing more than broken bones and bruises.

Both lucky victims were swiftly taken to the hospital. Other than that, the report concluded, there were no casualties.

Lory let out a soft chuckle, her lips curling as she watched the broadcast. "Now, babe, that is what you call a proper cover-up."

"The victims they mentioned..." Zhao Li Xin frowned slightly, his gaze sharpening.

"Our people," Lory replied calmly, scooping up a bite of omelette. "With witnesses already guided, and the authorities stamping it as an accident, the case will be closed. Permanently. No matter how illogical the explanation sounds."

Zhao Li Xin hummed in acknowledgment, lifting his glass and taking a measured sip as his eyes remained fixed on the screen. "Well... that is efficient."

The more he observed, the more fascinated he became. In this world, truth was not erased—it was redirected. Narratives were reshaped at scale, contradictions smoothed over by repetition and authority until they became accepted fact. It was a subtle power, quieter than force yet far more pervasive.

Bei Li Yan would learn much from this, he thought. If only he were here.

Lory finished her meal and reached for a glass of mineral water, taking a slow sip as she leaned back in her chair. The quiet morning was suddenly broken by the sharp chime of the doorbell.

She paused mid-sip, tilting her head slightly in surprise. Who could that be? If it were a Noxcra agent or one of her brothers, they would have sent a message first; in her situation, protocol was never ignored without reason.

Lory lowered the glass, her expression tightening. Across the table, Zhao Li Xin’s expression darkened, dangerous glint radiated from his dark eyes. Their eyes met for a brief moment, a silent exchange of shared suspicion.

In the next heartbeat, the casual air between them vanished. Their back straightened instinctively, alertness snapping into place as smoothly as a well-practiced reflex.

The ringing doorbell echoed once more through the house, no longer an innocent sound, but a question neither of them intended to answer carelessly.