Chapter 1632: Another Relaxing Day

Zhao Li Xin stood patiently in line, waiting to place his order. His striking appearance made him stand out like a beacon amid the crowd. Wherever he went, eyes naturally drifted toward him, especially those of young women.

Yet he remained utterly indifferent, his expression calm and unreadable, as though the curious stares around him did not exist.

His attention was fixed entirely on the digital menu.

New Promotion: Spicy Barbecue Brisket Combo... with Two Chocolate Ice Creams.

His gaze lingered on the last two words. Should he order the one that came with ice cream? It’s been a while since Lory had eaten chocolate. It’s been five days.

Lory would certainly love it. Just imagining the bright smile that would blossom across her face when she saw the little cup of ice cream made the corners of his lips soften ever so slightly.

Then another thought surfaced.

But she was pregnant. People said eating cold food wasn’t good for women. It had to be even worse for pregnant women... right?

The thought immediately erased the trace of warmth from his expression. For several long moments, Zhao Li Xin found himself trapped in an unexpected dilemma.

Buy it... or not?

His brows slowly drew together, his face becoming so grave that anyone watching would think he was contemplating a life-changing decision.

"Hi." A timid voice suddenly broke through his thoughts.

His brows knitted together, annoyance flickering across his otherwise impassive face as his train of thought was interrupted. Zhao Li Xin turned toward the source of the disturbance.

A young woman had appeared before him, seemingly out of nowhere. She wore a fitted black tank top that accentuated her slender figure, while her impeccable makeup lent her an effortlessly glamorous charm. Youthful, confident, and undeniably attractive, she smiled at him with a hint of nervous anticipation.

The moment their eyes met, the young woman offered him a shy smile. Almost instantly, a rosy blush spread across her cheeks.

"What?" The single word was curt, bordering on impolite.

She froze for a heartbeat, clearly caught off guard by his icy response. Still, she steeled herself and continued.

"H—Hi... My friends and I noticed you from over there." She gestured toward a nearby table before flashing him another shy smile. "I was wondering... could I have your number?"

"Why?" There was no trace of sarcasm or mockery in Zhao Li Xin’s voice. He wasn’t trying to embarrass her; he genuinely wanted to know why a complete stranger would ask another stranger for his phone number.

"Ha?" The simple question left the young woman utterly speechless.

It wasn’t just her. The people waiting nearby also exchanged bewildered glances, equally puzzled by his response. Normally, the conversation would have gone one of two ways—either the man would politely decline or happily hand over his number.

No one had expected him to ask why.

What made the situation even more awkward was that Zhao Li Xin looked completely serious. His expression remained as calm and impassive as ever, making it obvious he wasn’t teasing or mocking her. He truly didn’t understand the reason behind her request.

"Well..." The girl hesitated, her fingers twisting together as she answered awkwardly. "I... I thought maybe we could be friends... or... something more."

Realization dawned on Zhao Li Xin, so she was trying to pursue him. His expression remained as impassive as ever, not the slightest ripple crossing his face.

"No." The refusal came without hesitation, clean and absolute.

Without another glance, he turned his attention back to the digital menu, dismissing the interruption as though it had never happened.

Ice cream... or no ice cream?

His brows drew together almost imperceptibly. A happy wife... or a healthy wife? Both were important.

The girl bit her lip in embarrassment. Glancing back, she saw her friends barely suppressing their laughter, their amused expressions making her face burn with humiliation.

Unwilling to admit defeat so easily, she tried again. "Hey, aren’t you that famous painter?" she asked. "Is this really how you treat your fans?"

Usually, famous people would consider their reputation, so she tried to use it to pressure Zhao Li Xin. Unfortunately, she had chosen the wrong target.

This time, Zhao Li Xin’s patience visibly wore thinner. Without bothering to conceal his annoyance, he replied in an even, indifferent tone. "This is how I treat everyone. Except my wife."

His icy gaze settled on the young woman. "And you’re nobody to me. So, if you’d be so kind... could you leave?" His voice never rose, nor did his expression change. Yet a chilling glint flickered deep within his eyes, so fleeting that it was almost imperceptible.

The girl’s instincts suddenly rang. Before she realized what she was doing, she instinctively took a step back. An inexplicable chill crept down her spine, causing her heart to skip a beat.

For a brief moment, it felt as though she were standing before something terrifying rather than an ordinary man. She glanced around in confusion, wondering if she had imagined it.

"O-Okay... I’m sorry for bothering you." She turned and hurried away, almost fleeing back to her friends as though something unseen were chasing after her.

None of the people nearby understood her reaction. From their perspective, she had simply been rejected and was too embarrassed to remain any longer. No one noticed how pale her face had become, nor how stiffly she returned to her seat.

Even when her friends crowded around her, asking what had happened, she merely shook her head and forced a shaky smile.

"...It’s nothing."

Only she knew that, for a single terrifying instant, she had felt as though death itself had looked into her eyes.

At the same time, Zhao Li Xin had already placed his order—a brisket combo with ice cream. In the end, he decided he would simply limit Lory’s portion. Eating a little should be alright, he thought.

After collecting his order, he walked into a nearby alley. Using his Lightness Skill, he leaped into the air and flew toward Cestine Palace, paying no attention to anything else.

_______________________________________________

___At cestine palace___

Stephan eventually went to contact Adrianne. She was probably busy with work, considering everything happening around the world. As a renowned reporter, she was likely traveling from one country to another, covering major events and gathering information.

Meanwhile, Lory ate another bowl of unappetizing but healthy ginseng chicken soup that Fredhardt had just brought her.

The corner of her mouth twitched in displeasure, but she had no choice except to finish it. She also had to take a handful of vitamins to ensure her baby received proper nutrition.

Lory was far too tired to argue, so she simply did as she was told. To vent her frustration, she turned to the one thing she loved most besides eating sweets, which was watching soap operas.

Lucas, who had decided to accompany Lory for half the day as an excuse to procrastinate, stayed to watch the show with her. Fredhardt also remained in the room to make sure Lory finished her meal and took all her vitamins. At the same time, he also wants to make sure Lucas didn’t use Lory as an excuse to procrastinate for too long.

Thus, the three of them settled in to watch the television drama together. Lucas sat comfortably on the bed beside Lory, already in a position that made it clear he had no intention of moving anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Fredhardt sat in a nearby chair with one leg crossed over the other, quietly keeping an eye on both of them while the drama played on the screen.

On the television, a woman pointed dramatically at another woman.

"No! She isn’t your wife! She’s actually Alfonso!"

"What do you mean, Dina?!"

"She’s not even a woman! That man named Carlos murdered your real wife, his own younger sister, Katya, and changed his appearance to replace her so he could be with you!"

Lucas and Fredhardt froze.

"...Is that medically possible?" Lucas asked, his mouth hanging open.

"Not that I know of," Fredhardt replied, staring at the television with a look of genuine horror.

Lucas patted his chest and let out a relieved sigh. "Thank goodness."

"Hush!" Lory snapped, glaring at them. "I’m watching!"

The drama continued without mercy.

"No, you can’t divorce me, Raphael! Who do you think gave you that peni* transplant? It was me!"

"So...mine is yours?!"

Yes! I did it because I love you! I couldn’t bear to see you suffer after the shark incident!"

Fredhardt was stupefied. "A shark bit his... thing? HOW?"

Lucas slowly turned to Fredhardt. "Can a shark do that?"

"Not that I know of." Fredhardt’s brows knitted together. "What kind of show is this? I need to call the Broadcast Standards Authority.

This is crazy. It’s beyond crazy!" He angrily reached for his phone.

Before he could dial, a pillow flew across the room and smacked him squarely in the face.

"Don’t you dare!" Lory shouted. "Don’t ruin my hobby!"

"Find another hobby, Lory," Lucas said with a look of disapproval.

Ignoring both of them, Lory remained completely glued to the screen.

The front door on the television burst open with an exaggerated bang.

"Don’t believe him!" a man shouted as he rushed inside. "He’s lying!"

"Fredrick?"

"No! I’m Katya, your wife! The one who died was Fredrick! We exchanged his face with mine to protect me from this crazy man!"

"You became a man?"

"Yes... But I still love you."

A dramatic orchestral sting echoed through the scene as every character stared sympathetically at the... woman.

Or perhaps the man.

At this point, no one in the room could tell anymore.

Meanwhile, Lory’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Lucas and Fredhardt, meanwhile, stared at the television in complete disbelief.

"I don’t know what the writers are taking," Fredhardt muttered, still horrified, "but we need to find out what it is and keep it off the streets."

"You have my full permission," Lucas agreed with a solemn nod.

Lory groaned in annoyance.

"Will you two shut up? I’m trying to enjoy the show!"

Fredhardt and Lucas immediately clamped their mouths shut.

A short while later, Zhao Li Xin returned to Cestine Palace. The moment he stepped into the room, he stopped in his tracks.

He had expected to find Lory resting, perhaps with Lucas keeping her company while Fredhardt checked on her condition. Instead, all three of them were staring intently at the television as if their lives depended on it. ℴ

What was even stranger was that they were passionately arguing with the characters on the screen.

"Wait," Lucas said, frowning deeply. "If he’s with her... or him... does that mean he’s gay now?"

"That’s not the important part," Fredhardt replied, waving a dismissive hand. "Based on this show’s logic, why can’t she just turn back into a woman? Apparently, they can attach and detach their... equipment whenever they want."

"No, no, no," Lory argued, shaking her head. "I think this is a test of their love. It’s supposed to prove how pure their feelings are."

"That’s a very sick definition of love," Fredhardt scoffed.

Lucas still looked unconvinced. "No, seriously. Does that make him gay now? Is he attracted to men or women now?"

"No!" Lory protested. "He’s not supposed to be attracted to anyone except Katya."

"But wasn’t he attracted to Carlos when he thought Carlos was his wife?" Fredhardt shot back.

"That’s different!" Lory refuted.

"How is it different?" Fredhardt asked, annoyed.

"Because... that’s not how the story is supposed to go!"

"...That somehow makes even less sense." Fredhardt rolled his eyes.

"Wait," Lucas said, frowning in deep concentration. "If the husband’s thing was from Carlos, then when he gets intimate with Katya... doesn’t that make him a cuckold?"

Silence.

Lory and Fredhardt exchanged glances before both fell quiet, genuinely considering the question.

"...Huh, I never thought of that before." Lory pursed her lips.

"...That’s... actually a disturbingly good point." Fredhardt rubbed his chin.

Zhao Li Xin stood silently by the doorway, listening to the increasingly absurd debate.

He slowly shifted his gaze from Lucas... to Fredhardt... to Lory... then finally to the television, where dramatic music blared as someone dramatically declared they had undergone yet another change of identity.

Zhao Li Xin kept his gaze on the television. The moment he saw the familiar opening sequence and heard the overly dramatic background music, a look of realization crossed his face.

’Ah... this show again.’