Fifty Billion Part 7

"She's just... under the influence of hormones, that's why she's so dazzled by Max Mo! Actually, deep down, she likes me more."

"Alright... whatever makes you happy," Lily Bai said. "Little Smudge, let's keep watching the jade permits tonight!"

"Whatever!" Little Smudge replied. "As long as your body can handle it."

Lily Bai pulled out her jade permit. "I'm fine, let's do it!"

So, the two of them opened up the jade permits again.

This time, Lily Bai opened the fifth jade permit.

As usual, it was ancient Evan Lan in his robes.

But this time, there was actually a hint of anger on his face.

"Grace Summers! You actually had Simon Yuan plant a Love Hex on me? You really want me to forget you that badly?"

"Too bad—Mimi was there. She just plucked the Love Hex out and squashed it, easy as pie! Five hundred years of Simon Yuan's hard work, wasted!"

He wore a cold smile. "I know what you're going to say. You're going to say that if I forget you, I won't suffer from longing!"

But who says I'm suffering?

I only remember you for my own amusement!

Don't you realize how ridiculous you are?

The way you looked the first time you saw my true form—so pathetic! Every time I think of it, I laugh all over again!

......

Little Smudge stared intently at Lily Bai.

She suddenly started crying.

Little Smudge immediately let go of her paw. "Hey! What's wrong with you?"

"I'm fine!" Lily Bai said.

"You're crying!"

Lily Bai touched her face—she really was crying...

"What did you see? Why are you crying?"

"Maybe I'm just moved by his devotion," Lily Bai said. "He's waited for her for five hundred years—maybe he'll wait a lifetime more..."

"Oh! Now I know why you're crying," Little Smudge said.

"What do you know?"

"You must be projecting," Little Smudge said. "Could you spend your whole life with someone like Evan Lan?"

Lily Bai glanced at the potted plant on the windowsill. "I don't know. Maybe I'll be stuck in the Evan pit my whole life, or maybe... someday I'll meet another man who makes my heart race."

"You're nothing compared to him! He's waited five hundred years, and you can't even go five months before thinking about another man!" Little Smudge was furious.

"So what? Hit me then!" Lily Bai retorted. "Keep going!"

Little Smudge reluctantly put her paw back on the jade permit.

The sixth jade permit: ancient Evan Lan was leaning against a tree, drinking wine in his robes.

He kept drinking, not saying a word.

After a while, someone arrived.

It was a strikingly handsome young man.

He was so beautiful and gentle, it was breathtaking.

At the sight of him, Lily Bai felt her heart tremble.

"Father Emperor," the youth called out. "I knew you'd be here again."

Ancient Evan Lan glanced at him but said nothing.

"Father Emperor, Mother has been a tree for six hundred years... It's time to let go. The future is long, but you keep tormenting yourself. As your son, it breaks my heart to see you like this."

"Ray, why are you here?" ancient Evan Lan asked.

"My demonized mouse escaped to the lower realm," Ray replied. "I want to go down and look for it."

"It's just a mouse," ancient Evan Lan said. "If it ran away, let it be."

"But it's a demonized mouse. If someone finds it, it could cause panic."

"Then go and look for it."

"Yes," Ray replied, but he didn't leave. He kept trying to persuade him: "Father Emperor, Mother can see you like this, and it makes her uneasy and sad. I think... only if she sees you happy and at peace can she rest easy!"

"Why should I want her to rest easy?" ancient Evan Lan retorted. "I want her to be uneasy."