"How is it going?" Charles Yin asked without looking up.
"Sharon Yun has successfully reversed the hypnosis on Mr. Locke and found out the medium used for the hypnosis," Ethan Yin said in a low voice. "But, Mr. Locke's methods were a bit too harsh. He forcibly awakened the second persona, and sealed off the first persona. If we try to wake him up now, it could damage the integrity of the first persona."
"What are the consequences?" Charles Yin immediately put down his knife and fork, focusing intently on Ethan Yin.
Ethan Yin's expression grew serious, his voice even lower: "Either a complete personality change, or, like Earl Field's example, he won't be able to distinguish reality from dreams—and eventually go insane."
"Did Sharon Yun mention any solution?" Charles Yin frowned, clearly displeased.
If it weren't for Xixi stopping him, he would have already dealt with those rats himself.
Xixi said this is the Field Family's business, and outsiders shouldn't interfere.
Charles Yin always listens to his wife, so he kept holding back again and again.
But Ethan Yin's news made him unhappy once more.
"Yes." Ethan Yin sighed. "Miles Gu's second persona has to retreat voluntarily—and for good."
"But with how selfish the second persona is, I doubt he'll step aside willingly," Charles Yin immediately spotted the issue. "So, are we completely out of options?"
"It's not entirely hopeless," Ethan Yin glanced at Miles Gu in the distance, noticing him trying to talk to Yina Yin. Ethan's lips curled into a subtle smile as he lowered his voice: "See, even Miles Gu's second persona is drawn to my sister. Maybe my plan is working. If the second persona ever faces a problem he can't solve, Dad, do you think he'd sacrifice himself for Yina?"
Charles Yin quickly glanced at his son, a hint of a smile at the corner of his eyes.
Ethan Yin's scheming nature really takes after his own.
Nice.
"What if he refuses?" Charles Yin's tone now carried a hint of ease.
"Then we'll make him!" Ethan Yin replied confidently. "It's all about taking action."
"I'll leave this to you. Make sure there are no loose ends," Charles Yin said, giving his son a meaningful look.
"Yes, sir!" Ethan Yin answered playfully.
"What are you two talking about?" Cici Grant walked over with her tray. As she passed by, several people greeted her.
Cici Grant greeted people along the way, so she arrived a bit late.
"Mom, Dad and I were just discussing how to handle all these matchmaking guests," Ethan Yin quickly changed the subject to avoid worrying Cici Grant about Miles Gu. "You see, there are so many suitors for Yina now. We can't let them just eat, drink, and sleep here forever, right? We should give them something to do."
Cici Grant nodded, "You're right. So, what's your plan?"
Ethan Yin smiled, "Cherry Miller and I talked it over. Sunset Manor is peaceful, but it's too far from the city and not suitable for hosting so many people long-term. We're planning to move everyone to a villa closer to the city. That way, it's convenient for everyone to come and go, and they can choose their own entertainment."
Cici Grant thought for a moment and said, "Sounds good. As Yina's older brother, keep an eye on these people and weed out anyone with bad character."
"I know, Mom," Ethan Yin replied. "This is a big deal for our family, so I'll be watching closely myself."
"Your dad and I are going to visit your grandmother tomorrow. If it weren't for the Miles Gu situation, we'd have gone already." Cici Grant said, "Even though Ken Yun and Sharon Yun say everything is fine over there, I just can't help but worry. Cherry—"
"Madam, you called me?" Cherry Miller hurried over.
Cici Grant pulled Cherry Miller to sit beside her. "Cherry, Charles and I are going to Eastshire Province tomorrow. You'll be in charge of everything here. Feeling any pressure?"
"Don't worry, Madam. No matter how much pressure, I can handle it!" Cherry Miller said with a big smile. "It's about time for you to go to Eastshire for your health check anyway. You and the chairman can leave home to me—no one will get into trouble with me here."
Cici Grant looked at Cherry Miller, the more she looked, the more satisfied and fond she felt. She couldn't help but pat Cherry's head and say, "You always like to take on everything yourself."
"Madam, I really can do it. And if I can't, we've got plenty of strong guys around. No way I'm letting that go to waste." Cherry Miller nodded toward Jing Shaohuai's group, full of pride and confidence as she laid out her plan.
Her words made Cici Grant laugh. "That's right, put them to work. Don't let them go to waste."
Charles Yin was amused, too. "Cherry's been running around doing so much for you already. What do you still have to worry about?"
Cici Grant smiled, "There's really nothing to worry about. It's just—they're still kids to me."
Ethan Yin said, "No matter how old we get, we'll always be kids in your eyes."
Cherry Miller noticed the faint exhaustion on Cici Grant's face, knowing she'd been pushing herself these past few days.
Now that the engagement was off, there was no reason to stay any longer.
Cici Grant's health hadn't been great these past years. When she was younger, childbirth took a heavy toll, so for over twenty years she'd relied on Yun Family medicine to keep her body in shape.
Now that she's older, every year she goes to the Yun Family for their secret herbal soak—a whole pool of medicinal soup, soaking for an hour or two a day to drive out the cold and nourish her body.
Only with a body that's been properly cared for can you handle the damp cold of winter.
(Irrelevant system message skipped.)
Every year around this time, Cici Grant would already be at the Yun Family's place.
But this year, Miles Gu's situation delayed her—even made her sick for days. If Charles Yin hadn't dropped everything to stay with her, she might not have recovered.
So as soon as the engagement dissolution banquet ended, Charles Yin decided to take Cici Grant to her family for some recuperation.
Cherry Miller understood Cici Grant's worries and immediately said, "Madam, go take care of your health. I'll keep an eye on everything here. If anything comes up that I can't handle, I'll report to you. And if there's a real emergency, I'll ask Mr. Mu for help."
Cici Grant nodded, finally able to relax. "Thank you for your hard work."
"It's no trouble at all. It's my duty."
At a nearby table, Ethan Yin, Jing Shaohuai, Mo Yumomo, and Mu Ziyue were eating together, gossiping about the dozens of potential future brothers-in-law.
"Look, Ethan and Cherry just got called over. Do you think Godfather and Godmother will tell them who their favorite candidate is?" Mu Ziyue whispered.
They all glanced over quickly, then bowed their heads together, whispering among themselves.
"No way," Jing Shaohuai said right away. "It's not that fast. There's probably some other plan."
Mo Yumomo said, "Did you guys forget what day it is today?"
"What day?" they all asked at once.
"This time every year..." Mo Yumomo hinted.
Jing Shaohuai and the others thought for a moment, then got it. "Oh, right! How did I forget? Every year at this time, we go to the Yun Family's place. This whole mess made us forget something so important."
Mo Shuo said, "If they go to the Yun Family, it'll just be us left here. I bet there'll be a new plan."
Jing Shaohuai said meaningfully, "I'm more curious about where Xiao Jin went."
"Yeah, where's Xiao Jin?" Ethan Yin looked around but couldn't spot Shang Xiaojin.
"I just saw him," Mu Ziyue said. "How'd he disappear in the blink of an eye?"
Mo Yumomo and Mo Shuo both shrugged—they hadn't seen him.
The one everyone was talking about, Shang Xiaojin, was now sitting on the steps outside the manor, holding a lunchbox.
At the other end of the steps sat Yuan Shisan.
"The food's pretty good today, so I brought you some." Shang Xiaojin smiled as soon as he saw Yuan Shisan. "I bet the staff meals aren't this fancy, right?"
With that, Shang Xiaojin opened the lunchbox, pulling out seven or eight bowls and plates, all filled with the freshest, most popular dishes.
"Eat while it's hot, don't let it get cold," Shang Xiaojin said. "It's not that cold yet, but cold food doesn't taste as good. Want some seafood? We've got fresh prawns from Hokkaido today—Ethan loves those, but they're limited, so each person only gets two. If you like them, I'll give you mine."
Yuan Shisan glanced at Shang Xiaojin silently, then shook his head without saying a word.
"Are you worried someone will scold you for eating this? Relax, no one's going to yell at you. Cherry isn't the type to be harsh, and Ethan wouldn't blame you either. If anyone does, I'll just say I forced you to eat it," Shang Xiaojin said kindly.
"No," Yuan Shisan said quietly, denying it.
"So you don't like it? Want me to get you something else...?"
"Jin, I've already eaten," Yuan Shisan interrupted Shang Xiaojin.
"Oh... you already ate? That was fast..." Shang Xiaojin said awkwardly. "Then... I'll take it back..."
Yuan Shisan could clearly see the disappointment on Shang Xiaojin's face.
Yuan Shisan didn't really understand why the high-and-mighty young master of the Shang family was so friendly to her—a mere head of the secret guards—but it didn't stop her from knowing where to draw the line between friend and foe.
As long as Shang Xiaojin wasn't an enemy, she wouldn't go out of her way to avoid him.
Besides, Shang Xiaojin grew up with Yina Yin—they've been friends since childhood.
"I'll eat," Yuan Shisan said, stopping Shang Xiaojin from taking the lunchbox away.