A dewy, clean little girl had turned into a grubby dumpling, all because there was no woman around to help care for her.

Peach’s appearance had solved a lot of problems.

“In the ancient East, there lives a dragon~” Pei Shen hummed under his breath, completely unaware of his surroundings. Qi Sen turned his head sharply, eyes like blades, staring at Pei Shen’s profile without blinking.

That look was impossible to ignore.

Pei Shen leaned in and whispered, “What?”

“You sing like crap. Shut up,” Qi Sen said flatly.

The words were filled with mockery, subtle jabs cloaked as cold, hard facts. But Qi Sen’s tone was light as a breeze, as if he were simply stating the weather forecast.

Which made it even more infuriating.

Pei Shen snorted. He was just about to snap back, but then he remembered—this guy next to him was the one Can-Can had described as the number one battle god in all the heavens, with enough soldiers to crush an army.

And he himself? He was just a scholarly Third Prince, nose buried in books. He couldn’t beat Qi Sen in age, rank, or strength.

Couldn’t win in the past life, didn’t dare cuss him out in this one.

Clearly, in this family pecking order… he was at the absolute bottom.

At the school gate, students froze in place, staring in shock as Pei Shen and Qi Sen walked into campus side by side.

My god—what happened? What cosmic event had caused these two to not only stop fighting, but actually chat civilly?

Hands stuffed in his pockets, Pei Shen drawled, “You can head home first tonight. I’ll probably stay in the library a while.”

Qi Sen didn’t reply. He just frowned slightly and asked, “You stayed up again?”

Pei Shen pointed smugly to his expertly applied lip tint and blush. “Relax. No one can tell.”

Qi Sen watched him walk away, his brows still furrowed, not even noticing his phone buzzing in his pocket.

“Qi Sen, your phone’s ringing,” a passing classmate reminded him.

Snapping out of it, Qi Sen nodded politely. “Thanks.”

His foster mother’s voice was gentler than usual, like a feather brushing the air, afraid even a whisper might crack.

“Qi Sen, how was your National Day holiday?”

Qi Sen had been waiting for this call.

Ever since he sent over the photos and recordings, his foster parents had been eerily silent. Clearly they’d been scheming something. Today was when the results dropped.

“Spit it out. Morning reading’s about to start.”

Xu Zhen, his foster mother, didn’t dare act arrogant like she used to. Even with Qi Sen’s bad attitude, she didn’t protest.

“My promotion… fell through.”

Qi Sen sat in the classroom, flipping through his Chemistry Exam Prep Workbook. His voice was flat. “So?”

“Your father and I… we’ve already gotten our karma. Can you delete those photos and recordings?”

His eyes turned glacial, like they’d been dunked in an ice cellar.

Karma? That was karma?

“I can delete them. But on one condition.”

“What is it? Say it. Your dad and I will agree to anything!” Xu Zhen said, desperate.

Qi Sen paused at the first page of the workbook.

The margins, which were usually blank, were filled with dense notes.

All of them Pei Shen’s. Key points, problem types.

Warmth bloomed in Qi Sen’s heart.

Sunlight streamed through the window. He smiled faintly—like frost crystals blooming into delicate flowers. Rare and stunning.

He moved the phone slightly away from his face and said clearly, word by word, “I want you to terminate the adoption.”

He had a new home now. One that cared about him.

Xu Zhen didn’t even think, immediately shrieking, “No way! We raised you! And now you want to walk away like it’s nothing? Don’t think you can threaten us with those photos. You turn them in, and that stray kid of yours will end up in a police station tomorrow. We’ll all go down together!”

Qi Sen’s eyes sharpened. His voice turned cold. “Our Can-Can is from the Gu family, the wealthiest household in the country. She had a fight with her dad and ran away from home. You should definitely take her to the police. The Gu family will see how devoted I’ve been taking care of their child. Who knows how they’ll thank me.”

His tone stayed calm and detached—so convincing, you couldn’t even doubt it. Then he added, “I found my birth parents. That actress you said was so good in that TV show, Jiang Ying? She’s my mom. And the TV brand in our living room? That’s from my dad’s company.”

He recalled the investigators those people had sent. Voice icy, he asked, “Someone’s been asking you questions about me lately, haven’t they?”

Xu Zhen froze, remembering the strangers who kept showing up at their door in recent days. She hung up immediately.

Qi Sen put away his phone, but a trace of concern lingered in his expression.

If Xu Zhen didn’t believe his bluff and did go to the police… Can-Can might end up in an orphanage.

After all, in this world, Gu Chi had no blood ties to her.

Qi Sen frowned and dug out the number for the textile factory where Xu Zhen worked. He dialed.

“Hello, how can I help you?” a sweet voice answered.

Qi Sen gripped his chemistry book tightly. After a long hesitation, he finally spoke.

“I’d like to report Qi Hai.”

After that, he contacted the local women’s protection group and sent them all the recordings and videos of his foster parents beating and berating him.

Once it was done, he let out a long breath and slumped back in his chair.

After evening self-study, Qi Sen stood outside the library with his phone in hand. Students passed by, smiling and greeting him.

“Qi Sen, it’s 10:30. Aren’t you going home?”

He tucked his phone away and replied with a calm “Mm.” “Leaving now.”

Right as he spoke, Pei Shen yawned his way out of the building, lips pale, clearly exhausted. He flinched when he saw Qi Sen, then forced a crooked smile.

“You’re still here?”

The campus was quiet and still.

Qi Sen handed over the phone. “Can-Can’s photos from today.”

That morning, they’d left Pei Shen’s phone with Tao-Tao and taught her how to take and send pictures.