My Demon Friends-Chapter 684 - 645

"Your Highness, what brings you here this time? Do you have any orders to issue?" Hong Ran asked as she elegantly sat down, her posture graceful.

"No, I just genuinely wanted to come see you. Last time was really too hurried," His Royal Highness, the Elm King, said while holding a can of cola. Compared to expensive teas, she found cola more novel. "Besides, with you here, there's no need for me to interject. Just pretend I'm dead."

Hong Ran was speechless for a moment and changed the subject. "How does it feel to be in this young girl's body?"

"It's all right, just a bit boring."

"Just a bit?"

"All right! Very boring!"

"Regarding your new body and memory transfer, our preparations are quite good. Perhaps in the future, you'll have the chance to experience this novel world," Hong Ran said. "However, the new body definitely won't be as powerful as your original one, since all the Spiritual Power is with her."

"There's no need to be that powerful; being a little demon is also quite nice," His Royal Highness, the Elm King, said with a wave of her hand, quite open-mindedly. "Actually, I rather like the idea of just being a little demon."

"Then you'll probably get your wish."

"That would be for the best..."

Zhou Li quietly listened to their conversation, his speculations growing. Perhaps there was another reason: His Royal Highness, the Elm King, no longer wanted to be a royal and therefore suppressed the news.

「After a long while—」

The conversation moved on to the preparations for the Migration Plan.

Knowing Zhou Li would be interested, Hong Ran elaborated, "The preparations began quite some time ago and are progressing smoothly. However, due to the project's massive scale, even with all the demons in the world working together, and even with the Mirror Zone saving us the trial-and-error phase, it won't be completed until at least next year."

She paused and then continued, "The main issue is that some demons might not want to leave this world. We need to consider their survival after the Old Land World departs."

Zhou Li nodded. To ensure the continuation of the demon race, migrating the Old Land World would be enough; a few demons left behind would have no impact. The Old Land World had been moved to Earth's universe many years ago, and most demons had spent their lives there. Many had long considered Earth their second home. They were familiar with its rules, every blade of grass, and with humans and the human world. Some had even formed deep friendships with humans, so their choice to stay was understandable. Yet demons depended on the Old Land World for their existence. Once it departed, how could they survive? Zhou Li's knowledge was shallow; he couldn't imagine. This wasn't his concern to bear; the learned among the demons would solve this problem.

Zhou Li pursed his lips and asked, "Will you stay?"

Without directly answering, Hong Ran blinked at him. "Do you want Sister to stay? If you say you can't bear for me to leave, then I won't go."

"I hope you will."

"And?"

"I can't bear for you to leave."

"No," Hong Ran corrected. "It's 'I can't bear for Sister to leave.'"

Zhou Li was silent. Seeing his troubled look, Hong Ran smiled but didn't press further.

His Royal Highness, the Elm King, had limited time, which directly affected Zhou Li's opportunity to freeload meals from Sister Hong Ran. After about two hours, they departed on the Ladybug Monster.

They sat opposite each other. His Royal Highness, the Elm King, sat by the window, resting her cheek on her hand. She gazed at the vast green waves below before suddenly turning to ask Zhou Li, "Have you ever been to the Old Land World?"

"I have."

"Haha! There's a pit under this part of the Old Land World!"

"Yes, there is."

His Royal Highness, the Elm King, sighed. She withdrew her gaze and continued to look outside. Without turning her head, she said, "Don't be conflicted. Your encounters with her, with Hong Ran, with Huai Xu—perhaps they were coincidences. Perhaps it was a mutual attraction aligning with the Will of the World, or maybe it was Master Ming's arrangement. Even if it was Master Ming's arrangement, it's no different than being introduced to someone through an acquaintance.

"What you've gained since then is all sincere.

"In life, many things don't warrant such agonizing. There are too many; you can't dwell on all of them. It just makes you seem overly sensitive and fussy."

"You're right. It's just unnecessary worry."

"Really, so fussy... My time is up."

Zhou Li was confused. I'm agreeing with you, so why the 'fussy' remark?

But before he could say anything, His Royal Highness, the Elm King, had already lain down flat, placing her hands on her stomach and closing her eyes.

People who insult you and then run off are the worst, not even giving you a chance to retort. Zhou Li sighed.

So, when the Ladybug Monster reached the rooftop, he didn't want to wake Brother Nan and had no choice but to carry her down. Fortunately, no neighbors came up to hang laundry or pick scallions during this process.

「Two minutes later.」

He laid Brother Nan on the bed, observing the girl stirring slightly in her sleep, as if complaining that he had disturbed her. He gazed at her for a long moment, then decided to lean down and kiss her on the lips. But as soon as their lips parted, he saw her turn over impatiently, seeming quite displeased. He couldn't help but smile.

On reflection, it indeed lacked the sweetness of when she was awake. When she was awake, her kisses were moist and responsive; this was merely a simple touch.

「Afternoon.」

Baozi lived close by and had gone home yesterday, dragging a huge suitcase. But today, she arrived at Zhou Li's place with a smaller suitcase and a backpack.

Little Cousin stood at the door, her expression serious. She said to Zhou Li, who had opened the door for her, "Hello, Cousin! I'm here!"

"So early?" Zhou Li was a little surprised.

"Yes!"

"We're not going back until tomorrow. I thought you'd come tonight, or that we'd pick you up tomorrow morning," Zhou Li said as he let her in. "Have you had lunch?"

"I have."

"What did you eat?"

"Stir-fried cucumber with pork." After answering, Baozi glanced stealthily at Zhou Li. "What about you and Brother Nan?"

"Jianshouqing mushrooms."

"Oh."

This year's Jianshouqing mushrooms were exceptionally expensive. When they first came out in April and May, they sold for over a thousand yuan per kilogram. Although the price had dropped considerably since then, they were still expensive, and Baozi hadn't eaten any. She suspected her parents would sneakily buy some while she was away in Yi Province for her rural practicum. Damn it! If I'd known, I would have come over this morning!

Baozi struggled to lift her suitcase into the room, placed her backpack on top of it, and then sat down primly on the sofa.

"What are you and Brother Nan having for dinner tonight?"

"Brother Nan said roasted rabbit."

"Oh."

"Did you bring your camera?"

"Of course!"

"You seem to be in an exceptionally good mood today." Zhou Li observed Little Cousin's expression. Unfortunately, she had a poker face, showing no emotion, just her fair, plump features.

"R-really?"

"You're using a lot of exclamation points when you talk."

"Oh."

"Brother Nan said that once we get to Miss Zheng's place, you'll be our photographer, responsible for taking pictures. We'll need them as evidence for the report," Zhou Li said. He paused for a moment. Brother Nan actually wanted Little Cousin to take the photos and me to write the daily work summaries. He then continued, "And you'll also be writing the daily work summaries."

Baozi was silent for a moment.

"Brother Nan said if you don't agree, you can just go back."

"Okay! Okay!" Little Cousin clenched her fists, eagerly agreeing.

Zhou Li sat calmly on the sofa, ignoring Tuanzi's meows; he couldn't understand what she was saying anyway.

They sat in silence for a while. Only the sound of the wind rustling the curtains as it lifted them could be heard.

After hesitating for a moment, Little Cousin spoke up again. "Cousin, do you know what your father and Aunt Jiang like? My mom asked me to buy them some gifts, preferably under a thousand yuan."

"Is that because Auntie only gave you two thousand yuan?"

Little Cousin was shocked.

"It's all right." Seeing Little Cousin tense up, filled with unease and apprehension, Zhou Li chuckled. "I've already prepared them for you."

"Really?" Little Cousin quickly turned her head.

"I've prepared a fishing rod for Old Zhou. I'm not sure what Aunt Jiang likes; she doesn't seem to have any particular preferences. Brother Nan bought two boxes of Qiaojia brown sugar, saying it's good for women. You can just say it's a local specialty. Also, I'm planning to go to the flower market tomorrow morning to buy some fresh flowers—Chunming is the city of flowers, after all."

"Does Uncle like fishing?"

"I don't know. He doesn't know how to fish yet."

"Then..."

"Don't worry!" Zhou Li wore an expression that said everything was under control.

Seeing this, Little Cousin breathed a sigh of relief, though not completely. She continued to eye Zhou Li. "A-are they expensive?"

"You don't have to pay."

"Thank you, Cousin!!"

"Just make sure you take the work summaries seriously and write them well. Don't let your personal mistakes cause our rural practicum report to be rejected," Zhou Li said. "You can handle that little thing, right?"

"I definitely will!"

Little Cousin was deeply moved. Although Cousin could be a bit harsh at times, he was good to her when it mattered and really looked out for her.