It wasn't just Zhou Ziru who was sad and upset; she too had underestimated everyone in the world, thinking that by teaching her a few secret techniques, she could defeat Ning Beichen.
The ultimate result was a slap in the face for both aunt and niece, shattering their pride.
"Aunt, that scoundrel came to our house when he was little..."
Zhou Ziru sobbed, telling her aunt about her childhood.
"So, it seems you two really do have a connection, you can be considered childhood sweethearts."
Her aunt was stunned after hearing this, never expecting such a coincidence.
"Ziru, don't be sad anymore. That Ning Beichen is not that simple. Even I am no match for him. He was already merciful to us just now."
"Aunt, I'm not sad, I'm just... I'm just unconvinced! Why do I always lose to him?"
Zhou Ziru said dejectedly.
"Ziru, you don't need to be discouraged. You should know that there will always be special people in this world. Compared to others your age, you are already very good."
Zhou Ziru's aunt comforted her.
"Aunt, why can't I be the special one?"
Zhou Ziru asked.
Her aunt was momentarily speechless. After all, everyone's experiences and upbringing were different, and not everyone could become that special person.
"Ziru, you should think of it this way: in our eyes, Ning Beichen is the special one. But in the eyes of others, we are also special to them."
Her aunt, with her richer experience, continued to counsel her.
"Aunt, I don't want to compare myself with others, I just want to compare myself with him. Why can't I beat him? Where am I inferior to him?"
Zhou Ziru said unconvinced. Having been made to cry by Ning Beichen three times had left an indelible shadow in her heart.
"Ziru..."
Her aunt was about to persuade her when Zhou Ziru interrupted.
"Aunt, when we get back, I'm going into the Wuren Hall."
"Ziru, are you crazy? The chance of successfully entering the Wuren Hall is less than thirty percent."
Her aunt grabbed her hand, rushing her.
"Aunt, I'm not a child anymore, and I'm not being temperamental. I admit, I do want to defeat Ning Beichen, even if it's just once. But if I don't enter the Wuren Hall, I'll never have the chance in my life. I want to take a gamble."
Zhou Ziru's expression suddenly became resolute.
The Wuren Hall was a place the Zhou family used to improve their strength. It was formerly used by the Zhou family to train death warriors. Those who entered the Wuren Hall and emerged alive would have their strength greatly enhanced.
But at the same time, the chance of successfully surviving the Wuren Hall was only around thirty percent. The rest either died, failed, or were crippled. It was a truly brutal place.
Although the Zhou family no longer trained death warriors, the Wuren Hall still existed, filled with all sorts of terrifying mechanisms. In the past twenty years, hardly anyone had challenged the Wuren Hall.
This was why Zhou Ziru's aunt was so vehemently opposed and tried to stop her when she said she wanted to challenge the Wuren Hall.
"No, Ziru, there are many ways to defeat Ning Beichen. As long as you work hard, you will defeat him sooner or later. If not in one year, then in two. If not in two, then in three. If not in three, then in ten. You don't need to go into the Wuren Hall and suffer."
"Aunt, just let me decide this time. There aren't many decades in a person's life. I can't wait, and I can't afford to wait."
Zhou Ziru pleaded.
"Ziru, do you really want to do this?"
Her aunt said with difficulty.
She knew Zhou Ziru had always been strong-willed since childhood, but she never expected her to be this strong-willed.
"I've made up my mind. After we go back this time, I will go into the Wuren Hall to cultivate."
Zhou Ziru said very seriously.
"Alright then, since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you. But Xiao Ru, you must understand one thing: you are entering the Wuren Hall to improve yourself, not to defeat Ning Beichen."
"If you let jealousy and hatred blind your eyes, then in the end, you will only destroy yourself."
Her aunt said to her solemnly.
"I understand, Aunt. I don't hate him. On the contrary, I am grateful to him. It was he who made me see clearly. It was he who made me realize that I am not the proud son of heaven that people in the Zhou family claim I am."
Zhou Ziru said with clarity in her eyes.
"Ziru, it's good that you can think this way. Let's go, we're going home."
Her aunt took her hand and walked out of the car wash, leaving behind a mess.
Meanwhile, Ning Beichen had already appeared with the three women in a restaurant, but... the atmosphere there seemed a bit off.
"Brother Beichen, I want to eat shrimp."
Ye Ya'er looked at Ning Beichen with a coquettish manner.
"If you want to eat it, then eat it. There's a big plate. I'll order more if it's not enough."
Ning Beichen replied casually.
"But I don't know how to peel shrimp. Brother Beichen, could you peel one for me?"
Ye Ya'er displayed her superstar demeanor and the delicate posture of a fragile woman to the fullest.
Making Ning Beichen want to eat her alive.
I believe you, you little vixen, you don't know how to peel shrimp? You can peel a person, but seeing her big, bright eyes, Ning Beichen still picked up a shrimp, peeled it, and put it into her bowl.
"Thank you, Brother Beichen."
Ye Ya'er looked overjoyed, calling him Brother Beichen this and Brother Beichen that, her voice particularly sweet.
Meanwhile, Liu Yilin was lowering her head and not speaking. However, one could see that a piece of green vegetable in her bowl had already been poked into mush with her chopsticks.
If it weren't for the public setting, she would have likely erupted long ago.
Nangong Feiyan noticed Liu Yilin's expression and quickly signaled to Ning Beichen. Only then did Ning Beichen realize that Liu Yilin had been silent all evening.
"Ning Beichen, Yilin also likes to eat shrimp. Aren't you going to peel one for her quickly?"
Nangong Feiyan said.
"She doesn't have... hands herself."
Before Ning Beichen could finish speaking, he was met with Nangong Feiyan's death stare.
He shivered instantly and quickly tried to salvage the situation. He picked up a shrimp, peeled it, and placed it in front of her, saying, "Boss, have a shrimp too."
"I don't want any, I'm full." Liu Yilin said coldly, putting down her chopsticks with a snap.
Ning Beichen held the peeled shrimp, unsure whether to offer it or not. Feeling awkward, he dipped it in soy sauce and ate it himself, then shot Ye Ya'er a glare, implying, "See, this is all your fault."
For Ning Beichen,
His relationship with Ye Ya'er was unusual, considered a semi-lover's relationship. Therefore, he didn't find it strange to peel shrimp for Ye Ya'er.