Upon hearing this, Rover puffed up with pride. "Instead of studying Lucian, why not ask for my opinion?"
"No one understands Lucian better than I do!"
Abby, standing nearby, couldn't help but tease, "That's easy to say, but every time Lucian gets involved with someone, you can never stop him..."
Rover: "?"
Lucian: "?"
Lucian raised an eyebrow and glanced at Abby. Why did it feel like Abby was becoming more and more punchable?
Camellya, who was beside them, burst into laughter. "Rover, I've told you before—this guy Lucian loves to flirt around. How could you fall for his charms too?"
Rover's expression darkened. After a moment of contemplation, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Are you saying this to drive a wedge between me and Lucian so you can get closer to him?"
Camellya: "?"
Camellya took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. "Rover, why can't you understand? I'm doing this for your own good."
"Think about it—from Magistrate Jinhsi and Counselor Changli at the top, to Chixia and Jianxin at the bottom, so many women are entangled with him. Surely you don't want your future husband to be someone who..."
Rover covered Camellya's lips. "No need to say more. I've already figured it out—you're trying to make me leave Lucian so you can take my place, right?"
"I won't let you get what you want!"
With her lips sealed, Camellya was like a mute tasting bitter herbs—she couldn't voice her suffering. All she could do was shake her head helplessly.
Monica, the HR officer, stared blankly at the group. "Your relationships are so messy..."
"And, Camellya, do you really like Mr. Lucian and want to break up his relationship with Rover?"
"But then again, it's only human. Mr. Lucian is handsome, powerful, holds a high position, and has a charming personality—it's hard not to like him, right?"
Rover sneered. "See? Even Monica can tell. What else do you have to say for yourself?"
Lucian chuckled. "As expected of Black Shores' HR. If you're good at compliments, keep them coming."
Suddenly, Lucian remembered Youhu's request for him to "fish her over" to Black Shores, so he asked, "By the way, is there a small pond around here?"
Monica looked puzzled. "A small pond? No, there isn't. What do you need it for?"
Rover, who knew what Lucian was thinking, interjected, "I don't think you should fish anymore. What if you reel in another seductress?"
Abby, however, suggested, "Maybe you don't even need a pond?"
"That fishing rod is so magical it can even catch people. It might not necessarily require a pond."
"Besides, if you fish in a pond again and pull out Yinlin, wouldn't you just get electrocuted all over again...?"
As he spoke, Abby shuddered. "I don't want to experience that feeling again..."
Lucian nodded slightly. "That's a fair point."
With that, he took out the Legendary Fishing Rod and cast it into an open space.
...
Deep within Jinzhou City Hall.
Changli was unusually distracted while reviewing documents. Jinhsi, beside her, asked curiously, "Teacher, what's wrong?"
Changli sighed. "I wonder how Lucian is doing."
"Black Shores just sent an alert about Port City of Guixu. Something must be happening over there."
Jinhsi fell silent for a moment. "According to records, Port City of Guixu was once a bustling metropolis..."
Before she could finish, a thin white thread appeared in front of them.
Neither of them acted rashly, instead watching the thread warily.
Sanhua also raised her sword, ready to strike at any moment.
Seeing that the thread remained suspended in midair without any movement, Changli calmed down and began to ponder.
She suddenly remembered how Lucian had once fished Yinlin out of the hot springs at Mt. Firmament...
Could this be Lucian's fishing rod?
Jinhsi frowned. "Teacher, is this...?"
Changli smiled faintly. "Sanhua, assist Jinhsi. I'll be right back."
Jinhsi: "?"
Sanhua: "?"
Before the two could react, Changli reached out with her delicate hand and grasped the thread. In the next second, her figure vanished from the depths of City Hall.
...
At Black Shores, everyone watched as Changli emerged from thin air, holding the thread. She chuckled. "I was prepared to get wet, but I didn't expect to come out dry."
Rover sighed and shook her head. "Another one."
Lucian looked up at the sky in despair. "Youhu, I've failed your expectations."
Camellya studied Changli curiously. "Isn't this Jinzhou's Counselor Changli? Heh, how interesting."
Monica exclaimed in amazement, "She appeared out of nowhere! Is this some kind of magic!?"
Lucian, intrigued by Changli's words, asked, "You already guessed this thread was from my fishing rod?"
Changli laughed softly, stepping forward to hook a finger under Lucian's chin. "Of course. After all, no one understands you better than I do."
Rover: "?"
Monica: "Wait, who actually knows Mr. Lucian best?"
Camellya clicked her tongue, amused. "Now the show's getting good..."
Rover's expression turned frosty. "Changli, I advise you to let go of my fiancé, or the consequences will be severe."
Changli remained unruffled. Right in front of Rover, she kissed Lucian on the cheek. "I'm confident Lucian won't let this 'severe consequence' you speak of come to pass."
Lucian's face darkened. "What if the 'severe consequence' is me getting beaten to death by Rover?"
Changli smiled. "Then there's even less to worry about. I'm sure none of the women involved with you would let that happen."
Lucian: "...Are you trying to get me killed faster?"
Camellya fanned the flames beside Rover. "See? See? I told you so, Rover. My advice? First, eliminate Jinzhou's Counselor, then raze Jinzhou to the ground!"
Rover's voice was icy. "Before that, I'll start by getting rid of you, the instigator!"
With that, Rover moved to seize Camellya, but the latter dodged with a laugh, taunting, "Hehe, come and catch me if you can~"
Rover's expression soured. Gripping Emerald of Genesis, she charged forward.
Seizing the opportunity, Changli cupped Lucian's face and pressed her lips to his.
Abby sighed. Rover was too pitiful—it felt compelled to do something!
After a moment of thought, Abby covered its eyes with its fluffy ears, smugly declaring, "This way, I can't see anything."
Monica stared blankly at the scene. "The upper echelons of Jinzhou really aren't for ordinary people. The power dynamics here are far too convoluted..."