However, since Yun Ge’s face once again showed passionate anticipation and firm determination after hearing Luke’s explanation, Luke gave up the idea of further elaborating on the reasons.

  With a hint of helplessness in his smile, Luke let out a soft sigh, then changed the subject, saying, “Hey! Could you go over and see if they’ve started calculating my expenses from last month? Also, help me observe if there’s anything off with their emotions when they’re calculating my expenses. If there’s any issue, give me a signal right away.”

  Luke paused for a moment, turned his head to look at the street outside the window which had completely darkened, then, as if making a difficult decision, he clenched his fists tightly and said, “If their faces look too ugly when calculating my personal expenses, I might as well take advantage of the night to escape!”

  “Yeah! As long as I run fast enough, I might still have a chance to make it to Jamei’s house alive to seek refuge! That would be better than staying here waiting for a death sentence! Otherwise, our Xing family might be left without an heir!”

  “Oh come on! It’s not that exaggerated, is it? How much candy did you spend last month? Moreover, you’ve been in a passionate relationship lately, so it’s normal to have higher expenses!” Seeing Luke’s determined-to-die expression, Yun Ge couldn’t help but joke.

  “Oh man! Brother, hearing you say that makes me even more upset! There’s no problem with higher expenses during a passionate relationship. But I—, in order to win Jamei’s heart, I didn’t hold back and ended up with a particularly huge expense. This expense is enough for my father to demand that I repay it with my life!” Luke said in a tone slightly choked with emotion.

  “Hey! Don’t be afraid! If you really spent too much candy, then I’ll plead for you later, asking Uncle Xing to show mercy. And if it comes to it, I’ll take responsibility for part of the expense, and we’ll share the punishment together!” Yun Ge said, slapping his chest in a show of loyalty. Luke nodded gratefully, while also reminding Yun Ge to keep his word and not to be a coward when the time comes!

  With the information provided by Luke, and after Luke’s repeated guidance, Yun Ge also began to make changes. He turned his focus to working with the town chief to treat his amnesia, in order to alleviate the anxiety caused by the estrangement period in his relationship with Lily.

  The effect of Yun Ge’s change was very noticeable. Lily, who gained more personal space, obviously became much more relaxed in her mindset, to the point where she once again showed that long-missed, amiable smile when interacting with Yun Ge.

  Although Lily no longer had an ambiguous feeling towards him, at least the two could resume their pleasant conversations like old friends. And unlike before, the atmosphere when they were alone together no longer felt awkward.

  Seeing Lily’s mood gradually improve, Yun Ge was naturally very happy, and he once again ignited the hope of rekindling their previous ambiguous relationship.

  This morning, Yun Ge once again got up early full of hope, and after quickly finishing his morning routine, he ran downstairs to help Lily and Auntie Hui Min prepare breakfast. But to Yun Ge’s surprise, he found the house empty after coming downstairs.

  Then, Yun Ge saw a prepared breakfast on the dining table, as well as a packed lunch, and on the packed meal box, he saw a note: “Yun Ge, our family has important matters to handle today. After you finish breakfast, go to work by yourself first. Remember to bring the lunch Lily prepared for you! We’ll have dinner together when we get back in the evening! Auntie Hui Min.”

  Yun Ge picked up a slice of bread sprinkled with some candy fragments on the surface and took a bite, then said, “What’s going on? Why did they suddenly have to leave for something?”

  However, considering that he was, in essence, just an outsider taken in by Lily’s family, it was indeed none of his business if something private happened in their family, and he had no right to interfere in others’ private affairs. Therefore, Yun Ge stopped overthinking, and after quickly finishing the breakfast prepared by Auntie Hui Min, he went to work with his lunch.

  With the training Lily had provided in the past, Yun Ge could now independently complete the nectar collection work. Plus, Lily and Luke, and even Uncle Shawn didn’t come to work, so Yun Ge just worked diligently by himself until the end of the workday.

  After handing over the nectar he had collected that day, Yun Ge went straight back home. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Lily’s parents, Uncle Shawn, and Auntie Hui Zhen talking in the living room.

  “Oh! Yun Ge is back! How was your work today? Didn’t anything happen in the group, did it?” Uncle Shawn greeted as soon as he saw Yun Ge.

  “Hello, Uncle Shawn! Everything in the group is normal, and everyone completed today’s collection task as planned,” Yun Ge said, then briefly reported the work situation of the day.

  “Hmm! You’re doing really well! Yun Ge! I’m gradually seeing that you’re a promising talent!” With a commendatory tone, Uncle Shawn asked, “Keep up the good work, and when you have more work experience, how about I promote you to be a team leader?”

  “Thank you for your praise, Uncle Shawn! Actually, I don’t think I have the ability to be a team leader. I feel that I’m more suited to working under Lily’s command,” Yun Ge said modestly. His words were partly because he truly didn’t think he had leadership skills, and partly because he just wanted to work with Lily.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “You’re right! Everyone needs to learn to face challenges independently.” You can’t always have Lily cover for you at work, can you? Anyway, you must work hard in the future, and Uncle Shawn will definitely not treat you unfairly!” Uncle Shawn said with a wave of his hand.

  “Yes! I understand, Uncle Shawn. Hey? By the way, where are Lily and Luke? Haven’t they come back yet?” Seeing that Uncle Shawn was persistent, Yun Ge could only first agree in a vague tone, then quickly changed the subject.

  “Lily and Luke are upstairs. Go find them, don’t let them wait too long.” We few are still discussing important matters here.” At this moment, Lily’s father spoke. But judging from his somewhat serious tone, he seemed more like he was ordering Yun Ge to go upstairs immediately.

  Yun Ge knew that Lily’s father had been in a very bad temper recently, so he naturally didn’t linger downstairs. Instead, after greeting the people present, he went upstairs with the dinner prepared by Auntie Hui Min. However, after going upstairs, Yun Ge didn’t hurry back to his room.

  As soon as he walked into the second-floor corridor, he faintly heard Lily’s crying. So, Yun Ge quickly walked towards Lily’s room, and after pushing open the slightly open door, he saw Lily sitting on the bedside sobbing softly, and Luke standing in front of the window with his hands behind his back, looking at the street outside.

  Yun Ge asked anxiously, “Lily! What’s wrong with you?”

  Lily didn’t answer Yun Ge, but instead cried more violently after he appeared. Luke, while shaking his head and sighing, quickly stepped forward, pulled Yun Ge into the room, closed the door tightly, and then said in a low mood, “Sigh! Ah Yun, take a seat first. I have something to tell you.”

  Yun Ge knew at once that what Luke was about to tell him must be related to Lily, and it was definitely not good news. So, after sitting down, he kept rubbing his thighs with both hands, “Luke, what exactly happened? Why is Lily like this?”

  Faced with Yun Ge’s question, Luke lowered his head and remained silent for a while, then finally said, “Here’s what happened. In just over ten days, Candy Town will hold its annual sacrificial event. The purpose of this event is to pray to the Lost Woods, hoping that this forest will continue to protect us and provide us with the necessary food and wealth for our lives.”

  Yun Ge nodded to show that he was very clear about these things, then impatiently waved his hands, signaling Luke not to beat around the bush and to quickly tell him the important reason that made Lily cry.

  Luke then cast a loving glance at Lily, who was crying with her face covered, and then looked at Yun Ge with the same loving eyes, saying, “Because your amnesia this time is too severe, causing you to completely forget the content of the sacrificial event. Actually—, at the end of the annual sacrificial event, there is a very important sacrificial ceremony. This is also why this annual evening is called a sacrificial event.”

  Luke sighed again, then continued in a tone slightly choked with emotion, “Sigh! In the final sacrificial ceremony, the most important part is to pray for the prosperity of the Lost Woods next year and to offer a life to the Lost Woods. And this year, the sacrifice chosen by Candy Town is Lily.”

  “What?! What did you say?! You mean Lily has become the sacrifice?!” Yun Ge immediately stood up with a shout upon hearing this.

  “Ah Yun! Don’t get excited! Human sacrifice has been a tradition in Candy Town for many years! We do this to ensure that all the residents can live more safely and happily in the Lost Woods! Sacrificing the individual for the greater good. For the sacrificer, this is a great honor that can bring glory to their family!”

  “Honor? Humph! If Lily becoming a sacrifice makes you feel honored, then why are you all sitting at home with frowning and looking miserable instead of celebrating with joy?” Yun Ge forcefully shook off Luke’s arm and said excitedly. After speaking, Yun Ge grabbed Lily and strode towards the door without any hesitation.

  “Ah Yun! What are you doing?!” Luke called out.

  “No! I will never let Lily become a sacrifice! Lily, let’s go! I’ll take you away from here!” Yun Ge said.

  “Yun Ge! Come to your senses! You can’t destroy the tradition that Candy Town has always followed! What you’re doing will anger the town chief and bring severe punishment upon yourself! Moreover, even if you leave Candy Town, where can you two go? You’re not only harming yourself but also Lily!” Luke hurriedly persuaded in a loud voice, while blocking the door with his body to prevent Yun Ge from leaving.

  As the quarrel between Yun Ge and Luke became more intense, the four people downstairs were soon drawn upstairs. Upon hearing that Yun Ge was trying to take Lily away from Candy Town, Lily’s father rushed up and punched him without saying a word. Unprepared, Yun Ge was immediately knocked to the ground and, feeling dizzy, couldn’t even get up for a moment.

  Seeing this, Lily’s father angrily wanted to rush forward and continue beating Yun Ge. Lily hurriedly held her father back and pleaded loudly, “Father! Father, please stop hitting him! Yun Ge didn’t mean it! He just doesn’t want to see me become a sacrifice!”

  “Humph! Lily being chosen by the town chief as a sacrifice is a blessing she cultivated in her previous life! Our whole family will become the honored family of Candy Town because of this, loved by all the townspeople, and we’ll be able to receive more candy in the future as a result!”

  “Besides, Lily is my daughter! What right do you have to question my decisions regarding her! Who do you think you are?! How dare you meddle in our family’s affairs?!” Old Xing scolded without any mercy.

  “Humph! What if I’m nothing? Lily is the girl I like! So I must do everything I can to protect her! And you guys, just to pursue some nonsense honor, are willing to push your own daughter into the abyss? Are you even human?!” Yun Ge said fervently.

  “Outrageous! You ungrateful wretch! Our family kindly took you in, and this is how you repay us?! How can you be so selfish? Just because you like my daughter, are you willing to risk the safety and happiness of our entire family, the future of all the residents of Candy Town, for her alone?!” Old Xing continued to berate.

  Then, Old Xing pointed downstairs with his trembling finger and said, “Get out! Leave our house this instant! You’re not allowed to step into our home again, nor are you allowed to see my daughter ever again! If you dare to disobey my order, I’ll tell the town chief and make you regret it!”

  Faced with Old Xing’s expulsion order, Yun Ge naturally had no room to argue. However, as he got up to leave, he naturally still wanted to take Lily with him. But Lily’s mother had already pulled Lily to her side in advance, and Uncle Shawn and Auntie Hui Zhen also stood in front of Lily to prevent Yun Ge from forcibly taking her away.

  With a sad look on her face, Lily said to Yun Ge, “Ah Yun, don’t do this. Even if you take me away from Candy Town, what then? Your actions will not only harm us but also involve my family. I’m just a weak woman without any talents. ”

  “To be able to repay the protection that Candy Town has always given me and my family in this way, perhaps this is the most meaningful thing I can do in my life!”

  Lily forcibly held back the tears in her eyes and managed to force a smile, “Ah Yun, leave! Forget about me and live well! Believe me, one day you will completely forget me and find a girl who can truly be with you for a lifetime, and start a new life happily!”