Chapter 39: Donating to the Poor When in a Bad Mood? Big Brother Is Such a Kind Soul!

The news of Zheng Fei’s murder spread like wildfire.

Driven by relentless media coverage, information regarding the case flooded the internet’s trending lists overnight. The next day, tens of thousands of Zheng Fei’s fans woke up, checked their phones, and discovered their idol was dead. The world felt as if it had collapsed. They swarmed social media platforms, leaving a frenzy of comments:

"I don't want to live in a world without Brother!"
"Are the police just a bunch of useless fools? Why didn't they die in his place!"
"Lingchi the murderer! Give Brother justice!"
"Brother was so positive and sunny; he was my role model. If he’s gone, I can't go on living!"
"Wuwuwu! I’m sealing my heart and love away for Brother forever!"

The posts were a mixture of vitriol directed at Zhou Quan, yearning for the deceased, and accusations of police incompetence. Sitting before his computer, Zhou Quan watched the comments, his eyes filled with a pained, numb expression.

The fourth.

This was the fourth innocent person he had helped the Evil God kill. He didn’t feel angry at the vitriolic fans; on the contrary…

"Too weak!"
"I don't feel anything at all!"
"Curse me harder!"

His body felt bloated and tight, like a balloon filled with guilt, ready to burst into pieces at any moment. Yet, when he looked at these malicious comments, his sense of guilt dulled. The greater the malice, the better the effect; these comments were like spiritual morphine, numbing his conscience.

"This life," Zhou Quan muttered, "when will it ever end?"

He opened a charity website and clicked his mouse rapidly, donating to impoverished students. He gritted his teeth.

[Sudden act of benevolence: Helping an impoverished student you have never met is considered shameful by the Evil God.]
[Penalty: "Flogging" initiated.]
...
[Penalty: "Flogging" initiated.]
...
[Penalty: "Flogging" initiated.]

Zhou Quan donated frantically to the impoverished students, his inner guilt quietly dissipating amid the agony until the website finally flashed an "Insufficient Funds" notification. Only then did he stop, still feeling a lingering urge.

"Hah!"

He took a deep breath, feeling much better.

Knock, knock, knock.

Outside the room, someone knocked on the door. Zhou Quan rubbed his face, adjusted his expression, and said calmly, "Come in."

Click.

"Brother!" A cute little head peeked through the crack in the door. She looked up, her eyes incredibly clear.

Zhou Quan was pleasantly surprised. "Little ancestor, you're awake?"

Zhou Changle had been sleeping longer this time than ever before, which had worried him deeply. She walked into the room, lifting the hem of her snow-white dress, and ran to Zhou Quan’s side, her footsteps on the dark brown wooden floor sounding like the rhythmic, springy keys of a piano.

Zhou Quan scooped her up. Zhou Changle did not resist; she sat on his lap, wrapped her arms around his, and acted spoiled with complete dependence. "Brother, what were you doing just now?"

"I heard you clicking the mouse so hard!"

Her expression was innocent, as if she were a sheltered little princess in a kingdom.

Zhou Quan smiled. "Brother was in a bad mood, so I was donating money to the poor."

Feeling the warmth in his arms, his heart felt comforted.

"You donate to the poor when you’re in a bad mood?" Zhou Changle blinked her large, bright eyes. "Brother, you’re such a good person!"

"I..." Zhou Quan faltered.

*Am I a good person?* Thinking of the four victims in his notebook, his heart turned bitter, and he didn't know how to answer.

Just then, Zhou Changle looked down. She saw the ghost-faced, fanged tattoo on the back of Zhou Quan's right hand and shrank back in fear. "That’s so ugly. Why haven’t you washed it off yet, Brother?"

She had seen the pattern during their last meal and assumed it was a sticker. Zhou Quan instinctively covered his right hand. He hesitated before replying, "It won't wash off, but it’s just a pattern. It’s nothing."

Zhou Changle tilted her little face up. "I don't like it!"

Zhou Quan was silent for two seconds before compromising. "Brother will buy a glove to cover it up."

"Heehee, I love you the most, Brother!" Zhou Changle hugged his arm and shook it. "Oh, by the way, Brother. There are two new people in the house. Who are they?"

Zhou Changle’s eyes widened with curiosity. Zhou Quan’s eyes darted; he knew she was referring to Ni Hao and Li Muchi. As for Zhai Qingwu, that woman was still lazing in bed and hadn't even eaten breakfast.

He smiled. "They are new employees I hired to help me with work."

Zhou Quan glanced nonchalantly at the mailbox on his computer screen. After receiving the Bone-Eroding Heart-Piercing Curse, he had contacted the company’s legal department and had a lawyer draft a formal oath to ensure there were no loopholes. That document was in his inbox right now.

Zhou Changle tilted her head. "Is the handsome young brother one of them too?"

A handsome young brother? Zhou Quan paused, the image of Li Muchi appearing in his mind. Although Li Muchi was young, he had a nice face; he might really grow up to be a handsome man.

"Yes, he is," Zhou Quan replied.

Zhou Changle blinked and said impatiently, "I want to play house with him, but he said he’s very busy." She hugged Zhou Quan’s arm tighter, acting coquettish. "Brother, can you make him play with me?"

Zhou Quan’s smile stiffened. "You want to play with him?" He looked hesitant, an ominous feeling suddenly rising in his heart.

"It’s so hard to find someone my age in this house. Please, Brother, just let him play with me for a while!" She wrinkled her small nose, looking pitiful. "Please, I don't know when I’ll fall asleep again, and it’s so dark and lonely in my dreams!"

Zhou Quan met her gaze, held out for only a second, and then surrendered completely.

"Alright, Brother will let him play with you." Zhou Quan looked helpless, thinking he would need to add another clause to Li Muchi’s oath.

"I love you, Brother!" Zhou Changle broke into a joyful smile, stood up straight, and gave him a peck on the cheek.

Zhou Quan’s eyes were filled with doting affection. He raised his voice and called out, "Li Muchi, come here for a moment!"

Soon, Li Muchi walked into the room. He first glanced at Zhou Changle in Zhou Quan’s arms, then lowered his head. "Boss, did you call for me?"

Zhou Quan nodded slightly. He set Zhou Changle on the floor and instructed, "This is my sister. Play with her for a while, and don't hurt her."

"But I haven't finished my training for today," Li Muchi said, looking hesitant.

Zhou Quan waved his hand. "Training can wait. My sister only wakes up once every few days, so attend to her first."

Li Muchi was silent for two seconds before asking, "Will playing with her make you happy, Boss?"

Zhou Quan was slightly taken aback. "Yes. Go on."

"Understood, Boss." Li Muchi looked toward Zhou Changle.

She hopped over to his side, stuck out her tongue, and said, "Follow me! I’ll take you to play house!"

"I’ll be the mother! You be the..."

"Daughter!"

*What?* Zhou Quan was stunned. Li Muchi also looked bewildered and cast a pleading glance at Zhou Quan for help, but before Zhou Quan could respond, Zhou Changle grabbed his wrist and dragged him out of the room.

"Eat first! Play after you’ve eaten!" Zhou Quan shouted.

"Got it, Brother!" Zhou Changle’s voice echoed from outside, growing fainter as she left.

Zhou Quan gave a helpless laugh.

"Ni Hao, come here for a moment!"