Striving for Science C108 pt2

In the void, the man in gray robes watched the angry female ghosts in hell with satisfaction and chuckled.

Would the anger of women cause the entire Underworld to fall into chaos?

What would the world become when both the human realm and the Underworld were in chaos?

"I'm looking forward to it…"

***

He didn't have to go to work in the afternoon, so Shen Chang'an spent the entire afternoon with Dao Nian. In the evening, when he went to bed, the young and strong man couldn't resist playing the "stacking people" game with Dao Nian again.

After the game ended, he played lazy and refused to get up, letting Dao Nian carry him to the bathroom to change into his pajamas. He then fell fast asleep.

He didn't know how long he had been asleep, but he found himself in a vast and empty hall. Four men, dressed in red and green and wearing official hats, were seated in the hall. Their faces ranged from fierce to kind, but Shen Chang'an didn't sense any malice from them.

Upon seeing Shen Chang'an, the four men all stood up and bowed to him. Shen Chang'an took a step back and waved his hand to decline their courtesy.

Was he dreaming?

In a daze, Shen Chang'an remembered their surnames from their conversation.

Cui, Zhong, Lu, Wei...

These four surnames together... why did this setting sound so familiar?*

TN: the four main underworld judges 

"We have taken the liberty of inviting Mr. Shen here because we have a matter to ask of you." The green-robed man, who introduced himself as Wei, stepped forward with a kind smile. "There is a rule in the Underworld: If someone instigates a widow to remarry or acts as a matchmaker for a widow, they will be condemned to the Scissors Hell after death and suffer the punishment of having their ten fingers cut off. Mr. Shen, do you think there is anything wrong with this rule?"

Shen Chang'an frowned, it wasn't that something was wrong, it was that everything was wrong.

But before he could speak, the grand hall suddenly began to shake, and a beam of golden light shot straight into the hall.

What kind of little ghost dares to enter Chang'an's dream?

Accompanied by Dao Nian's stern shout, Shen Chang'an opened his eyes, seeing the bright lights in the room and Dao Nian's face close to his.

"Dao Nian?" Shen Chang'an rubbed his temples, "What happened?"

"It's okay, someone came uninvited and entered your dream." Dao Nian gently patted him, as if coaxing a child to sleep, "I've already sent them away."

"Oh." Shen Chang'an yawned, leaning his head against Dao Nian's neck, ready to continue sleeping.

A few seconds later, he suddenly opened his eyes and shook Dao Nian, "Those four people, are they the legendary judges?"

"Hmm." Dao Nian grabbed his hand, which was shaking back and forth, "Sleep, don't you have to go to the department to handle things tomorrow?"

"That's the legendary judge, this is the first time I've seen…"

"You're sleeping with the heavens, what's so special about a judge?" Dao Nian pressed the blanket over Shen Chang'an, pulling him into his arms. "Sleep, if you don't sleep now, you won't sleep tonight."

Shen Chang'an: "..."

Then let's go to sleep.

***

The next morning, Shen Chang'an arrived at the department early. As soon as he entered, he was met with three pairs of eyes, filled with awe and curiosity. He coughed, "What are you looking at? Do you think I'm even more handsome today?"

"Yes, yes." Chen Panpan nodded quickly, "You're the most handsome man in the world."

"Don't say this in front of your boyfriend." Shen Chang'an sat down on his seat. "I'm afraid he'll beat me to death."

"He wouldn't dare, don't worry." Chen Panpan took out a box of cookies from the drawer. "Here, these are cookies my mom made herself, try them."

"It's a coincidence, my mom also made some food for Chang'an." Ding Yang placed a bag of things in front of Shen Chang'an.

Xu Ze didn't say anything, but silently placed a bag in front of Shen Chang'an, containing a pair of matching men's scarves.

Looking at all these things on the table, the smile on Shen Chang'an's face faded: "You all know?"

The group, who had been pretending to be relaxed, couldn't smile anymore. They looked at Shen Chang'an with a tinge of sadness, their eyes filled with reluctance.

Chen Panpan opened her mouth, wanting to ask Shen Chang'an if he could stay, but thinking about yesterday's events, which had already spread throughout Wuming City and online, she closed her mouth again.

She knew that leaving Wuming City was the safest choice for Shen Chang'an.

Because righteous people can never imagine how rampant the villains can be.

"The official transfer order hasn't come down yet." Shen Chang'an gathered the things on the table. "You're sending me all this stuff so early, are you trying to fatten me up?"

"Yes, yes, let's fatten you up a bit, then no one will be able to recognize you." Chen Panpan laughed, "If you don't eat it, give it back to me."

"That won't do, Auntie's cooking is so good, it would be a loss not to eat it." Shen Chang'an quickly stuffed a piece of biscuit into his mouth, "Things that have been given away, how can you ask for them back?"

The atmosphere in the office became lively again, as if as long as they didn't mention parting, parting would never come.

An hour before lunch break, Chen Panpan, who had gone out to get a delivery, said at the door, "Chang'an, someone is looking for you."

Shen Chang'an went out to take a look, wasn't this the Wei Judge he had seen in his dream last night?

"Mr. Shen, good day." Judge Wei took the initiative to speak. "We were rude last night, we hope you won't mind."

Shen Chang'an: "..."

Last night, he almost got dragged by Dao Nian to exercise again because of them: "It's all trivial matters, don't take it to heart."

"Mr. Shen is truly magnanimous."

Shen Chang'an looked at Judge Wei with suspicion, feeling a little uneasy.

He's putting on a show of flattery right from the start, clearly he has something to ask for. But he's really not the type to curry favor with Heavenly Dao.

Did he come to the wrong person? Shen Chang'an has no other flaws, just a bit of a protective streak.