[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner":3,"chapter-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-3":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm Not Crazy—This Is the Emperor's Banner",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2291343,4480,"Chapter 3: Mom","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-3",3,"\u003Cp>“Let’s go…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan turned off his computer and rose slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little one beside him was already impatient, wiggling her tiny bottom nonstop, as if it could speed things up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, don’t rush—you’ll make it in time,” Shen Siyuan smiled to reassure her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the Finance Department was at the very back of the office, whether taking the stairs or the elevator, one had to pass right in front of their Operations team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in internet companies, partitions between departments were all large floor-to-ceiling glass panels, so everything was clearly visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan glanced back at the empty office—everyone had already left—and switched off the lights; the faint blue glow of several mainframes became clearly visible, indicating they were still on, either running idle tasks or downloading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t care, just shut the door. Opposite, the Programming Department remained brightly lit, occasional bursts of noise echoing—this wasn’t work discussion, but group gaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little one turned to walk inside, heading to find her mother, but Shen Siyuan grabbed her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll wait by the elevator. She won’t jump out the window.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remark seemed to amuse her; she giggled uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the little one casually slip her small hand into his, Shen Siyuan smiled and asked, “What’s your name? How old are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Dou Dou. I’m three.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The child still spoke unclearly—“three” came out as “shan shui.” Shen Siyuan paused a moment before understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your nickname’s Dou Dou. What’s your full name… your real name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My real name… my real name… it’s Tao Hongdou. Am I awesome?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, she clenched her tiny fist, beaming with an expression that screamed, “Praise me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan didn’t praise her outright, but reached out and gently stroked her head. Instantly, she curled up like a kitten, eyes half-closed, rubbing her cheek against his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Children are no different from pets—they love being held, being touched…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This child had been gone over two years; no one had touched her like this in a long time. Even at night, when she secretly slipped into her parents’ arms, they couldn’t see or feel her, so there was no physical sensation—thus, she was utterly delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two reached the elevator entrance; the rush hour had passed, and few people remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan waited quietly. Dou Dou grew impatient, running back and forth several times, until finally she saw her mother emerge slowly, carrying a bag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou followed close behind, reaching out to grab her mother’s hand—but each attempt failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, she turned to Shen Siyuan, her face filled with grievance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guo Guo…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright… alright… I’ll let her see you soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenxin spotted Shen Siyuan by the elevator door, glanced at him briefly, and offered no greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they worked at the same company with hundreds of people, not everyone knew each other—especially since they weren’t in the same department, with no real interaction, so no one would casually say hello.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan also glanced at Jiang Wenxin—a woman in her early thirties, very pale-skinned, dressed in a red dress that made her skin glow even whiter. She wasn’t tall, but her figure was full and graceful, her features delicate, her aura refined—clearly a wealthy lady raised in comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet her complexion seemed poor; even thick foundation couldn’t hide her exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou bounced beside her, trying desperately to catch her mother’s attention—but her mother ignored her, as always.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou shot Shen Siyuan a suspicious sideways glance, as if to say, “Are you lying to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan was amused by her expression and whispered, “Wait a little longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou stared at him, then sighed, obediently standing to the side, glancing up alternately between her mother and Shen Siyuan, looking exceptionally well-behaved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though quiet, Shen Siyuan’s voice caught Jiang Wenxin’s attention; she glanced at him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan hadn’t expected her to look over, so he offered a slight smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenxin was momentarily stunned—she suddenly realized this young man’s eyes were extraordinarily beautiful, as if possessing a magic that could swallow souls, deep and distant like a still, dark pool…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Shen Siyuan turned his gaze away, and Jiang Wenxin snapped back to herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan himself hadn’t noticed any abnormality in his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a rotten boat has three inches of nail—the Nine Youmingjun  was hailed as the strongest Demon Lord in the Great Wasteland in a thousand years, having escaped the Nine Heavens’ Thunder Tribulation and the orthodox sects’ encirclement. Even as a mere fragment of a soul, that proved his might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the afternoon passed and he gradually integrated and adapted, Shen Siyuan unconsciously emitted subtle anomalies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, the elevator arrived. Shen Siyuan stepped in first, pressed the first floor, and walked to the far back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenxin didn’t think twice; she entered, pressed B3—she’d driven to work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Shen Siyuan flipped his palm, and the Ten Thousand Souls Banner appeared in his hand. Recalling the hand seals, a wisp of dark light rose from the tattered banner, like a spirit serpent, sliding along his fingertip to land on Jiang Wenxin’s shoulder, then slipping down her nape and vanishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou stood beside them, watching the scene with wide-eyed wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still zoning out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan gestured to Dou Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he flicked his finger—another wisp of dark light landed on Dou Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenxin had excellent hearing; she’d heard Shen Siyuan’s “muttering” even outside the elevator, let alone inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She thought: Such a nice young man—why is he mentally unwell? Curious, she wanted to turn around and look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just then, she felt her hand being pulled—and instantly flew into rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She thought: Not only mentally unstable, but a pervert too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She whirled around, ready to yank her hand free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She froze, her face turning deathly pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For before her stood the tiny figure—the one she’d longed for in every dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“D…Dou Dou?” Jiang Wenxin stammered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hee-hee~ Mommy, you can see me at last!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou beamed, but as she smiled, her lips trembled—she wanted to cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she burst into loud sobs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her cry, Jiang Wenxin reflexively picked her up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dou Dou, don’t cry~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dou Dou, be good~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve turned into a little spotted cat~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the phrases she’d often used to soothe Dou Dou. Though countless questions swirled in her mind, seeing her daughter’s sorrow shattered her heart into pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mommy can see me—I’m so happy, but… but I just want to cry,” Dou Dou whimpered, lips quivering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t cry… don’t cry…” Jiang Wenxin wiped her tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the tears vanished instantly on her palm—no dampness, no trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coupled with Dou Dou’s earlier words, Jiang Wenxin now had a hunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she felt no fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s a saying: Every ghost you fear is someone else’s dearly missed soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou was the soul she’d longed for—how could she fear meeting her again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She held her daughter tighter, afraid she’d vanish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elevator reached the first floor—ding. The doors opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, it was after work hours; no one waited outside. Even if someone had been there, they’d only think Jiang Wenxin was crazy—and what did that have to do with Shen Siyuan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan walked straight past the two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou, still softly sobbing, waved her tiny hand and sniffled, “Guo Guo, goodbye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goodbye~” Shen Siyuan waved back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenxin suddenly understood something—she opened her mouth to speak, but the elevator doors closed and began descending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan stepped out of the elevator and walked straight to the building’s exterior—then froze in shock at what he saw.\u003C\u002Fp>",1258,"2026-06-20T03:53:08.657Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8fbd27ebf3be26032d3a148bdfe5b942e3bdf863cb1dde5da5d9e3fd7708d7f9","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-4","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-2",623,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-cover.jpg"]