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  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! 75

    Chapter 75: Exclusive Nun

    Luo Yuxi walked down the street, her petite form attracting the attention of the nuns around her. Even as a loli, her charm was undeniable.

    “Finally done. I didn’t expect branding 40 fairies would take so long…”

    Luo Yuxi rubbed her numb fingers, surprised that she had done something so villainous. Looking at the Summoning skill, although she didn’t know its combat effectiveness, being able to summon fairies at will was quite convenient.

    “Wait, if I can summon fairies, why not use them to gather information?!”

    Fairies were small and good at hiding. They might not be ideal for combat, but they were perfect for reconnaissance.

    [Summoning Divine Art: Ruler of the Fairies]

    “I’ll have them gather information on the bishops. I should be able to find a clue about Yun Keke and Yu Keke’s mother~”

    A magic circle appeared on Luo Yuxi’s palm, and a delicate fairy emerged, looking around in confusion, then at Luo Yuxi, her legs going weak as she fell onto Luo Yuxi’s hand, her eyes filled with fear.

    “M-Master, what are your orders…!”

    “Really, am I that scary? I was just curious about your taste…”

    While subduing the fairies, Luo Yuxi, recalling the “fairy tea” scene from the game, had a sudden whim. If it’s so delicious, what does it taste like to lick one directly? She had then proceeded to… taste… a fairy.

    “P-Please don’t eat me, Master!”

    “She must be traumatized by that scene…”

    Luo Yuxi waved her hand, dismissing the fairy after giving her the information-gathering task. Looking at the apartment, she realized a more pressing problem.

    “How do I explain where I was last night…?”

    Luo Yuxi sighed. In her current loli form, not only was she cute, but her voice had also become childish, making her seem even more vulnerable. If she went back now, she would probably be “educated” in bed.

    “Forget it, I’ve already been gone for a night, a few more days won’t make a difference~”

    Luo Yuxi turned towards the Church, but a figure blocked her path. Yuehua Fengyun, hands on her hips, looked at her curiously.

    “Why do you look like this?”

    “I’ve been exposed so quickly? Even in this loli form, she still recognized me?”

    Luo Yuxi had thought Yuehua Fengyun hadn’t recognized her and was prepared to play along, but it seemed her identity was known.

    “It wasn’t certain at first, but I smelled your familiar scent…”

    Yuehua Fengyun approached, looking at the pink-haired loli. She still looked the same, but somehow even cuter today.

    “Why do I want to hug her and ravage her…?”

    Yuehua Fengyun looked away, her desire intensifying as she looked at the pouting loli. Luo Yuxi, unaware of the effect her loli form had, still thought her attractiveness had decreased without her usual assets. She even unconsciously struck a cute pose.

    “Since you’ve found me, what’s the matter? I have important things to do, like chatting with a cute girl~”

    Luo Yuxi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Yuehua Fengyun couldn’t resist pinching her soft cheek. Even she was surprised by her own impulsive action. Luo Yuxi, oblivious, swatted her hand away.

    “Stop it! What if it gets swollen?!”

    Yuehua Fengyun snapped back to reality and coughed, turning and walking towards the cathedral. Luo Yuxi, confused, followed.

    “Where is she taking me? It’s not some dangerous mission, is it…?”

    Luo Yuxi muttered to herself, following the silent Yuehua Fengyun. Being a bishop is nice, even the nuns bow to you. They arrived at a room.

    “What is this place?”

    “This is where troubled souls come for self-reflection. There are over 100 of these rooms, this is just one of them…”

    “Why did you bring me here, Bishop? I don’t think I need self-reflection. Well, maybe a little…”

    Luo Yuxi looked around and saw a girl kneeling before the Goddess statue. She recognized her as Lola, the Saintess candidate she had fought a few days ago.

    “Why is she here? Why did she bring me here?”

    Luo Yuxi looked at Lola, who no longer had her arrogant demeanor, her eyes closed as if in a trance. Yuehua Fengyun coughed.

    “Bishop…”

    Lola turned around. Luo Yuxi remembered her rebellious eyes and casual attire from their first meeting. Now, she looked like a lifeless doll in a plain nun’s habit, her eyes empty.

    “From today onwards, she’s your exclusive nun. She will obey your commands unconditionally…”

    “Why is she like this? She seems so pitiful.”

    Luo Yuxi remembered how Lola’s Spatial Severance had given her a hard time, and now she was completely unresponsive. Yuehua Fengyun unbuttoned Lola’s habit, revealing a blood-red mark on her collarbone.

    “Originally, defeated Saintess candidates were branded with a blood oath, forcing them to obey the Saintess. But it was abolished later because it was considered inhumane…”

    Yuehua Fengyun continued to unbutton Lola’s habit. To Luo Yuxi’s shock, the mark extended down to Lola’s chest, looking incredibly seductive. Luo Yuxi had never heard of a blood oath in the game.

    “Then why…?”

    “She didn’t stop attacking even after the battle was over. To prevent betrayal, this is how the Church deals with her…”

    Yuehua Fengyun’s tone was indifferent, as if discussing the weather. Luo Yuxi was about to say something when Yuehua Fengyun grabbed her hand, a sharp pain on her fingertip as a blade cut through her skin, blood dripping onto the floor.

    “Now for the final step, the blood oath.”

    Yuehua Fengyun explained calmly. Luo Yuxi watched in shock as Lola, like a puppet, lifted Luo Yuxi’s bleeding finger and sucked on the wound. The mark on Lola’s body glowed red.

    “It’s done. You can command her now, she won’t resist…”

    Luo Yuxi looked at Lola, who had gone from a Saintess candidate trying to kill her to her exclusive nun. It had happened so fast.

    “Is this mark also part of a divine art…?”

    Yuehua Fengyun didn’t answer, just nodded after a moment of hesitation. Luo Yuxi wondered if that blood-red mark was truly divine. Just then, the door burst open.

    “La la la~ It seems you’re done~”

    Lika, who had taken Luo Yuxi to get her equipment, entered the room and habitually reached out to touch Luo Yuxi’s face. However, her hand passed right through her.

    “Huh? Strange, the voice is right here…?”

    “A little lower…”

    Luo Yuxi, seeing Lika groping above her head, realized she was still in her loli form. Lika, hearing her, lowered her hand and found the familiar texture she had been seeking.

    “Oh my, what happened? Why are you so short~?”

    “Well, due to some unforeseen circumstances…”

    Luo Yuxi didn’t want to explain that she had been transformed by a fairy witch. After all, Bertha was now “hers,” revealing her existence wouldn’t be beneficial.

    “Wait… instead of searching for the protagonist and the twins’ mother, I can use Lika…”

    Luo Yuxi smiled, then was startled by her own thought. She, who had always wanted to slack off, was now thinking of using others.

    “I’m not myself anymore…”

    Author:

    What happens to a nun captured by a witch, as shown below:

    (Praying to the Goddess while clutching a cross, then having her faith shattered by a witch and turned into a toy).

  • The Villainous Older Sister Who Loves Her Younger Sister Aims for the Guillotine 58

    58: Piled-Up Trust

    A small figure pushed open the door and entered the inn attached to the ranch.

    Their hair was silver. They wore a dirty coat and a casquette pulled low, obscuring their face.

    The knees of their trousers were patched, one even torn, revealing skin beneath. A rather shabby appearance.

    “Excuse me, but we don’t accommodate walk-ins. Do you have a referral?”

    The innkeeper, alone at the reception counter, politely asked the ‘boy’ to leave, seeing no reservation and noting their attire.

    The ‘boy’ chuckled softly.

    “—I’m not a ‘walk-in.’”

    “…Excuse me?”

    The figure removed their hat, revealing beautiful, moonlight-silver hair tied back in a bun.

    This was clearly not the shabby—almost “back alley”—boy the innkeeper had imagined.

    His eyes widened, and he straightened up.

    “Lady Adelheid…? M-my apologies!”

    “No, it’s fine. It’s good to know my disguise skills haven’t gotten rusty.”

    She—Adelheid von Vanderwaals—smiled, and the innkeeper inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

    The simple act of removing her hat made it impossible to understand why he had mistaken her for a vagrant just moments ago.

    Come to think of it, he had seen glimpses of her silver hair.

    Even so, perhaps it was her clothing, or the aura she projected… everything about her had screamed back-alley dweller.

    But now, regardless of her attire, she looked every bit the young head of a powerful ducal family.

    Adelheid put her hat back on, concealing her hair, and approached the counter, facing the innkeeper.

    “I have some business here. I came on a rented horse, so I’d like you to take care of it. I won’t be staying, but I’ll need a room and a bath. And could you pack me a lunch, something I can eat outside?”

    “Certainly. Right away.”

    He bowed respectfully, mentally repeating her requests—no stay, room, bath, packed lunch—and committing them to memory.

    Then, she took a small leather pouch from her pocket and emptied its contents into her palm.

    While it resembled a coin purse, it was probably a divided pouch for making specific payments smoothly, different from a regular wallet.

    The innkeeper was slightly surprised by this display of commoner-like behavior, considering he had never seen the ducal lady—no, the head of the family—pay for anything herself.

    However, the color and the clinking sound of the coins she produced were anything but common… they were all gold.

    “By the way, congratulations on your youngest daughter’s engagement.”

    “Ah… yes. You’re well-informed.”

    He nodded.

    “Allow me to offer my congratulations. I heard her fiancé is much younger. She waited for him to come of age, didn’t she? He seems like a sincere young man.”

    “Thank you. I was against it at first, but after meeting him, I realized he was quite mature for his age… It’s a relief to have her settled.”

    She placed the gold coins from her palm onto the polished wooden counter.

    “Um… is this…? There’s still a considerable balance remaining in the Vanderwaals’ account…”

    Large clients like the Vanderwaals and the Eustasia Knights paid a lump sum in advance. The inn would deduct charges from that, and when the balance ran low, they would contact the client’s accountant for replenishment.

    This saved the clients the trouble of paying for each transaction and allowed the inn to manage its finances smoothly.

    However, it also created opportunities for the inn to commit fraud, and for clients to skip out on payments.

    ――Of course, clients who would tolerate unfair charges didn’t enter into such agreements with nobles or organizations.

    Conversely, attempting to evade payment would not only violate kingdom law but also expose a weakness to political rivals… The few instances of attempted fraud had invariably resulted in the downfall or effective absorption of the offending family.

    “It’s a congratulatory gift.”

    A slender, white, delicate finger picked up a gold coin and placed it back on the counter.

    Then another, stacking it on top of the first.

    “Speaking of which, you spared no expense on the wedding dress.”

    A third gold coin was added to the stack.

    “Well… she’s my precious daughter, so…”

    “I envy your daughter.”

    Chuckling, she added a fourth gold coin.

    The innkeeper recalled her history: how she had lost her mother at a young age, and then her father suddenly due to illness, becoming the head of the ducal family.

    He remembered her as a charming, fairy-like child, visiting the ranch frequently and learning to ride from her governess… Ciel. The two of them, riding together, looked like true sisters.

    ――However, seeing her riding bareback and even practicing mounted archery, he had wondered what she was aiming for.

    Working in hospitality, you met a lot of people.

    And some guests left a lasting impression.

    The former fairy picked up a fifth gold coin.

    “I hear the shop you commissioned is quite reputable.”

    “Yes. She’s a foreign tailor, but very skilled. I hear she’s the exclusive tailor for a certain noble family… The fact that she’s a woman was also a deciding factor.”

    While he understood it was simply a tailor’s job, as a father, he was still hesitant to have a strange man touch his daughter’s body.

    While the female tailor’s touch seemed a bit strong, and his daughter had been flustered, he doubted she would do anything inappropriate with the father present.

    Besides, even the initial fitting was clearly top-notch work, impressive even to him, with his discerning eye, accustomed to dealing with nobles.

    The fifth gold coin was placed on the stack.

    “A pure white dress… the lace will look beautiful.”

    “Yes.”

    She nodded with a smile.

    “It cost fifty gold coins, didn’t it?”

    “Yes…”

    She nodded with a smile.

    And then she froze.

    “…Lady Adelheid.”

    He finally managed to speak, and she laughed, adding a sixth gold coin to the stack.

    “Yes?”

    “…How did you… know the price of the dress…?”

    He hadn’t told anyone.

    No, it must have been the design.

    While pure white was a standard color for wedding dresses, he hadn’t told anyone about the extensive use of lace. That was meant to be a surprise on the day.

    And certainly not the price.

    He hadn’t told anyone, as he didn’t want to be seen as the kind of vulgar person who bragged about how much they spent.

    While he had dismissed the lace as a common detail, the fact that she had guessed the exact price suggested she was certain.

    She chuckled softly.

    Like a fairy—the kind that played tricks on people.

    The tailor he had commissioned for his youngest daughter’s dress was from a country famous for its fairy tales—stories of fairies sometimes helping people, sometimes leading them astray.

    The image of a tiny, beautiful girl with butterfly wings was only one aspect of fairies.

    They were different.

    Creatures that operated on a different logic than humans.

    A seventh gold coin was added to the stack.

    She leaned on the counter, clasped her hands, and smiled.

    “Geckos are everywhere.”

    Yes, they were.

    They were at the ranch, and they weren’t uncommon in town either.

    The people of Eustasia were practical and generally tolerant of geckos. They were considered beneficial creatures, as they ate insects.

    However, some people disliked them, and it wasn’t unusual for them to be chased out of houses.

    This inn also had guests who disliked geckos, so they tried to remove them from the premises.

    He felt like he had encountered a ‘wall lizard’ indoors.

    As if a pair of ever-watchful black eyes were staring at him.

    The innkeeper cautiously looked up and met her gaze—deep blue eyes, like a clear yet bottomless lake.

    She toyed with an eighth gold coin and spoke.

    “I have a request.”

    “…Yes. Please, tell me what you need.”

    There was no other answer.

    The Vanderwaals were valued customers.

    They had been patrons since the previous generation, and both the family members and their servants were well-mannered, paid well, and never caused any trouble.

    He had never been subjected to any unreasonable demands.

    He had even thought that the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals” were just a nasty rumor…

    And yet, now, with summer just around the corner, a chill ran down his spine.

    The eighth gold coin was added to the stack.

    Two more remained.

    “First, as a matter of course, I ask for your discretion… I’m here incognito. You understand?”

    “Yes, of course.”

    He nodded respectfully.

    “Especially… make sure my sister, Leticia, who has been a frequent visitor recently, doesn’t hear about this.”

    “Yes, ma’am.”

    He hung on her every word, his entire body straining to listen, nodding emphatically to show he was paying attention.

    “Keep this from the ‘Vanderwaals family’ as well.”

    “E-excuse me? …Yes, understood.”

    He almost asked her to repeat herself, then quickly corrected himself.

    “Don’t record any of this. The payment… is here.”

    She gestured to the neatly stacked tower of gold coins.

    It was clearly excessive for a single day’s use. The innkeeper braced himself for the coming request… the ‘favor’ she was about to ask, taking it as a silencing fee.

    She added a ninth gold coin to the tower and spoke.

    “I need to borrow a shovel and a bucket.”

    “…Excuse me? I… don’t quite understand…”

    A shovel. A bucket.

    What kind of code was this?

    Sensing his confusion, Adelheid clarified in a calm tone,

    “Take it literally. A shovel for digging, and a bucket for carrying water.”

    “Of course, we can provide those immediately. This is a ranch, after all.”

    As he responded, the innkeeper mentally reviewed his inventory, deciding to provide a brand new set to avoid any offense.

    “And then…?”

    She held the tenth gold coin in her hand and blinked.

    “That’s it.”

    “Huh?”

    ――He didn’t understand.

    A shovel. Was she going to bury a body? —No, even if he was being paid for his silence, no one would be foolish enough to borrow tools for such a purpose here.

    And what about the bucket? Was she planning to plant trees and water them?

    Seeing his bewilderment, Adelheid, who had been acting so confidently, chuckled self-deprecatingly.

    “…Perhaps it’s an occupational hazard… that I can’t feel at ease unless I do this, even with someone I’m familiar with.”

    She moved away from the counter, and the sunlight from the window, no longer obstructed, illuminated the tower of nine gold coins, making them gleam.

    “…But why such a large sum…?”

    ――Intimidation and bribery.

    Intimidation alone should have been enough.

    …Especially for such a… trivial request.

    Perhaps this was the only way ‘Adelheid von Vanderwaals’ could operate.

    However, he still felt the amount was excessive, and he inwardly puzzled over it.

    It might not be a significant sum for a noble, but the ‘request’ itself was… surprisingly… mundane.

    “Didn’t I tell you?”

    She picked up the tenth gold coin and gently placed it on top of the stack, completing the golden tower.

    As she shifted her position slightly, perhaps coincidentally, the sunlight caught her eyes, and she squinted.

    Her face was momentarily cast in shadow by the backlighting.

    Even so, he could tell from her voice that she was smiling.

    “It’s a congratulatory gift.”

    ――Come to think of it, she and her governess, Ciel, had once helped his youngest daughter, still a child then, learn how to care for horses.

    He had seen them many times since then.

    His youngest daughter, entrusted with the care of Lillie, the prized horse gifted by the previous head of the Vanderwaals, had been so enthusiastic.

    While his eldest daughter had married early and his second daughter helped with the family ranch and inn, Adelheid had only been around for a short time.

    Aside from the innkeeper himself, his youngest daughter was probably the one most familiar with her.

    “…Your generosity is greatly appreciated.”

    Out of respect, not fear, the innkeeper bowed deeply.

    Then, he carefully picked up the tower of gold coins, almost reluctant to dismantle it, and quickly stored it in the safe.

    “Allow me to show you the way.”

    He came out from behind the counter and led the way.

    She followed, her attire boyish, yet her movements graceful.

    “A shovel and a bucket, you said. Leave everything else to me.”

    “Yes.”

    The Vanderwaals had a reservation for tomorrow. Two of their horses were to be prepared…

    And—the First Prince, the Knight Commander, and the Chief Physician had also reserved or requested horses…

    A distinguished group.

    While she wasn’t staying and didn’t plan to enter the ranch itself, he had been informed that the Eustasia Knights would be securing the perimeter.

    Something was going to happen tomorrow.

    Today’s preparations were likely for that.

    He honestly had no idea what she was planning.

    But if it was something she was doing…

    …no matter how ‘unconventional’ it seemed…

    He felt it was worth cooperating.

  • Captivating Beauty 57p1

    Chapter 57 p1

    Hundreds.

    A chill ran down Xu Jinnan’s spine.

    “Even if it doesn’t kill you, it can cause brain damage and psychosis,” Professor Qin said gravely. “And that’s the best-case scenario.” The last time, with Yin Xue’s suicide attempt, she had only inhaled a trace amount from the bandages, and it had still affected her for days. And that had been a diluted version.

    “Miss Xu, this is a controlled substance. If it doesn’t belong to you, you should report this to the police,” he said seriously.

    Xu Jinnan understood. This amount was enough to warrant a serious investigation.

    “It’s not mine, and it’s not convenient to involve the police right now,” she said, walking over to the sink and washing her hands. “Professor Qin, I’ll take care of this and have it destroyed. Just pretend you never saw it.” She lowered her voice. “I’ll be honest with you. This is a Xu family matter. No matter the outcome, I promise you won’t be implicated.”

    A cool breeze drifted in through the open window, the dripping faucet slowing to a stop.

    “I understand,” Professor Qin said. “Consider this matter closed.” He wasn’t foolish.

    Xu Jinnan had made it clear this was a family matter.

    Destroying the evidence and reporting it to the police would only antagonize the Xu family, with no benefit to him.

    Besides, after these past few months, he had grown to trust Xu Jinnan.

    —

    Xu Jinnan sat in the driver’s seat, the cold sweat that had earlier beaded on her forehead now evaporated.

    Her white Bentley glided along the asphalt road, the golden leaves of the French plane trees lining the streets, their vibrant yellow a stark contrast to the darkening sky, the earlier sunshine now obscured by gathering clouds.

    Like the secrets hidden within the Xu family.

    She mentally reviewed the recent events, realizing that despite overcoming each crisis, she hadn’t gotten any closer to the truth.

    Who was helping Yin Xue?

    And what was the connection between that person and the drug the original Xu Jinnan had hidden?

    A sense of unease settled over her. Besides the Xu family, there might be others… watching her.

    She had no leads, no answers.

    Only Qucheng.

    She had to finalize the Qucheng trip soon; she couldn’t keep postponing it.

    She didn’t know what other dangers awaited her.

    As she parked, unbuckling her seatbelt, she received a WeChat message from Tong Jia.

    Two weeks had passed since the Qiao Rui incident, and Tong Jia seemed to have recovered, her usual cheerful demeanor masking any lingering pain.

    Tong Jia: [Sis, check Weibo!]

    Xu Jinnan: [?]

    Tong Jia: [You’ll regret it if you don’t!]

    Xu Jinnan was easily swayed by such challenges. Her work WeChat was constantly buzzing with notifications, so she usually kept Weibo on silent.

    As she opened the app, the notification count continued to climb, along with her follower count.

    Then, her gaze stopped.

    Her private messages were restricted to followers only, and a new name had appeared on the list – Shen Shu.

    Shen Shu: [Thank you.]

    Shen Shu had actually followed her?

    Not only that, but she had also liked Xu Jinnan’s repost of her thank-you message to her fans.

    Xu Jinnan’s earlier gloom lifted, a smile playing on her lips. So this is the joy of fandom.

    Another message, from ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [Ahhh!!! Sis! You’re my savior!]

    ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [Shu Shu only follows five people, and you’re one of them!!!]

    ShuShu’sNumberOneFan: [I’m going to cling to your thigh for the rest of my life! Please let me bask in your glory!]

    RichSisterWithStamina: [My pleasure.]

    Xu Jinnan chuckled, then, feeling a surge of curiosity, opened the fan group chat.

    How did you do it?!

    Can you buy me an LED screen too? I want to be followed by Shu Shu!

    Don’t be ridiculous. You’re a moderator. You can do it yourself.

    I think Xia Chun is also a fan now. She likes every single one of Shu Shu’s posts.

    It’s not just because of the LED screen. Jia-jie said Boss Lady has secured several sponsorships and endorsements for Shu Shu, even negotiated some of them personally. She’s practically Shu Shu’s second agent.

    I want to see what Boss Lady looks like~

    Slightly off-topic, but Boss Lady is a CP fan! Such a charming persona~

    Xu Jinnan scrolled through the messages, her head resting against the headrest, then paused, rereading the comment about Xia Chun.

    A strange thought crossed her mind.

    —

    It was 1 p.m. when Xu Jinnan finished her meeting.

    As she left her office, she heard her employees discussing a film crew.

    “Which production?”

    “I don’t know. They’re keeping it a secret, probably to avoid crowds.”

    “But people will find out eventually, won’t they?”

    “The fewer people who know, the better. The company said we shouldn’t disturb them.”

    Xu Jinnan paused, a thought crossing her mind. Shen Shu had finished filming her outdoor scenes today and would be at the office building tomorrow.

    But not in this area.

    As she was leaving the restroom, she overheard a conversation. “Holy shit, the set for Full Dress collapsed… Someone’s trapped underneath.”

    Xu Jinnan’s blood ran cold. She whirled around. “Which Full Dress?”

    The employee, startled by her intensity, stammered, “The… the…”

    Before she could finish, Xu Jinnan had already rushed away.

    Which Full Dress? There was only one.

    She ran to her office, grabbing her phone. It was better to call Shen Shu directly.

    They usually communicated through WeChat, her recent call log showing only a few calls from the past two days, but in this moment of panic, her patience vanished.

    She found Shen Shu’s number and dialed it.

    After waiting for over ten seconds with no answer, she tapped her fingers impatiently on the desk, her stomach clenching.

    She hung up and called Tong Jia, who also didn’t answer the first time. After another long wait, she frowned, a sense of unease settling over her.

    “Hello? CEO Xu?”

    “Where’s Shen Shu?” she asked without preamble.

    “You saw the news, didn’t you? Don’t worry, she’s fine. She wasn’t hurt… I’ll explain later. We’re at the hospital,” Tong Jia replied.

    If she wasn’t hurt, why are they at the hospital? She would have to see Shen Shu to be sure.

    “Which hospital?”

    Tong Jia gave her the address. It was the one funded by the Xu family.

    —

    Xu Jinnan’s face was expressionless as she drove, her foot heavy on the accelerator. She knew Shen Shu was probably fine; Tong Jia would have called her immediately if anything serious had happened.

    But she still wanted to see her as soon as possible.

    To confirm with her own eyes that she was safe.

    At the hospital, she rushed towards the emergency room, where a crowd of fans and reporters were being held back by security.

    Most of them were Xia Chun’s fans, her agent talking to them.

    To avoid the crowd, Xu Jinnan took the staff entrance.

    “You’re here already?” Tong Jia asked, holding a bag of medication, a tube of ointment visible inside.

    Xu Jinnan frowned. “I thought she wasn’t hurt.”

    “Don’t worry, it’s not for Shu Shu. It’s for Xia Chun. If she hadn’t reacted quickly and pulled Shu Shu out of the way, the scaffolding would have fallen on her. She helped us, so I’m just running errands for her,” Tong Jia explained.

    Xu Jinnan relaxed slightly. “Where is she?”

    “Xinxin is with her, thanking Xia Chun. She’s really fine. Don’t worry,” Tong Jia reassured her, leading her towards the elevators. Due to their connections, they had been given a private room.

    The hospital was quiet, with few patients.

    “She’s fine. The X-rays were normal. Just a few scrapes, but Xia Chun’s agency is probably making a big deal out of it for publicity,” Tong Jia said, pointing towards a room. “But Xia Chun is really nice. I’m starting to become a fan.”

    Xu Jinnan nodded, and they reached the room. Tong Jia opened the door.

    “I can’t forget you,” Xia Chun’s voice said, just as the door opened.

    Everyone froze.

    Xu Jinnan and Tong Jia stood at the doorway, Xia Chun sitting on the edge of the bed, Shen Shu standing a few feet away.

    Xu Jinnan’s eyes met Shen Shu’s.

    Tong Jia coughed awkwardly, glancing at Xu Jinnan’s expression. “Xia Chun, thank you so much! Shu Shu’s family is so grateful!” she said, her tone overly cheerful.

    They all knew who Xu Jinnan was, and Tong Jia’s emphasis on “family” was a deliberate attempt to clarify their relationship.

    Xu Jinnan’s expression softened slightly as she turned to Xia Chun, forcing a smile. “Yes, thank you, Xia Chun. Are you hurt?”

    “I’m fine. It’s nothing. You should still take Ah Shu for a CT scan, just to be safe,” Xia Chun replied.

    “No need. I’m fine,” Shen Shu said, walking over to Xu Jinnan. She turned to Tong Jia. “Jia Jia, Xia Chun’s agent isn’t here yet, and Xinxin went to get some water. Can you stay with her for a bit?”

    “Sure, you two lovebirds chat,” Tong Jia said, regretting her impulsive entrance.

    She had assumed Xia Chun simply admired Shen Shu. What was with this talk of past relationships?

    And the atmosphere between Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu seemed strange, almost tense. Were they about to have a fight?

    Before leaving, Xu Jinnan had intended to thank Xia Chun again for helping Shen Shu, but she lost her desire to do so.

    Outside the room, she looked down at Shen Shu, her voice low and concerned. “Are you sure you’re okay? Should we get a check-up?”

    “I’m fine. Xia Chun pulled me out of the way,” Shen Shu replied, shaking her head.

    “Good.” Xu Jinnan nodded. “What happened? How can a film set just collapse?”

    Just as Shen Shu was about to explain, someone approached, and Xu Jinnan instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her from their gaze.

    As they stood close together, the scent of disinfectant was replaced by Shen Shu’s familiar fragrance.

    Shen Shu, still slightly shaken from the incident, felt a sense of calm now, standing beside Xu Jinnan.

    She was wearing heels, while Xu Jinnan was in flat sneakers.

    She looked up at Xu Jinnan’s face, her light brown hair slightly tousled, as if ruffled by the wind.

    Her gaze lingered on a stray strand of hair.

    “I don’t know. Maybe they didn’t secure the set properly… Did you see it on Weibo?” she asked.

    “Something like that,” Xu Jinnan replied vaguely.

    A silence fell between them.

    “Don’t you have anything else to ask me?” Shen Shu asked.

    Xu Jinnan looked at her. Even she, oblivious as she could be sometimes, understood the meaning behind Xia Chun’s words.

    It wasn’t just one-sided affection.

    Xia Chun and Shen Shu had a past. Perhaps.

    After all, she hadn’t read the entire novel. She lacked conviction.

    Did you two know each other before? She wanted to ask.

    She hesitated, then asked softly, “I do have a question.”

    Just then, Xinxin approached with a water pitcher, and Xu Jinnan said, “Let’s talk about it later, at home.”

    Xinxin greeted them cheerfully.

    Seeing that Shen Shu was truly unharmed, Xu Jinnan said, “Why don’t you go back inside? I have to go back to the office.”

    “What am I supposed to be doing?” Shen Shu asked, the slight upward inflection in her voice making it sound more like a statement than a question.

    Xu Jinnan glanced at Xia Chun’s room, smiling faintly. “Isn’t Xia Chun injured? And there are all those fans outside. Her agency wants to use this for publicity, and Tong Jia asked you to stay and show your support.”

    Shen Shu didn’t reply, looking down for a moment, then said calmly, “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

    “Isn’t that what Tong Jia wanted?”

    “Yes,” Shen Shu said. “You can go now.”

    Xu Jinnan sensed the awkwardness in her tone. “What time will you be home?”

    “I don’t know. When I’m done.”

    Xu Jinnan: “…” Why the hesitation?

    —

    A few minutes after Xu Jinnan left, Xia Chun’s agent returned, and Tong Jia immediately pulled Shen Shu aside.

    “Shu Shu, what’s going on between you and Xia Chun? No, we’ll discuss this later,” she said, then, lowering her voice, asked, “Is CEO Xu angry?”

    “Why would she be angry?” Shen Shu asked calmly.

    “I heard it. She must have heard it too,” Tong Jia said, referring to Xia Chun’s confession.

    Shen Shu shook her head silently.

    Clearly, Xu Jinnan didn’t care.

    To Xu Jinnan, their marriage was just a contract, but why was she so good to her?

    Then again, she was good to everyone.

    Shen Shu felt a strange pang of annoyance, unable to focus on Tong Jia’s words.

    —

     

  • Second Time Around, the Villainous Daughter Decides to Indulge First 47

    Chapter 47: I’ll Teach You a Lesson!

    In Lena’s memory, Diana—flaunting her noble status—would often force her into “games,” the kind only adults played.

    Calling it “learning,” they ripped several bedsheets and ruined countless stockings, enough to pile up over their heads.

    But Diana always denied her uncontrollable squirting, putting on new stockings and demanding another round, only to be rejected by Lena with the excuse of being tired, rescheduling for another day…

    Besides her private life, Diana also liked to pester Lena with endless questions, all sorts of topics eventually circling back to romance, like a clueless idiot obsessed with love.

    Lena suspected the little girl had a crush.

    At first, Lena would nod and agree, but later, annoyed, she simply ignored Diana. Diana would then find other ways to get her attention.

    For example, emptying Lena’s magic books and stuffing them with three-legged, gold-plated toads, rare even in the black market, then laughing at Lena’s fright when she threw the book, calling her a weakling, her small hand covering her giggling mouth, her mischievous nature on full display.

    Was Lena angry?

    Not really.

    Back then, Lena wasn’t the Lena of now. She was still cautious, afraid of causing trouble, of angering Diana and alerting the imperial higher-ups backing her, so she repeatedly gave in.

    However, Diana was the type to take an inch and ask for a mile.

    Lena’s constant concessions only fueled Diana’s arrogance, making her bullying even more relentless.

    Sometimes, Lena barely had time to rest before being dragged away by the haughty little princess for another round of teasing. Afterward, Lena had to feign anger to amuse Diana; it had become an unavoidable routine.

    At the time, Lena thought that pleasing Diana meant gaining the favor of the empire, unaware that her submissive attitude only invited Diana’s ridicule, trapping her in an endless cycle.

    So, Lena didn’t really hate Diana. How could she hate a slightly mischievous little girl?

    At most, she would give her a spanking and a lecture, and that would be the end of it.

    But after the Falmouth family’s downfall, when Ling Ling helped her escape, the magic traces they discovered all pointed to the ill-tempered princess.

    Like a clingy ex-wife resorting to any means to salvage a broken relationship, Diana’s actions had crossed Lena’s bottom line.

    When pushed to the limit, there was no holding back.

    Surrounded by pursuers once more, Lena finally snapped, asking, “Was this Princess Diana’s doing?”

    Upon receiving confirmation, she ruthlessly slaughtered the imperial soldiers, leaving only one alive to deliver a message.

    ‘If she ever rose to power again, she would teach this ignorant little devil a lesson!

    What goes around comes around, she would definitely strangle her.’

    Her original words were more or less like this, slightly embellished, but the general meaning was accurate.

    In short, she was furious, so furious that she wanted to strangle someone for the first time, so furious that she regained her senses.

    In a way, Diana had actually helped Lena.

    After all, at the time, Lena was still lost in grief and self-doubt after her family’s destruction, living each day in a daze, without any sense of self.

    But Diana’s provocation had snapped Lena out of it, her anger fueling her, cursing Diana for being ungrateful, a wolf she couldn’t tame.

    The news reached the empire a week later.

    Diana disappeared.

    But the number of pursuers didn’t decrease, but instead increased.

    Lena thought her words had angered the little princess, that the little devil had cried to the Empress and requested more soldiers. But there were no traces of Diana’s magic among the pursuers, which was strange.

    She could only pack her bags and continue fleeing.

    With Ling Ling, embarking on their endless journey.

    Lena felt that Diana’s obstruction was no longer important. Her heart felt empty, a mixture of loneliness and relief, as if they had severed ties, becoming strangers.

    After Ling Ling’s death and Lena’s exile to the Bis Wasteland, she never saw Diana again.

    The purple figure who had relentlessly called her a weakling seemed to have vanished from her life forever, along with Lena’s soul, sold to the demons, and Ling Ling’s existence.

    Grey Robe, her gray hair flowing, traveled across various continents for ten years, only learning one piece of news.

    Diana von Tepes was dead, dead in her boudoir, by her own hand, two tear stains on her face.

    Diana’s death coincided with the third year of the Almeria Empire’s civil war. Factions clashed, famine and plague ravaged the empire, its power rapidly declining.

    Lena didn’t know if this was the reason why Diana chose to end her life.

    But Lena suspected Diana’s suicide was due to an arranged marriage. After all, as an imperial princess with no right to the throne, death was her only way to defy the Empress. Unfortunately, that bitch only cared about her power, her daughter’s fate predetermined at birth.

    The empire’s civil war was precisely a struggle for power. The princess’s faction wasn’t weak, but lacked crucial fighting power, unable to withstand the empire’s faction, which had the hero. And with Diana’s death, their leader gone, they were gradually absorbed by the empire, becoming a grain of sand in the Ganges, dust in the annals of history.

    Hmm, summarizing Diana’s life, it seemed quite tragic, but paled in comparison to Lena’s.

    And Lena didn’t think these experiences could move her, unless, like Angel, someone could pierce through her heart. But Lena believed the same trick wouldn’t work twice; Angel had simply been lucky.

    Diana von Tepes, this name wouldn’t be crossed off her list just yet.

    Lena would personally crush this arrogant little devil, watching her haughty expression crumble into submission before turning her into a cream puff!

    Little brat! She would teach her a lesson!

    …

    Pushing aside her distracting thoughts, Lena arrived at the heart of the Fran Black Market.

    Before her stood the ruins of an old arena, its weathered appearance not hindering its operation, remnants of its former glory still visible. The tall, crumbling walls blocked most of the sunlight, casting a dark and desolate shadow over Lena.

    A man in a black robe stood at the entrance, selling tickets, a gold-swallowing dragon hovering above his head. He waved the tickets, the dragon devouring the money from his pocket. “One silver coin for a ticket, now only fifty copper coins! Half-price! First come, first served!”

    “Give me one!”

    “Me too! I’ll definitely win this time!!”

    Gamblers surged forward, a fervent glint in their shadowed eyes.

    Amidst the crowd, Lena bought a ticket, then spent two more silver coins to cut the line, finally entering the arena…

  • My Evil God Girlfriend (gl) 88

    Chapter 88: The Hotel

    Life in the small county town was simple. It was only a little past nine, and the streets were already deserted, bathed in the soft glow of the moon, which filtered through the windows of the hotel room.

    But the presidential suite was brightly lit, the harsh, fluorescent lights banishing all traces of the moon’s gentle embrace. The decor was opulent, almost gaudy, the surfaces gleaming, every detail of the room illuminated mercilessly, the colorful candies on the table, the soft towel on the floor, and… the woman, standing there, pale as snow.

    Xiang Er, her health restored, no longer resembled a delicate bud, but a fully bloomed camellia, exuding a subtle fragrance.

    The lollipop in her mouth, a touch of girlish charm, a hint of vulnerability beneath her usual hard shell.

    She was so beautiful… that even a god couldn’t resist.

    Akhe, in an instant, was before her, her long, jade-like arms pulling Xiang Er into an embrace, and the next moment, Xiang Er, startled, found herself lying on the bed!

    The large hotel bed was soft as a marshmallow, and Xiang Er, pinned beneath Akhe, tried to crawl away, her hands gripping the sheets, but the bed, like quicksand, held her captive!

    She cried out:

    “What are you doing?!”

    But the next second, the bright lights in the room suddenly went out.

    Akhe’s face, half-hidden in shadow, her hair tinged with the silver glow of the moonlight, her eyes dark and unreadable, her expression a mystery.

    Suddenly, several tentacles, slowly, deliberately, rose, reaching towards her, their movements languid yet forceful, under Xiang Er’s terrified gaze.

    The room was silent, the air thick with a heavy, almost suffocating sweetness, the temperature rising steadily.

    Xiang Er bit her lip, trying not to make a sound, her eyes fixed on Akhe, a burning hatred in their depths. But Akhe wasn’t looking at her eyes, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er’s body… certain parts, a fire burning within them.

    The moonlight, a soft yet revealing glow, filtering through the window, illuminated everything, and Xiang Er could clearly see the dark red tentacles, their surfaces slick and wet, approaching her body.

    The sweet fragrance filled the air, and Xiang Er, her body tense, her voice trembling, said:

    “Let… let go of me.”

    Her resistance, of course, was futile, and the beautiful, Evil God face leaned closer, her lips pressing against Xiang Er’s neck.

    “Mm…”

    Xiang Er’s head tilted back, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, the moonlight shimmering like scattered gold.

    The hotel room was unfamiliar, and Xiang Er’s heart, tonight, unusually soft, she was like… a knight, who, having shed their armor in this strange, warm place, had let down their guard, and now… was completely vulnerable.

    She raised her hands to push Akhe away, but they couldn’t move, and even if she managed to push her away, there were still the tentacles, waiting, their movements subtle, their touch inescapable.

    The plush hotel bed seemed to soften, to liquefy beneath her, sparks flying where her skin met the tentacles, the thick summer air filled with the sweet fragrance of spring, the world blurring, shifting, and Xiang Er couldn’t even see Akhe’s expression…

    Akhe’s voice, soft and low, whispered:

    “Relax.”

    Her magnetic voice echoed in the room, like a spark igniting the already heated air.

    Xiang Er’s heart was filled with anger, but… her body, involuntarily, relaxed, she didn’t want to give in, but her body, too familiar with this dance, wasn’t even startled by the tentacles anymore.

    As the tentacles moved across her skin, she remembered seeing them on her bed before, but the feeling… the feeling… was completely different now.

    Like a lifetime ago.

    Xiang Er’s slender wrists, gently bound and lifted by a soft, slimy tentacle, her arms above her head, her body exposed, offered up willingly.

    As they drew closer, their bodies trembled. Her body remembered the intimacy, the pleasure, her instincts overriding her reason, her emotions, and for a moment, Xiang Er almost screamed.

    This was the first time, fully conscious, that she had been with the tentacles.

    As the dark red, glistening tentacles approached, caressing, entwining, she trembled and cried out, but her cries were hoarse, high-pitched, like music…

    And the tentacles, hearing her cries, tightened their grip, a soft, wet, sucking sound.

    Transparent slime oozed from the suckers, the sweet fragrance filling the air. Xiang Er clutched the sheets, trying to escape, but Akhe’s arms wrapped around her neck, her soft lips kissing Xiang Er’s face, her forehead, her cheeks, her escape blocked…

    Finally, her back against the rumpled bed, her face pressed against the cool leather of the headboard, the scent of leather in her nostrils, her eyes closed, she surrendered.

    She cried and trembled, her body convulsing.

    The leather was cold, the tentacles hot, the world a blur, and she… lost.

    Xiang Er’s body was completely enveloped by the tentacles. She didn’t move, her body pressed against the headboard, and someone, from behind, embraced her.

    A warm, gentle embrace, a hand softly patting her back, a comforting, maternal touch:

    “There, there… it’s my fault, I was wrong, I shouldn’t have… been so impulsive…”

    Xiang Er bit her lip, about to lash out, but the next second, a pair of slightly cooler lips gently touched hers.

    It was their first kiss since her suicide attempt…

    Even during their passionate encounter, their lips hadn’t met, Akhe had avoided her mouth, and now, suddenly…

    Akhe didn’t force her lips open, just pressed gently against them, not giving Xiang Er a chance to bite her tongue.

    After the intensity of their earlier encounter, this soft, lingering kiss, the desire fading with the moonlight, the warm bed like amniotic fluid, and she… a seed, sinking into it.

    Xiang Er’s body relaxed in Akhe’s embrace, her eyes closed, her mind blank.

    She should have been angry, hurt, but… she was so tired.

    And soon, she fell asleep.

    After she was asleep, Akhe finally released her, gently holding her close.

    In the darkness, the world finally at peace, the moonlight soft, Akhe’s face was streaked with tears.

    She cried like a child, tears of joy, of overwhelming happiness!

    Whatever happened next, Xiang Er’s anger, her rejection, even another suicide attempt, would have to wait until morning.

    At least, in this moment, tonight, in this unfamiliar room…

    They had truly, deeply, loved each other.

    When Xiang Er woke up, it was already noon the next day.

    Akhe had cleaned her thoroughly, even changed the sheets. Everything was clean and tidy, as if nothing had happened.

    She lay alone in the large, unfamiliar bed, in the unfamiliar hotel room.

    She felt like she was lying at the bottom of an abyss.

    She moved slightly, her body aching, and as she tried to sit up, her muscles screamed in protest, her waist sore and weak, like she had swallowed a dozen lemons.

    Gritting her teeth, she sat up, leaning against the soft leather headboard, the quilt pulled up to her chest, her mind blank.

    The room seemed empty, but Xiang Er knew better, and she said softly:

    “Come out.”

    A few seconds later, the door opened, and Akhe, carrying a tray of food, entered, still wearing the red dress, its soft fabric clinging to her body, outlining her curves.

    Akhe smiled faintly, placed the tray on the small table, and said:

    “You’re awake? Come eat something, I made all your favorites…”

    A pillow suddenly flew through the air, striking Akhe, then landing on the table, knocking over the tray of food.

    Silence. Akhe lowered her head, then looked up again, a smile on her face:

    “You can be angry, but don’t waste food. What do you want to eat? I’ll order something else.”

    Another pillow flew through the air, landing on Akhe’s beautifully styled hair.

    Akhe turned, her face half-hidden in shadow, her hair disheveled, her expression complex, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er.

    She looked like she was inhabited by two souls, one wanting to punish her disobedient lover, the other pleading for forgiveness.

    She looked at Xiang Er, her mouth opening as if to speak, then closing again.

    And Xiang Er looked at Akhe, images and emotions flashing through her mind. She hated this, hated her own helplessness, hated her own wavering resolve, her susceptibility to the Evil God’s tricks, but… her feelings were complicated.

    Because… she felt… a softening within her, a reluctant acceptance.

    It was this insidious acceptance that terrified her. Would she eventually just give in, become the Evil God’s lover, its plaything? Could she truly, after being so violated, forgive and forget, and accept this monstrous love?

    Tears welled up in Xiang Er’s eyes:

    “Am I just your toy? To be played with… however you please?”

    She hadn’t expected an answer, her sobs trapped in her throat, as she was about to say something more…

    Akhe’s voice, soft and low, said:

    “No, you’re the one I love. And if you want… I can be your toy.”

    Akhe’s body, below her head, began to dissolve, a mass of black slime extending tentacles, which touched the floor, reaching towards Xiang Er.

    She rested her head on the edge of the bed, offering her tentacles to Xiang Er, her voice gentle:

    “We’re equals, I was wrong last night, I shouldn’t have been so impulsive, please don’t be angry, you can… play with me, punish me, however you like.”

    Xiang Er looked at the tentacle. Was this the one… that had been inside her last night?

    She muttered to herself:

    “Who wants to play with you… that’s disgusting.”

    Akhe’s beautiful head tilted slightly, a smile playing on her lips:

    “Wasn’t last night… playing with me?”

    Xiang Er froze, grabbed the last remaining pillow, and threw it at Akhe’s head:

    “…Get out! Get out of here, I don’t want to see you again!”

    Akhe stood up, smiling, her human skin reforming, her naked body standing before Xiang Er, admiring her anger.

    She suddenly leaned closer and kissed Xiang Er’s flushed cheek:

    “I’ll go make some lunch. Wait for me, okay?”

    Xiang Er, fuming, watched as Akhe turned and left, her movements deliberately swaying, her curves on full display, it was… infuriating!

    Xiang Er grabbed her clothes and, while Akhe was gone, climbed out the window.

  • The Vicious Female Lead Doesn’t Want to Do It Anymore 73

    Chapter 73: More Please – A New Task

    Who could resist Song Mingzhi’s sweet nothings? Dong Ling couldn’t.

    Her heart was now even sweeter than after eating the pastries, her sweetness levels exceeding the limit. Cuddling with her Jiejie, she didn’t want to think about anything.

    While Song Mingzhi was washing up, Dong Ling went on Weibo, unable to resist sharing her joy.

    @Jieshi: I’m in a relationship now, may this happiness last.

    It was currently peak online activity time, and several replies appeared immediately.

    @IReallyWantToSleep: Congratulations!

    There were such congratulatory messages, and also CP fans who disliked her account, coming to provoke her.

    @SongZhongSistersNumberOne: Oh, Jieshi is in a relationship with her friend, so it seems my Song Zhong CP is also set in stone.

    @ImDyingFromSweetness: The sister upstairs is wrong, they’ve been together for a while now.

    @SweetSongZhong: Borrowing Jieshi Jiejie’s good fortune, wishing Song Jie and CEO Dong the same happiness.

    @SweetDreamsInMyDreams: Jieshi Jiejie, does your friend know that you’re Song Jie’s biggest anti-fan? Be careful, she might get jealous.

    Dong Ling thought, these people were clearly trying to annoy her, but she couldn’t help but smile.

    To avoid revealing too much, Dong Ling only replied to the last comment.

    @Jieshi replying to @SweetDreamsInMyDreams: She won’t be jealous.

    How could Song Mingzhi be jealous of herself? She would be happy.

    Dong Ling happily browsed online, ignoring the CP fans who were still discussing the sugar mommy and her sister-in-law’s trip to the temple.

    She would consider how to introduce Zhong Zhong after the test results came out, there was no hurry, as long as Song Mingzhi didn’t misunderstand, Dong Ling didn’t care what others thought.

    After Song Mingzhi came out of the bathroom, Dong Ling went in. She had come in a hurry and didn’t bring anything, so she used her friend’s shower gel, toothpaste, and other toiletries.

    Song Mingzhi smelled the girl’s soft, fragrant scent, the same as hers, and gave her a sweet kiss.

    Tonight was destined to be filled with sweet dreams.

    Dong Ling was woken up by a knock the next morning and opened the door sleepily.

    “Mingzhi, you’re going to be late, if you don’t hurry, you won’t have time for hair and makeup, Director Yu will…”

    Zuo Zhen looked down at her schedule and urged, Song Mingzhi was always punctual, but she was late today. She could understand her being shocked by the news yesterday, but if they delayed any longer, the film crew would have to wait for her.

    But when Zuo Zhen looked up and saw her boss in a loose robe, her words stopped abruptly.

    ?????

    Was this a lovers’ reunion scene?

    “CEO Dong… I’ll go and tell Director Yu.”

    Zuo Zhen, always considerate of her boss and her boss’s lover, immediately said this.

    Dong Ling yawned and said: “Tell Director Yu that Mingzhi has something to do and needs to take a day off, and also, there’s no need to prepare for the contract termination, but don’t arrange any new jobs for Mingzhi for now.”

    Dong Ling wasn’t sure what would happen next, so she made these arrangements first.

    Zuo Zhen nodded, seeing Dong Ling close her eyes again.

    She didn’t understand her boss’s world, she would just do as she was told.

    Dong Ling lay back down, wanting to go back to sleep, but she couldn’t quite fall asleep, her mind in a half-awake, half-asleep state.

    Song Mingzhi came out of the bathroom, saw the girl on the bed with messy hair, and gently brushed the strands from her cheek.

    “I’m sleepy, but also a little awake.”

    Dong Ling mumbled, her voice soft and coquettish.

    “Close your eyes and lie down.”

    Song Mingzhi pulled the quilt over Dong Ling and gently caressed her flushed cheeks.

    Dong Ling heard Song Mingzhi’s footsteps receding, her consciousness hazy.

    A cool towel was placed on her slightly swollen eyelids, dispelling the heat and summer stickiness.

    Dong Ling’s brows relaxed comfortably, her eyes moving under her eyelids, she slowly woke up.

    Song Mingzhi applied the cold compress for a while, then folded the towel and put it aside again, only removing it after two or three minutes.

    Dong Ling was now fully awake, she stretched contentedly and smiled at her friend.

    She originally thought this was enough, but then Song Mingzhi put slippers on her feet, which were dangling off the bed, carried her to the bathroom, and helped her stand.

    “Breakfast is already ordered, you can eat after washing up.”

    Seeing the prepared cup and toothbrush, Dong Ling gave a thumbs-up in admiration.

    So being in a relationship allowed you to act like you were disabled without any guilt, how wonderful.

    Song Mingzhi’s smile was gentle and subtle, a twenty-nine-year-old experiencing first love, her heart filled with a youthful passion, wanting to do everything for her little girlfriend.

    Dong Ling happily finished her breakfast, and after putting on sunglasses and masks, she and Song Mingzhi went to a local testing center.

    Zhong Zhong and Yuki were already waiting there. Seeing Song Mingzhi, Zhong Zhong’s pupils constricted for a moment, but her face remained expressionless.

    Song Mingzhi knew about her facial paralysis from Dong Ling and gave her a friendly smile.

    “Don’t be nervous.”

    Song Mingzhi didn’t act too enthusiastically, she wasn’t usually very expressive, if this girl wasn’t related to her, she wouldn’t care, so she didn’t want to say too much too soon, just trying to reassure her.

    Zhong Zhong nodded and took a deep breath.

    She looked a little cute making this action with a blank face. Dong Ling handed her a candy, hoping to ease her nerves.

    Professionally, she was an artist under her company, personally, she might be her sister-in-law, and she was only nineteen, so she should take care of her.

    Even with expedited processing, the results would still take a few hours.

    Dong Ling made an excuse to go shopping with Yuki, leaving Song Mingzhi and Zhong Zhong alone for a while.

    Song Mingzhi appreciated her girlfriend’s thoughtfulness, and only after Dong Ling left did she look away from her and sit on a bench with the girl beside her, starting their conversation by talking about their favorite things.

    In the ice cream shop opposite the testing center, Dong Ling sat on a bar stool, eating shaved ice and swinging her legs, waiting.

    She really hoped Zhong Zhong was Song Mingzhi’s younger sister, it would make Song Mingzhi’s search for her family much easier.

    She wondered if the task system was also dormant along with 021, Dong Ling bit her spoon and thought wistfully, when would 021 wake up?

    Perhaps sensing her summons, the long-awaited voice of the task system rang out in Dong Ling’s mind.

    It issued a task, along with the unlocked plot for this stage.

    The content was so rich and dramatic that Dong Ling was stunned.

    First, she learned that the task system and 021 operated independently.

    Second was the content of the unlocked plot outline. It mentioned the appearance of a person who resembled the female lead, which was the next part of the story, but there was a backstory to it.

    In the original novel, at this time, there was a conflict between the male and female leads.

    They were in a tacitly understood ambiguous stage, just one step away from an official confession, but then, there were rumors about the female lead.

    She was photographed leaving the same restaurant as a man, who was actually just a friend, there was nothing ambiguous between them, and since the female lead was busy filming and also had her own business to attend to, she assumed the male lead wouldn’t believe such rumors, so she didn’t bother explaining.

    The male lead indeed didn’t believe it, but he wanted the female lead to explain, as a gesture of reassurance, but the female lead didn’t contact him at all, so he sulked.

    Under these circumstances, Zhong Zhong appeared, she was taken to a party by her agent, and ran into the male lead when she was drunk.

    Seeing her resemblance to the female lead, the male lead didn’t want her to be taken advantage of, so he kindly offered her a ride, and they were photographed by the paparazzi.

    But unfortunately, the paparazzi’s headline was “Popular actress suspected of secret meetings with different men,” mistaking Zhong Zhong for the female lead.

    This plot was so familiar it made Dong Ling’s toes curl, she didn’t know whether to call it an irresistible force of the plot or a striking resemblance to history.

    Just like Dong Ling’s reaction, the male lead immediately suppressed the news and clarified the situation with the female lead, but the Song Mingzhi in the novel reacted differently from the Song Mingzhi with Dong Ling.

    The female lead simply said, “I believe you,” and that was it, incredibly calm.

    Because the female lead felt that they were both adults, capable of making their own judgments, but the male lead felt that the female lead didn’t care enough about him, that she wasn’t even jealous, so he went to see her, half-drunk, and in his anger, restricted her freedom.

    The subsequent plot was grayed out again, waiting for the next unlock.

    And the task Dong Ling received was… to have a cold war with the female lead for three days, and be photographed with the supporting character, completing this would reward 7% progress.

    Dong Ling finally understood how 021 felt every time it lamented being taken advantage of, was the task system crazy?! Could it be a little more intelligent?!

    This plot had already happened! It was all over!

    And she had just officially gotten together with her girlfriend yesterday, and now it wanted her to have a cold war for three days?

    Was it serious?

    But 7%… Dong Ling took a deep breath, her expression gloomy.

    This damn fate was testing her will, playing with her soul.

    Dong Ling wasn’t very motivated to complete the task, but she knew she couldn’t miss this opportunity, she wouldn’t make the decision herself, she had already been honest with her girlfriend, this was something they should face together, she didn’t want Song Mingzhi to be sad.

    Dong Ling finished her shaved ice and returned to the testing center with Yuki.

    She gave them each a takeout container of ice cream, then waved at Yuki and Zhong Zhong.

    “Wait in the room for a bit.”

    Yuki and Zhong Zhong immediately left, not wanting to be lightbulbs.

    “Mingzhi, there’s something very, very important I need to tell you, about this.”

    Dong Ling pointed to her head, she knew Song Mingzhi would understand.

    Song Mingzhi’s expression became serious, and she pulled Dong Ling to sit down.

    Because “task” and “progress” were all within the system’s restricted vocabulary, Dong Ling couldn’t say them directly, she could only rack her brains and use various metaphors and stories to explain her current situation.

    Fortunately, Song Mingzhi was very patient and logical, able to find the correct meaning from her sometimes incoherent and fragmented words.

    “Can modern technology detect it?”

    This was a question Song Mingzhi wanted to ask yesterday, but the atmosphere wasn’t right at the time, it would have been a mood killer.

    Dong Ling shook her head and said: “No, I had a checkup at the beginning, and also after the car accident, they couldn’t find anything.”

    Song Mingzhi wasn’t surprised, she pondered: “It seems it really is as you said, mechanically applying templates.”

    “So after three days of cold war, it will be time for me to act angrily and film certain scenes, right?”

    Song Mingzhi raised a delicate eyebrow, a knowing glint in her eyes.

    “Darling, remember to act well when you get the script, don’t let down my upcoming three days of separation.”

    Song Mingzhi’s fingers caressed Dong Ling’s soft cheek, and she gently kissed the tip of Dong Ling’s nose.

    Dong Ling swore she saw anticipation in Song Mingzhi’s eyes, so this was how tasks could be completed.

  • Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v3c2

    Witch’s Night: Chapter 2 – The Other Side of Hua Qingling

    The first time one rides a lifeline, the sight of a lone train traversing the desolate wasteland is a marvel. People living in mega-cities rarely see the Endless Wasteland; their world is confined within the city walls.

    But sadly, over fifty percent of the Wasteland remains forbidden territory, and even the explored areas are filled with danger, civilization and wilderness coexisting in an uneasy balance.

    The once-thriving civilization of the Old Era, after the Calamity Tide, was reduced to scattered embers, stubbornly clinging to life.

    Witnessing these strange and wondrous sights makes one appreciate the comforts of the mega-cities.

    Anna, however, wasn’t seeing the Wasteland for the first time. As a former refugee, she was no stranger to its harsh realities.

    But the lifeline was a novelty, a marvel of human engineering. She peppered the Holy Knight-Captain with questions, clinging to his armor.

    “Yes, yes, little girl, but I don’t know much about these things,” the Knight-Captain said, glancing at Elise, who had suddenly closed her eyes, seemingly meditating. He sighed and continued to humor Anna. “If you’re interested, I believe the… what was it called… the Cardinal Council’s… one of their departments… will have the answers you seek.”

    “Don’t you know, mister?” Anna asked curiously.

    “M-Mister? Well, that’s a new one,” the Knight-Captain shifted uncomfortably in his armor. “As you can see, I’m a knight.”

    “…Don’t knights know anything?”

    “I…”

    The Knight-Captain was speechless, looking pleadingly at Elise.

    Unfortunately, even Elise found Anna’s chatter annoying and left the Knight-Captain to deal with her.

    “These are relics from the glorious Old Era, only those fellows in the Cardinal Council understand them,” the Knight-Captain shrugged. “We knights just use them; we don’t research them.”

    “Oh, okay.”

    To his surprise, Anna stopped questioning him and sat back down obediently.

    At the same time, Elise opened her eyes and resumed looking out the window, her chin resting on her hand.

    Holy Knight-Captain: “…”

    Oh, my Saint…

    However, he was still puzzled by the Saint’s decision to bring this seemingly ordinary little girl to Noah as Yan City’s representative.

    Anna was just an ordinary person, not even an ability user.

    If it was simply because she was a friend, as her “Elise” persona claimed, it didn’t seem sufficient. The Knight-Captain believed the Saint understood the gravity of the situation.

    Of course, he wouldn’t question the Saint’s decision.

    The Holy Knights’ duty was to carry out the Saint’s will, and after the Saint’s passing, the Twelve Saints were the highest authority of the Holy Church.

    “We’ll be seeing Miss Luo Yan in a few days. How are you feeling?”

    Elise suddenly asked Anna.

    “Huh?” Anna was caught off guard. She fidgeted nervously. “I… I don’t know.”

    She truly didn’t know how to face Miss Luo Yan now.

    Yan City hadn’t revealed the full truth, but as their representative to the Grand Council, Anna knew some things.

    And knowing these things had left her confused.

    She remembered how Miss Luo Yan had tricked her into cooking, then slipped away.

    And after that, the news of Luo Yan’s death had filled Anna with guilt.

    If she hadn’t gone to cook, if she had stopped Miss Luo Yan, would the outcome have been different?

    She had cried, even though she had experienced many such losses as a refugee.

    Only after learning that Miss Luo Yan was still alive had her guilt subsided slightly.

    And then she learned the partial truth about Miss Luo Yan, leaving her feeling even more confused.

    Her excitement on the lifeline had been partly due to the novelty, and partly to mask her anxiety.

    Was the current Miss Luo Yan… still the same Miss Luo Yan she knew?

    The Miss Luo Yan from those stories, from the incident at the Ember Furnace… She felt… unfamiliar.

    Elise saw this and understood Anna’s confusion, but she still found her slightly annoying…

    So, she only spoke to Anna after she calmed down.

    “Elise, I know you’re an important person, that you know many things, but I’m just… not very smart,” Anna scratched her head. “I only know how to make clothes, and that Miss Luo Yan is beautiful and kind, but other things… I don’t understand.”

    “She is indeed a beautiful and kind girl. Knowing that is enough,” Elise looked at Anna intently. “Do you know why I chose to bring you to Noah? Even though Yan City is in ruins, they could have found a more… suitable representative.”

    “Wh-why?” Anna asked, also puzzled by this. “It can’t be because… we’re friends, right?”

    The Holy Knight-Captain also listened intently, his curiosity piqued.

    “What else could it be?” Elise smiled. “I really like the clothes Anna makes…”

    The Knight-Captain shuddered almost imperceptibly.

    “…The clothes,” Elise glanced at him, then patted a nearby box filled with clothes Anna had designed for her. “Even if Yan City hadn’t agreed, I would have brought you to Noah, if you were willing.

    “Of course, there’s another, secondary reason. On this long and boring journey, Miss Luo Yan also needs a companion, doesn’t she?”

    “That… seems reasonable.”

    Anna nodded thoughtfully (or rather, dazedly).

    The Knight-Captain was speechless. The “secondary reason” was clearly the main reason!

    To prevent any unexpected incidents with Miss Luo Yan, they had chosen a companion for her, right?

    Other candidates, like Hua Qiling and Qin Wen, were unavailable, so only Anna remained.

    Poor Anna, played like a fiddle by Elise.

    Of course, the Knight-Captain didn’t dare say this aloud, his helmet hiding his expression.

    “Little Anna is so cute.”

    Elise pinched Anna’s cheek, then resumed looking out the window.

    No matter how many times she saw it, the Endless Wasteland was still…

    A chilling sight.

    …

    Unexpected things always happen at the most unexpected times. Like when Luo Yan opened her window to wash her face and saw a rather unusual visitor perched outside.

    A thin figure clung to the wall, its dark blue nightclothes making it difficult to discern its shape.

    And its face was completely covered by a black cloth, its eyes concealed by some kind of illusion, erasing all distinguishing features.

    However… he didn’t seem to notice Luo Yan’s approach, and when she opened the window and their eyes met, he was clearly startled.

    Luo Yan looked at the figure and waved.

    “Hi?”

    “Hi…”

    He replied instinctively, then immediately covered his mouth.

    At the same time, Hua Qingling’s voice came from behind Luo Yan.

    “Miss Luo Yan, who are you talking to?”

    Hua Qingling, still sleepy, walked over, rubbing her eyes, her pajamas revealing a bit too much, a large teddy bear clutched in her arms.

    Sometimes, prying too much into someone’s private life could shatter their image.

    Especially Hua Qingling’s “big sister” image, which had completely crumbled during her time living with Luo Yan.

    She liked to sleep in, she was grumpy when woken up, she needed a teddy bear to sleep, and her sleeping posture was… questionable.

    She was also completely useless in daily life, unable to do laundry, clean her room, and sleeping until noon (or rather, early afternoon)…

    Luo Yan had been taking care of her like a mother, almost like her former life as a maid.

    Even her younger sister, Hua Qiling, didn’t know about this. After all, Hua Qingling had already been an adult when Hua Qiling was born and rarely stayed in Yan City.

    And whenever she returned, she would maintain her usual “big sister” and elegant noblewoman facade.

    Since Luo Yan now knew all her secrets, Hua Qingling had given up on pretending, indulging in her laziness to the point that even Luo Yan thought she shouldn’t be called “Sister,” perhaps “Little Sister” would be more appropriate…

    Luo Yan tugged at Hua Qingling’s messy pajamas, then turned and pointed towards the window.

    “Look, over there… eh? He’s gone?”

    The spot where the figure had been was now empty.

    “Was that… an intruder?”

    Hua Qingling’s drowsiness vanished, and she pulled a short sword from her teddy bear.

    …Don’t ask why there was a weapon inside; when adventuring alone, even sleeping required constant vigilance, and Hua Qingling simply kept her weapon with her most comforting item.

    “It felt more like… someone peeping, not an intruder,” Luo Yan recalled the figure’s reaction. “But who would peep on us? Lannister?”

    The figure had clearly been an expert at concealment; even Luo Yan, with her heightened senses, hadn’t noticed him until she opened the window.

    And after he fled, she couldn’t find any trace of him.

    “I’ll question Lannister,” Hua Qingling’s expression turned serious. “They arranged this place.”

    “There’s no need, we’ll just ask,” Luo Yan shook her head and closed the window. “But peeping is indeed rude. If Lannister doesn’t want to investigate, we can simply leave.”

    After all, the recent chaos in Lannister had been her fault, which was why she had agreed to wait here.

    But if they were being secretly monitored…

    Even surveillance… if they were honest about it, like Yan City, explaining their concerns about her potential danger, Luo Yan could understand.

    But doing it secretly… that was different.

    “By the way, Sister Qingling, why are you up so early today?” Luo Yan looked at Hua Qingling, who was clearly still sleepy, her eyelids drooping. “You usually sleep another four hours…”

    “Well, I didn’t want to…” Hua Qingling forced herself to stay awake, walked over to the sofa, and practically collapsed onto it. “Grandma Zoya sent me an invitation, to a Lannister noble’s banquet… A ‘Destruction’ level ability user’s invitation… I can’t refuse.”

    “Really… did I get one?” Luo Yan pointed at herself.

    “Miss Luo Yan, do you really think you would?”

    Hua Qingling asked, her expression strange.

    “…Right.”

    It made sense. Lannister probably wanted her to stay put in the apartment; an invitation to a banquet was unlikely.

    Not wanting to cause trouble, Luo Yan had been staying in the apartment obediently.

    But this peeping incident… It made her suspicious.

    “Does the invitation specify how many people can attend?” Luo Yan suddenly asked.

    “You actually want to go? I wouldn’t even bother with those stuffy events even when I was in Yan City…”

    “I’m curious. Although there was a banquet hall in Natalie Manor in Ghost Town, you know the situation there… I’ve never been to a real banquet,” Luo Yan smiled faintly. “Things I haven’t seen before… are worth seeing, aren’t they?”

    But if you go, the Lannister higher-ups will be in a frenzy, especially Norian.

    Miss Luo Yan seems to be learning bad habits… she was so innocent back in Yan City.

    Hua Qingling sighed inwardly, then said,

    “There’s no limit on the number of attendees. As long as you have the invitation, you can bring as many people as you want, even your entire family—of course, no one who receives such an invitation would do something so unrefined.”

    She saw Luo Yan looking at her with a strange expression.

    “…And neither would I!”

  • Inferior A After Having a Baby with the Top Boss 35

    Chapter 35: Reverse Temporary Marking

    The entire bedroom transformed into a pear orchard.

    Countless pear saplings seemed to sprout, grow, blossom, and bear fruit in an instant, snow-white, sweet pears covering the ground.

    For someone who loved pears, this undoubtedly signified a great temptation, an enticement, even an invitation to blossom and bear fruit.

    Zhu Yiqiao pursed her lips.

    She stood under the main light of the bedroom. Although she had removed her cloak, she was still wearing the dark uniform of the Trial Court, the outer buttons of the uniform and the inner buttons of her shirt fastened to the top.

    People admired her, and even the light seemed to favor her, illuminating her like a snow goddess statue from mythology.

    She looked back at the person on the bed, a hint of amusement and deeper meaning in her usually calm blue eyes.

    “Do you feel it now?” she asked.

    Ming Fei, whose condition had just improved a little, nodded, stunned and embarrassed.

    “…But, I’ve already had a suppressant injection, why is this still happening?” She tried to find some clues. “Is it because my gland was injured?”

    Zhu Yiqiao’s attention was caught by the second half of her sentence.

    “Your gland was injured?”

    “Mm.”

    Ming Fei explained, “My gland was injured when I first differentiated. Later, I went to the hospital for treatment and examination, and the doctor said that my gland would probably never produce pheromones again, and I wouldn’t have heat cycles, nor would I be able to perceive the pheromones of other alphas or omegas.”

    “—They informed me that my differentiation level was F, the lowest level alpha.”

    According to the Ole Empire’s classification criteria, defective alphas included those with failed gland differentiation, severely damaged glands, severe pheromone disorders, and many other conditions.

    Correspondingly, the Ole Empire, which viewed pheromone differentiation as natural evolution, a divine gift, placed many restrictions on the lowest-ranking defective alphas.

    For example, they couldn’t work in government departments.

    When applying for schools and majors, they could only apply last.

    Zhu Yiqiao had originally thought that Ming Fei’s rating was due to other reasons, but she hadn’t expected it to be a damaged gland, which was generally considered the most painful condition.

    The reason “painful” was used to describe it was because an alpha or omega’s gland was very fragile and thin, and any slight pain would be amplified countless times, let alone a severe injury that directly resulted in being classified as a defective alpha.

    She said, “I understand. There’s no better solution at the moment. Try another injection?”

    Ming Fei replied, “Okay.”

    So, in the next two minutes, Ming Fei received a second suppressant injection.

    This injection should have been more effective, but even after five minutes, the pheromone concentration in the room didn’t decrease, and the pheromone bracelet on Zhu Yiqiao’s wrist even flashed blue five times.

    [Detected excessively high pheromone concentration, please be careful!!!]

    The three exclamation points were enough to show how high the pheromone concentration in the room was.

    And because the suppressant wasn’t working, Ming Fei’s fever continued to rise, her fair cheeks turning as red as Taiya’s chili peppers.

    …So hot.

    Why was this happening?

    Was she going to turn into a human torch like in the games? She wondered.

    At this moment, Ming Fei, who was usually extremely afraid of the cold, wanted to become one of the snowmen randomly piled up on the roadside. Or soak in a bathtub full of ice, using the simplest and most primitive method to cool down.

    But even though she felt very uncomfortable, she didn’t show any signs of impatience or loss of control. The pear scent she emitted was still as gentle as a spring breeze.

    Realizing that the injection didn’t seem to be working immediately, Ming Fei’s first words were out of consideration for Zhu Yiqiao.

    “…Jiejie, are my pheromones making you uncomfortable?”

    “If they are, just leave me alone.” She paused. “Or, you can handcuff me first.”

    Zhu Yiqiao asked, “Handcuff you?”

    “Mm.” Her voice was a little hoarse. “I know a verbal promise won’t convince you that I won’t lose control. Handcuffing me would be more credible, and you would be safer.”

    For some reason, seeing her like this… made Zhu Yiqiao feel a pang of pity.

    Usually, Teacher Xiao Fei was gentle and calm, her attire simple and elegant due to her profession as a teacher.

    But at this moment, her long hair was loose and a little messy, her porcelain-white cheeks flushed crimson, the corners of her eyes red, her exposed neck also tinged with red, her lips slightly pursed, and those almond eyes, so similar to Ming Zaozao’s, were like a lake suddenly covered with mist.

    …Ming Zaozao.

    If Ming Zaozao knew that she had handcuffed Ming Fei, she would probably be angry and sad and ignore her.

    Or, like before, she would cry endlessly.

    In short, she would be heartbroken for a long time.

    She thought, handcuffing Ming Fei was indeed the correct first choice, but she didn’t want Ming Zaozao to cry.

    That was her daughter.

    Her tears would also affect her emotions.

    After some thought, Zhu Yiqiao calmly made another choice. But she didn’t realize that this was already the third time she had made an exception for someone.

    And she didn’t delve deeper into why she had repeatedly made exceptions for a single person, for a single reason. What was the reason?

    She released a very small amount of her pheromones, her expression still cold and frosty, but when her pheromones touched the pear scent, they were almost joyful enough to announce to everyone with a loudspeaker—

    —So fragrant.

    —So sweet.

    —Can’t I just have a taste of this sweet pear?

    Zhu Yiqiao walked to the edge of the bed without taking out the silver handcuffs she had used on Ming Fei before, instead giving Ming Fei the initiative to choose.

    “We are in Taiya now, you only have two choices.”

    “One, endure it yourself.” She said, word by word, “Two, I’ll help you.”

    The former was clearly very painful. Ming Fei asked in a low voice, “Help me? How will Jiejie help me?”

    “It’s very simple.”

    Zhu Yiqiao said, “The Ole Empire’s royal family, in order to control the pheromone differentiation of its citizens, issued a ban hundreds of years ago, prohibiting any form of marking except between alphas and omegas.”

    “But in fact, any group can mark each other, even in reverse. Alphas and omegas can, and alphas and alphas can too.”

    Ming Fei, who hadn’t paid much attention in physiology class, was confused, her attention completely focused on the second half of the sentence.

    The books said that the pheromones between members of the same group were basically mutually repulsive. Could alphas and alphas… actually mark each other?

    If it was really possible.

    Was Zhu Yiqiao telling her this because she wanted to temporarily mark her?

    Eh? Temporary marking!?

    Ming Fei’s thoughts gradually cleared, and she immediately rejected this option without thinking.

    After all, such an intimate act could only happen between partners who had established a true intimate relationship. And she and Zhu Yiqiao were only in a contract marriage, so it wasn’t appropriate to do such a thing.

    Therefore, she refused: “Jiejie, I choose the first option.”

    Zhu Yiqiao didn’t seem surprised: “Are you sure?”

    Ming Fei nodded firmly: “Mm, I’m sure.”

    The woody scent, like a passing snowstorm, was enveloped by the sweet pear scent, completely immersed in the sweet fragrance of the pear, and utterly captivated.

    After sensing that her pheromones were becoming increasingly greedy, Zhu Yiqiao, respecting Ming Fei’s wishes, stopped releasing her pheromones and told her what she might face if she chose the first option.

    “Your situation is special.”

    “Suppressants are ineffective. Your gland is damaged, yet you have pheromones and a heat cycle. If you want to endure it, there’s a high probability of facing danger.”

    Ming Fei asked, puzzled, “What danger?”

    “Fainting, loss of control, irreversible pheromone diseases caused by high fever.”

    Zhu Yiqiao calmly stated the final outcome: “Even—death.”

    As soon as she finished speaking, the gentle pear scent, as if sensing Ming Fei’s shock and astonishment, slowed its surge, causing the other pheromone, which had been excitedly playing, to become dissatisfied.

    Ming Fei was stunned for a moment.

    Because the impact of “death” was too great.

    She loved the world she had transmigrated to and had gained a lot here. Most importantly—she had a daughter who shared her blood.

    She didn’t want to give up all this, and she couldn’t gamble with life and death with such a small probability of success.

    Against the backdrop of death, the feasibility of the first option immediately dropped to below ten percent.

    Ming Fei buried her flushed face in her hands, took a deep breath, and then raised her head and asked,

    “How does Jiejie know all this?”

    Whether before or after knowing Ming Fei’s alpha identity, Zhu Yiqiao, in her high position, knew everything about Ming Fei’s life after her transmigration.

    They held the same secret, but the information gap between them was like a chasm.

    Zhu Yiqiao decided to be generous: “Because before transmigrating, I was a member of the Ole Empire’s royal family.”

    Hearing this, Ming Fei finally understood the source of Zhu Yiqiao’s information, and her trust in her deepened. After all, the royal family controlled everything in the Ole Empire, and even the servants who served the royal family knew more than ordinary people.

    She tentatively asked, “Is there really no other option?”

    “No.”

    After a moment of silence, Ming Fei asked apologetically, “Will a temporary mark between two alphas have any negative effects on Jiejie’s body?”

    Hearing this question, Zhu Yiqiao, still as aloof as an untouchable flower, looked at Ming Fei, but her pheromones became even more excited, almost urging her to release more, wanting to fill the white flesh of this pear with her scent.

    “No.”

    Zhu Yiqiao said, “I will help you maintain stability until we return to the Independent State of Yi Meng.”

    “What about after that?”

    “You’ll know when we get back.”

    Ming Fei’s eyelashes fluttered with embarrassment. After all, it was a little awkward to change her mind so decisively after making a decision.

    But she didn’t want to waste any more time. She knew that Zhu Yiqiao had a lot to do after the attack at the banquet, so she directly unbuttoned her pajamas, turned sideways, and exposed her gland, as unguarded as a gentle and loyal canine.

    “Sorry to trouble you, Jiejie.”

    Zhu Yiqiao’s gaze first landed on the scar in the center of the gland, very faint, but clearly a knife wound. Gradually, the playful woody scent calmed down, and as if comforting, surrounded the pear scent it uniquely favored.

    A spring tide surged in the room, the two pheromones intertwining.

    This was the first time Ming Fei directly experienced Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromones.

    Her lack of physiological knowledge prevented her from recognizing that this wasn’t an alpha’s pheromone at all, and the temporary marking they were about to undergo was actually a reverse temporary marking, from an omega to an alpha.

    In the public perception of the Ole Empire, only alphas could mark omegas; there was no such thing as an omega marking an alpha.

    Firstly, because it had always been this way.

    Secondly, because alphas were unwilling to be marked by omegas, who were considered to be in a weaker position, even though a reverse temporary marking wouldn’t have any effect.

    Therefore, even though the pain an omega endured during a marking far outweighed the pleasure, they were always told that they could only be marked, never mark.

    The pheromone concentration in the room reached its peak.

    Ming Fei waited quietly, a little nervous about the unknown, but didn’t show it, trusting Zhu Yiqiao completely.

    A cold fragrance approached.

    The person behind her said slowly, “One last time, are you sure?”

    Ming Fei didn’t look back: “Mm.”

    Then—

    Fangs pierced her gland, and Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromones gradually merged with hers. As her head spun, the burning heat in her body receded like a tide.

    A temporary marking lasted only a short time.

    Especially a reverse temporary marking.

    Zhu Yiqiao watched Ming Fei’s condition with her peripheral vision, while Ming Fei was stiff as a wooden figure.

    A reverse temporary marking from an omega to an alpha could indeed have a certain soothing effect, enough to alleviate the premonition of a heat cycle.

    But Zhu Yiqiao also knew very well that the effect of a reverse temporary marking, compared to an alpha’s marking of an omega, was actually very different.

    When an alpha’s heat cycle truly arrived, the effect of a reverse temporary marking was negligible.

    And if it really reached the point where a proper marking was needed…

    Her thoughts raced, and the color of Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes deepened.

    Soon, the reverse temporary marking ended, and the resulting pheromone fusion made Ming Fei clearly perceive that Zhu Yiqiao’s pheromones seemed reluctant to leave.

    Like flowers nourished by the spring rain, longingly wishing for the rain to fall again and stay forever.

    Why the reluctance?

    …Was it because they were very compatible?

    This made Ming Fei feel a little strange, but she didn’t think too much about it, after all, pheromones were complex and difficult to understand.

    She buttoned up her pajamas, and after sensing that there was nothing unusual about her body, she subconsciously looked at Zhu Yiqiao.

    Because of the reverse temporary marking, they were very close, and Ming Fei hadn’t completely recovered from her drowsy state.

    When she suddenly turned her head, Zhu Yiqiao also suddenly moved forward. So, before their eyes met, Ming Fei’s soft lips brushed against Zhu Yiqiao’s chin.

  • Friend(GL) 100

    Chapter 100: Miss Me

    You Ruxu was kicked out, along with Zhou Tianzui. Zhou Tianzui said, “My phone’s broken, I’m going to get a new one.”

    It had only been a couple of hours, but the informant appeared during that time, and then escaped. You Ruxu, losing control, went to Zhou Tianzui’s apartment.

    Zhou Tianzui said, “My mom, she needs some time.”

    “It’s okay, as long as you’re alright.” You Ruxu paused. “As long as Auntie is alright.”

    The two police officers stood outside on the stairs, unable to hear their conversation clearly. Zhou Tianzui said, “Tonight…”

    “Don’t come over tonight.” You Ruxu said, “Stay home with Auntie?”

    Remembering Yu Qiao’s expression earlier, You Ruxu’s heart ached. Zhou Tianzui paused, “I’ll be at the hospital tonight, I’m on duty.”

    You Ruxu looked up at Zhou Tianzui, her eyes still red, her jacket unzipped, her clothes thin. Zhou Tianzui bent down, crouched in front of You Ruxu, and zipped up her jacket. You Ruxu was only wearing a thin hospital gown, the fabric clinging to her skin from the wind. Zhou Tianzui’s hand rested on her knee, a comforting warmth. She said, “Give my mom some time.”

    She pulled the hood of You Ruxu’s jacket over her head. You Ruxu’s gaze followed her movements, nodding slightly, “Mm-hmm.”

    Zhou Tianzui glanced at the two officers not far away, touched You Ruxu’s face, “It’s cold, go back.”

    You Ruxu let Zhou Tianzui help her into the car.

    The car’s heater was on, and it was warm inside. You Ruxu touched her knee, then her cheek, still carrying Zhou Tianzui’s warmth, the faint scent of disinfectant. She looked down and heard the officer driving say, “Reporter You, you’ve known Dr. Zhou for a long time, haven’t you?”

    You Ruxu said, “Over three years.”

    Just as she finished speaking, she received a call from Captain Zhou, who said they had caught the informant. You Ruxu breathed a sigh of relief, “When?”

    “Just now.” Captain Zhou said, “You—”

    Did you see Zhou Tianzui?

    She paused, then said, “You can relax now.”

    You Ruxu said, “Okay, thank you.”

    The arrest of the informant wasn’t made public yet, only a few people involved in the case knew. Captain Zhou subtly revealed this information to Zhou Heng, who became even more agitated.

    He wasn’t the type to resort to murder.

    Captain Zhou had met him a few times, had a good grasp of his character, but now, he was the prime suspect, his name publicly announced, he was trapped. He had orchestrated the kidnapping. Confessing meant certain punishment, not confessing, being accused of murder, also meant certain punishment.

    His lawyer advised him not to confess, claiming they could win the case.

    But they had caught the informant, and the driver who kidnapped Xu Jinwan. The lawyer’s words and the police’s words clashed in his mind. During the last interrogation, they didn’t ask many questions, just brought him in, asked a few questions they had already asked before, a mere formality, they already had enough evidence to convict him.

    Zhou Heng was on edge, his gaze constantly drifting towards the door.

    Captain Zhou, looking at the computer screen, observed his every move. The officer monitoring the interrogation said, “Was he really the one behind Xu Jinwan’s disappearance?”

    With his intelligence.

    It didn’t seem likely.

    Captain Zhou didn’t reply.

    If Xu Jinwan hadn’t been killed, the plan would have been perfect, Fengyuan would have cleared its name, its image even improved, and the TV station would have been discredited, Xu Jinwan’s previous reports deemed false.

    Killing three birds with one stone.

    This plan didn’t seem like something Zhou Heng could come up with.

    She said, “It wasn’t him, there must be someone else.”

    Someone who wanted Xu Jinwan dead.

    The officer watching the monitor said, “What a bastard, how’s Reporter You doing now?”

    You Ruxu, back at the hospital, was coughing slightly from being exposed to the cold, but thankfully, her fever hadn’t returned. She took some medicine. The doctor said, “You can’t be running around like this, you need to rest.”

    “I know.” You Ruxu said, “I’ll rest.”

    The doctor, although unaware of why she went out, but knowing her profession and the reason she was hospitalized, said sympathetically, “You work too hard.”

    You Ruxu said, “You’re the one who works hard.”

    She offered the doctor a piece of fruit. The doctor smiled. You Ruxu also gave some fruit to the two police officers stationed outside her door and asked, “Now that you’ve caught the informant, does that mean the case is solved?”

    The officer in front of her said, “Captain Zhou said they’re still waiting for Zhou Heng’s confession.”

    You Ruxu nodded, taking a bite of the fruit. Remembering Yu Qiao’s expression earlier, the fruit suddenly tasted bitter and sour, difficult to swallow.

    That night, she received a message from Zhou Tianzui: [I’m here.]

    Knowing she was at the hospital, You Ruxu relaxed, her mood lifting slightly. Zhou Tianzui didn’t come to her ward, but sat in her office. He Wei said, “Dr. Zhou, is your cold better?”

    Zhou Tianzui’s fever had subsided after taking medicine, but she had taken an extra day off to be with Yu Qiao. It was originally Fu Shushu’s turn for the night shift, but she had switched with Zhou Tianzui last time, so Zhou Tianzui was on duty tonight.

    She nodded: “It’s gone.”

    He Wei poured her a cup of hot tea. Lin Luo glanced at Zhou Tianzui, trying to find a topic of conversation. It was a quiet night, not much to do, everyone busy typing on their computers, updating patient files. He Wei, seeing Lin Luo still there, was surprised, “Are you working overtime?”

    Lin Luo, her gaze on Zhou Tianzui, quickly looked away, “Yes, overtime, I have nothing to do at home anyway, might as well learn more here.”

    He Wei’s lips twitched.

    She had never seen anyone like this, others couldn’t wait to leave after work, but Lin Luo, not only did she stay, she even volunteered for overtime, was she a fool? She didn’t usually talk to Lin Luo, so she turned to another doctor, “Hey, have they found that missing baby from the maternity hospital yet?”

    “Which one?” The doctor asked, then after a moment, “That newborn? No, it’s strange, they checked the surveillance footage, but couldn’t find anything.”

    Zhou Tianzui looked up, “What baby?”

    “Dr. Zhou, you haven’t heard?” He Wei said, “A newborn was taken from the maternity hospital two nights ago, they still haven’t found the baby.”

    The family was frantic, but with the Fengyuan and Xu Jinwan incidents dominating the headlines, although the news was reported, many people still didn’t know about it, Zhou Tianzui included, “What about the surveillance footage?”

    “They checked it.” He Wei said, “But there’s nothing, people online are even saying it’s an inside job.”

    Lin Luo muttered, “How is that possible? If it was an inside job, why would they go to the hospital to give birth?”

    Wouldn’t it be easier to do it at home?

    He Wei said, “Who knows, but the rumors are getting wilder and wilder.”

    Zhou Tianzui browsed the news, reading the brief report, the landline on her desk ringing. She answered, it was the director, “Dr. Zhou, disable the security system.”

    Zhou Tianzui hung up and contacted the nurses’ station, asking them to disable the system.

    Lin Luo asked, “Disable the security system?”

    They didn’t usually disable it, it was inconvenient for visitors, sometimes people forgot their access cards and had to wait, which often led to complaints, it seemed the news about the missing baby had reached here as well. Zhou Tianzui said, “Go check if it’s been disabled yet.”

    Lin Luo nodded, “Okay.”

    He Wei chimed in, “Is it because of the maternity hospital incident?”

    Zhou Tianzui glanced at her coldly. He Wei shrank back, hearing Zhou Tianzui say, “I’m going on my rounds, He Wei, come with me.”

    They didn’t usually do rounds at night, but with the security system disabled, it was best to check on the patients, just in case. Zhou Tianzui and He Wei went from ward to ward. He Wei reported, “We admitted three expectant mothers today, one is ten days past her due date, currently on oxytocin, one scheduled for a C-section tomorrow, Dr. Fu’s patient, and the other one has been complaining of abdominal pain, but there’s no sign of labor yet, so she’s just staying in the ward for observation, they’re all sharing a room.”

    Zhou Tianzui looked at her, “Sharing a room?”

    Each ward had three beds, but in their hospital, C-section patients were usually separated from natural birth patients. He Wei explained, “The C-section patient was originally assigned to room 22, but seeing it was empty, she said she was scared to stay alone, and insisted on being with other patients, so they moved her to room 21.”

    Zhou Tianzui didn’t think much of it, changing wards was common. She entered ward 21. Two expectant mothers were eating fruit, chatting. The third one, lying on the bed furthest from the door, her husband sitting beside her, playing on his phone.

    “What are you naming your baby? Have you decided on a name yet?”

    “Not yet, my husband can’t make up his mind. You?”

    “Same here, we’ve been looking through dictionaries these past two days. We’ll have a name by the time the baby’s born, but I’ve already decided on a nickname, ‘Manman’ (Slowly), since she’s taking her sweet time in my belly.” Ten days past her due date, oxytocin ineffective, needing a C-section now, her tone slightly exasperated, yet also filled with the gentle joy of an expectant mother. Zhou Tianzui walked over to the woman nearest to the door, “Is your stomach still hurting?”

    “It’s not hurting anymore.” The woman said, “You’re Dr. Zhou, right?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes.”

    “My sister-in-law had her C-section with you, she said you’re excellent at stitching, and told me to look for you.” Zhou Tianzui said, “All our doctors are excellent surgeons.”

    “That’s true.” The woman smiled. Her husband peeled a tangerine for her, which she offered to Zhou Tianzui, “Dr. Zhou, want some?”

    Zhou Tianzui shook her head, “No, thank you.”

    She glanced at the woman in the furthest bed, who seemed to find their conversation disturbing. She had drawn the curtains, turning her back to them. Zhou Tianzui left the ward and returned to her office. He Wei commented, “People are so different.”

    The doctor opposite her looked up, “What are you so sentimental about?”

    He Wei said, “Just random thoughts, from our rounds just now, in ward 21, the husband of the woman in bed 63, acting as if his wife giving birth has nothing to do with him, so infuriating.”

    “Bed 63? I know him.” The other doctor said, “That man is ridiculous, completely clueless, doesn’t even know how far along his wife is, about to give birth, and he doesn’t even know the last time she had a checkup.”

    “Seriously, some people shouldn’t be parents.”

    Zhou Tianzui sat at her computer, listening to their chatter, and looked out the window, the streetlights casting a bright glow, the roads clearly visible. She finished updating a patient’s file and took out her phone, messaging You Ruxu: [Are you asleep?]

    You Ruxu quickly replied: [Not yet.]

    Zhou Tianzui: [What are you doing?]

    You Ruxu pursed her lips. She wasn’t doing anything, just lying there, unable to sleep, Yu Qiao’s cold gaze flashing in her mind every time she closed her eyes, like needles pricking her heart. After a moment, she replied: [Staring into space.]

    Zhou Tianzui: [Thinking of me?]

    You Ruxu: […]

    Sometimes, she really liked Zhou Tianzui’s seemingly nonchalant attitude, as if she could handle anything, that Yu Qiao just needed a little more time, and she would accept them.

    Zhou Tianzui kept giving her this hope.

    You Ruxu, clinging to this hope, her mood lifting slightly, replied: [Yes.]

    Zhou Tianzui: [Yes, what?]

    You Ruxu paused for a few seconds, then typed: [Thinking of you.]

    Zhou Tianzui: [Keep thinking then, I’m on duty tonight, can’t come over, I’ll come see you after my shift.]

    You Ruxu’s gloomy mood instantly brightened. She replied: [Okay. Are you free tomorrow?]

    Zhou Tianzui sent a question mark.

    You Ruxu typed: [My aunt’s coming tomorrow, I can’t pick her up from the airport, could you?]

    Zhou Tianzui: [Okay, say it again.]

    You Ruxu: [Say what?]

    Zhou Tianzui: [Say you miss me.]

    You Ruxu pursed her lips, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.

    Zhou Tianzui: Say you miss me.
    You Ruxu: I miss you.
    Zhou Tianzui: What do you miss about me?
    You Ruxu: …

  • Sickly Girl Doesn’t Die in Zombie Simulator 130

    Chapter 130: Autopilot Surgery

    “Clank… clank…”

    In Kun City, the fire still raged, but in an untouched area, vines, stretching between the building-trees, were transporting a young woman with long black hair.

    Soon, she reached the burning zone, where a massive fungal carpet was withering and shrinking under the intense heat, its tendrils curling and blackening.

    “Yibai…”

    The fire stopped here; the battle was over; Huayibai and her sister had stopped the fire-wielding Awakened.

    The girl’s gaze shifted from the burning fungal mass, scanning the area.

    She had to find her sister and Huayibai.

    Her sister was her main concern.

    Huayibai had spores within her, and more in Chongyu City and America, ready to be revived.

    But her sister… she was just an ordinary Awakened; death was permanent for her.

    She quickly spotted her sister, lying on the ground in an open area, a small, white figure beside her.

    Found them…

    Lin Jiayao controlled the vines, lifting her sister and Huayibai, carrying them through the interconnected network, deeper into the city.

    After crossing a firebreak of dead trees, they were gently placed on the ground.

    The inferno raged on the other side, but the firebreak held.

    “Hoo…”

    Lin Jiayao breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at her sister and Huayibai, lying motionless.

    She had sensed her sister’s heartbeat earlier, confirming she was alive.

    But seeing her sister’s injuries now made her breath catch in her throat.

    Large portions of her sister’s body were burned, her hair singed.

    Her right hand and arm were the worst, the flesh and muscle melted away, revealing charred bone, covered in soot and ash.

    And her sister’s tightly furrowed brow, even in her unconscious state, showed she was in agony.

    “Whimper…”

    A soft cry from beside her caught Lin Jiayao’s attention.

    Huayibai’s small body trembled, also clearly in pain.

    The fungal carpet…

    She gently lifted Huayibai, stroked its head, and whispered, “You did well…”

    Although she didn’t know the details of the battle, she knew that without her sister and Huayibai stopping that fire-wielding man, Wu Hejun might have burned down the entire city.

    Holding Huayibai with her left hand, she pricked her right index finger with a bone spike, a drop of blood welling up.

    She brought her finger to Huayibai’s lips.

    Huayibai was in pain; her blood, with its numbing properties, would offer some relief.

    As Huayibai swallowed the few drops of blood, its furrowed brow relaxed, its trembling ceased, and it fell asleep.

    Gently placing Huayibai on the ground, Lin Jiayao turned her attention back to her sister.

    How… how do I heal her hand and the burns?

    Awakened weren’t like fungal zombies, able to regenerate with just blood crystals.

    Such severe burns… even if they healed, there would likely be permanent scarring and possibly even disability.

    She quickly reviewed her abilities, her lips pursed in thought.

    Suddenly, she remembered something and quickly opened the system interface, navigating to the Medical Station in the Hideout.

    Her gaze fixed on the fourth option.

    「4、【Autopilot Surgery 1000g】: System-assisted surgery, allowing the host to perform a perfect operation, including but not limited to limb reattachment, bone setting, internal organ repair, and intracranial hemorrhage treatment…」

    “System, what exactly does ‘Autopilot Surgery’ mean? How effective is it? Explain in detail.”

    「The system will utilize all available resources and the host’s abilities to restore the patient to the best possible condition given the current circumstances.」

    “And it only costs two blood crystal stones?”

    「Two crystals are just the activation fee. Any additional resources consumed during the surgery will be deducted from the host’s reserves.」

    Lin Jiayao didn’t hesitate. She transferred two blood crystal stones.

    This was the best option.

    If her sister was left with any permanent damage, even if she didn’t mind, it would pain Lin Jiayao every time she saw it.

    She would spare no expense to heal her.

    A prompt appeared.

    「Commence Autopilot Surgery?」

    “Yes.”

    A strange sensation, her consciousness rising, observing her body from a third-person perspective.

    And her body, no longer under her direct control, began to move, the sensations still transmitted to her.

    She watched as her body took a deep breath and, amidst the smoke and ash, slowly raised its hands.

    Several vines connected to her arms, supplying energy.

    And bone spikes, erupting from the back of her neck, extended down her spine, reaching her waist, then her thighs, finally touching the ground.

    The bone spikes, forming a sort of exoskeleton, secured her hips and legs.

    And then, supported by this exoskeleton, she stood up.

    It wasn’t her legs moving, but the bone spikes.

    She could create a similar structure herself.

    But she hadn’t, worried about the structural integrity and comfort, afraid of accidentally breaking her own bones.

    So, she’d always used the bone spikes directly for locomotion, never connecting them to her legs.

    But now, with this system-generated exoskeleton as a reference, perhaps she could try it.

    While she was still studying the exoskeleton, the system began the surgery.

    The vines connected to her hands glowed green, and the vines beneath her sister’s body rose, forming a makeshift operating table.

    And on the table, a variety of surgical instruments, formed from tendrils and coated with her blood, their numbing properties eliminating the need for anesthesia, materialized.

    As if to increase efficiency, the system generated four identical spore clones, each performing a different task simultaneously.

    The surgery was gruesome, Lin Jiayao almost having to avert her gaze several times.

    It wasn’t her sister’s wounds that disturbed her, but the system’s… methods.

    Whenever blood or skin grafts were needed, the system showed no hesitation, directly drawing blood and peeling skin from Lin Jiayao’s body.

    But despite the seemingly brutal process, her sister’s body was rapidly healing.

    She hadn’t known her own skin had such potent healing properties.

    The skin grafts, placed on her sister, seamlessly replaced the burned areas, even matching her skin tone perfectly.

    But it wasn’t just a simple skin graft; the system was also injecting tendrils beneath the surface.

    A combination treatment.

    Then, it started harvesting bone…

    If Lin Jiayao hadn’t known she had Bone Regeneration, she would have interrupted the system.

    Watching the system work, she learned several new techniques and combinations, a valuable lesson.

    She had an abundance of abilities, and more to come; using them effectively, combining them, was key.

    With five Lin Jiayos working simultaneously, the surgery was completed in less than half an hour.

    The spore clones then dissolved, their essence returning to Lin Jiayao.

    The vine-platform lowered, the exoskeleton retracted, and her body collapsed beside her sister.

    She regained control.

    “Hoo…”
    “Hiss…”

    She inhaled sharply, the pain from the harvested skin and bone hitting her like a wave.

    Especially the missing ribs; that was the worst.

    Her fingernails dug into the vines beneath her, cold sweat dripping from her forehead.

    Drawing a large amount of sap from the Vascular Network to enhance Bone Regeneration, she sat there for almost half an hour, until most of her skin had healed, then finally relaxed.

    It’s done…

    She looked at her sister, her expression peaceful from the anesthesia, and felt a wave of relief.

    She placed her hand on her sister’s chest, feeling her steady heartbeat and breathing.

    She looked at the burning cityscape in the distance, the flames and smoke almost obscuring the sky, but their threat now gone.

    It’s finally over… I can finally rest…

    Mental and physical exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her. The battle and the system’s surgery had drained her.

    She moved closer to her sister, lay down beside her on the vines, and gently wrapped her arms around her waist.

    The vines, under her control, extended and intertwined above them, forming a protective cocoon, a makeshift room.

    Although not completely sealed, it shielded them from the fire’s glow and the falling ash. Using vines for shelter… she had learned that from the system.

    Then, several vines lifted the cocoon, suspending it in the air, gently swaying in the breeze.

    And Lin Jiayao, cradled in her sister’s arms, the gentle rocking motion lulling her to sleep, drifted into a state of semi-consciousness, her body healing.

    Although she knew there were still things to do – like dealing with the Voodoo Cult’s headquarters – she was simply too exhausted.

    She would decide later, after resting.

    “Yao…” Her sister, still under the influence of the anesthetic, murmured her name in her sleep, her hand reaching out, grasping at the air, before falling still again.

    The next morning, when Lin Jiayao woke up, her sister was still asleep.

    But her condition was much better than yesterday.

    Lin Jiayao could tell from the way her sister’s hand, which had somehow found its way under her shirt, was now resting on her waist.

    She felt refreshed and invigorated, her mood light.

    Not just because of the morning sun, but also because a major threat had been eliminated.

    No more running.

    With the Vascular Network ability, she could keep her sister and Huayibai safe in Kun City.

    They could settle down here, build a new life.

    Lin Jiayao gently parted the vines and looked at the smoldering ruins in the distance.

    As expected, the fire hadn’t spread this far; most of Kun City’s building-trees and vines remained intact.

    Now, she just had to figure out how to explain her unusual abilities to her sister.

    Hopefully, her sister would accept her “ability to control zombies in her dreams and gain their evolutions,” which sounded… like a glitch in the system.