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  • Back to Three Years Old: Crushing Scumbags on a Parenting Reality Show 131p1

    Chapter 131p1

    “It’s okay, I told you I was fine, Yan Yan, don’t be scared.”

    “Yan Yan, come sit closer, you can sit on this bed.”

    “Hey, there are cookies on the table, Yan Yan, are you hungry?”

    “Yan Yan…”

    …

    Chatter, chatter, chatter…

    “Will you shut up and let the doctor examine you properly!” Wei Chengli said, his initial worry turning into a throbbing headache.

    Of course, he asked her to be quiet because he was worried, definitely not because the little rascal never chattered like this with him.

    “Why should I be quiet! I have to watch carefully!” Wei Maomao said, tilting her head as she cooperated with the doctor, raising her arms, kicking her legs. “Why should I shut up, does the doctor need to examine my mouth!”

    It was her fault earlier, she was too focused on pooping and gathering evidence, she was worried about Yan Yan walking around and slipping, but she forgot that the six-year-old Yan Yan would be scared, she spoke too loudly in her panic, and scared her to tears. Now she had to seize the opportunity and comfort her properly.

    “… “ Wei Chengli, speechless from the little rascal’s retort, was so angry that he almost headbutted something.

    But that little menace, after annoying him, turned to Yan Yan as if nothing had happened.

    “Yan Yan…” Wei Maomao said, struggling to turn her head to look at Cheng Tingyan as she lifted her chubby foot according to the doctor’s instructions.

    “Maomao, focus on your checkup, we’ll talk later.” Cheng Tingyan said softly, interrupting the little chubby bunny’s call, she glanced at Wei Chengli, who was leaning against the wall, looking exasperated. Seeing the little chubby bunny pout, about to speak again, she blushed slightly and added in a low voice, “I’m fine now, I… won’t cry anymore… I’ll just stay here and not move, you focus on your checkup.”

    Wei Maomao glanced at the stethoscope the doctor took out, she wiggled her body and agreed. “Okay.”

    Wei Chengli: “… “ All his earlier words were wasted!

    The little chubby dumpling was annoying, but her chubbiness was also useful.

    After the doctor finished the examination and asked the little one to demonstrate the falling posture twice on the bed, he concluded that she was fine. Of course, he still reminded Wei Chengli to observe her closely tonight and contact the doctor immediately if there were any problems.

    Wei Chengli, his ears perked up, afraid of missing a single word, nodded repeatedly, he even asked a few more questions before gratefully seeing the doctor out.

    When he turned back…

    Oh, he shouldn’t have turned back, he should have just left with the doctor.

    “Enough, you’re all dirty, and you still have the nerve to get close to Yan Yan.” Wei Chengli said, humming.

    “We’re far apart!” Wei Maomao said, dissatisfied, she gestured the distance between her and Cheng Tingyan with her hands.

    Yes, yes, yes, two chubby fists apart, very far… Wei Chengli rolled his eyes, he reached out to grab the dumpling. “Come on, let’s go take another shower, Dad will wash you, you might slip again if you do it yourself.”

    A bolt from the blue!

    “I’ll wash myself!” Wei Maomao, startled, reacted with unprecedented speed, she quickly took two steps back, dodging Wei Chengli’s attack.

    “No way!” Wei Chengli said firmly, refusing. “What if you slip again! Come on, I still have to wash the bed sheet you rolled on, don’t waste time.”

    “No! I won’t slip here!” Wei Maomao said, scrambling from the bed to the other side. “Boys can’t watch girls shower! I’m not showering! I’m sleeping like this!”

    Wei Chengli laughed in exasperation. “What boy! I’m your dad!”

    “You’re not a boy, are you a girl then!” Wei Maomao said, running around the room like a pig about to be slaughtered, dodging the “butcher’s” attacks again and again.

    “Stop running! You’ll fall again!” Wei Chengli said, stopping, he was about to faint from anger.

    “Well…” Cheng Tingyan said weakly. “Sister Mingming… Girls…”

    “Right, right, right! Let Sister Mingming come in and be with me!” Wei Maomao said, she was also speechless at her own brain for forgetting about Liu Ming. It was mainly because Wei Chengli’s words earlier scared her so much that she almost forgot about Liu Ming.

    It’s okay… She had already been watched pooping… This time, she would just have Liu Ming face the wall.

    “Yan Yan is truly smart.” Wei Maomao said, remembering to be nice, her little face turning towards Cheng Tingyan, her voice sweet.

    Wei Chengli: “… “

    He hadn’t forgotten about Liu Ming, but the little dumpling had just fallen, he was worried, so he wanted to take care of it himself. But this little rascal wasn’t even grateful, it was infuriating! What was wrong with a dad taking care of his three-year-old baby! She was only three years old!

    Wei Chengli, scared and angry from tonight’s events, his head throbbing, then he saw the little rascal, narrowly escaping, lying on the edge of the bed, panting… And Yan Yan, she even went over and patted her back.

    Wake up, Yan Yan! She only ran a few steps! And she’s already panting! Only you would believe her!

    “Then I’ll go find Liu Ming.” Wei Chengli said, unable to watch this drama queen and the naive one anymore, he was about to go and find someone.

    “No, Dad, wait.” Wei Maomao called out, stopping him.

    Wei Chengli turned back, confused.

    Wei Maomao rubbed her belly. “Sister Mingming is busy now, she’ll come and find me after she’s done, let’s wait here for a bit.”

    “Oh, right, she’s mopping the floor over there, right?” Wei Chengli said, looking at the dirty little dumpling. “Are you uncomfortable standing like this? Should I go find another staff member?”

    “No, I’ll wait for Sister Mingming.” Wei Maomao shook her head, refusing. She calculated, the doctor’s examination took a while earlier, they should have found it by now… She would soon know the final result.

    Indeed.

    Liu Ming found it.

    And not just found it.

    “Tsk, this area is truly sticky, stickier than the rest.” Qin Sichao said, squatting next to the green bed, rubbing the hand that had just touched the floor. “This is a bit scary.”

    Shi Dingshan, who had already touched the floor before Qin Sichao, didn’t say anything, his face dark. He had originally come to this villa to see Maomao, but as soon as he reached the first floor, he received a call from Liu Ming. He couldn’t understand what she was saying on the phone, so he came up, and he was truly shocked by what he saw.

    Liu Ming glanced at Shi Dingshan, she didn’t dare to answer Qin Sichao.

    After everyone left the room earlier, Liu Ming, following Wei Maomao’s instructions, used her wet hand to feel the floor, and after finding this anomaly by Wen Jiangyue’s bed, she immediately called Director Shi.

    Unexpectedly, Director Qin also came with Director Shi.

    Although both directors said it was fine to tell them, it wasn’t a secret, Liu Ming still insisted on pulling Shi Dingshan aside and explaining everything from beginning to end.

    Later, Director Shi didn’t hide anything from Director Qin, he summarized the situation. But Liu Ming still cautiously avoided talking to Director Qin.

    After all, this matter, how should she put it… It was indeed a bit scary, just like Director Qin said.

    “Okay, just mop the floor clean. If you can’t handle it alone, call someone to help you clean up, finish it as soon as possible.” Shi Dingshan said to Liu Ming, then looked at Qin Sichao. “Let’s go.”

    Liu Ming was stunned, she couldn’t help but say, “Just mop it clean? Then wouldn’t the evidence…”

    “What evidence? It’s just a patch of floor with some shower gel on it.” Qin Sichao said, looking at Liu Ming. “She could have brought it out on her shoes, accidentally spilled it, it could be residue from the previous guests… There are many possibilities.”

    “But…” Liu Ming said, thinking about the moment the bathroom door opened, seeing the little chubby dumpling sprawled on the floor, pitiful and helpless, she couldn’t swallow this injustice. “The security cameras in the room might have captured it…”

    “With such meticulous planning, would she be caught on camera? Even if she was, then what? Minors under twelve aren’t even criminally responsible for murder.” Qin Sichao said, glancing at the floor next to the bed, he sneered. “Three and a half years old, even if we catch her, it’s pointless. And with just a water bottle and a patch of floor, we can’t even catch her.”

    “Four children, staff members coming and going, many people could have touched those two things. The three children all showered in the bathroom before, and there are no cameras inside, there’s no way to know how that slippery water got there. What you know now is just a suspicion, without evidence, it can easily be refuted by another suspicion.” Shi Dingshan said, looking at the seemingly unconvinced Liu Ming, he sighed and explained patiently, “Maomao, who went in first, said it wasn’t slippery, let’s put her aside for now. Then there’s Yueyue, who went in second, and… Cheng Rongrong, the third. One said it wasn’t slippery, the other said it was, it’s already a ‘Rashomon*’ situation. There are no cameras in the bathroom, how can you determine who’s lying? Of course, you would say that Yueyue’s shoes became slippery because they touched the substance on the floor, that Yueyue wasn’t lying, it was Cheng Rongrong who was lying. But think about it, what if Yueyue was lying, what if she smeared the floor and then misled everyone into thinking Cheng Rongrong was lying?”

    *Rashomon effect: used to describe the phenomenon of the unreliability of eyewitnesses.*

    “And it could also be Little Maomao who smeared the floor between Yueyue and Cheng Rongrong’s beds, making their shoes slippery. Then she went in, made the floor slippery, and pretended to fall. Then she analyzed it for you step by step, using you to mislead others.” Qin Sichao said, his imagination running wild.

    Liu Ming’s head was spinning from their hypotheses, but she still clung to her last bit of rationality, she firmly denied, “No, it couldn’t be Maomao, we heard the sound of her slipping as soon as she went in. She didn’t have time to smear anything and even wash the water bottle.”

    “Haha, don’t be nervous, we’re just making hypotheses. But… since not many people witnessed this, it could be even scarier… For example, they could also say you were bribed, that she actually waited for a while before making the sound of falling.” Qin Sichao said with a smile. “And Yan Yan was outside the door at the time, right? Since they’re so close, people could also say that Yan Yan was lying.”

    Liu Ming took a step back, she felt a bit suffocated.

    “Okay, stop scaring her.” Shi Dingshan said, interrupting Qin Sichao’s rambling, he looked at Liu Ming. “Director Qin isn’t saying you’re lying, he’s just telling you that this evidence is too weak, it can’t withstand scrutiny. We can’t get to the bottom of this. Recently, there have been waves of people online defending the Cheng family and attacking Yan Yan and the other guests, you’ve seen it too, right? Clearly online trolls. It means the Cheng family loves doing this. So guess what, if we have no evidence, and we directly target Cheng Rongrong, make a big deal out of it, the things Director Qin just said, no, even worse things might happen.”

    Liu Ming bit her lip, not saying anything.

    She had to admit, Shi Dingshan was right.

    Today’s incident, it seemed too much like an “accident,” even if they called the police, it would be difficult to prove anything. And the public opinion storm would be terrifying…

    “Anyway, just keep this between us. I’ll talk to Maomao.” Shi Dingshan said, looking at the dejected Liu Ming, his voice softening. “You’re tired today, go and rest, I’ll call two other people to mop the floor.”

    After saying that, Shi Dingshan beckoned Qin Sichao, and they were about to go to Wei Chengli’s room.

    They had already reached the door when a soft female voice came from behind them.

    “You just called Maomao, Yueyue, Yan Yan… and Rongrong as Cheng Rongrong… You… also believe in Maomao’s suspicion, right?”

    Shi Dingshan didn’t answer.

    But Qin Sichao turned around and chuckled. “What else? Do we look like fools?”

    Fools, they were definitely not fools.

    “It doesn’t feel dry and stiff, it must have been smeared recently.”

    “She said it wasn’t slippery when she went in, that means she stepped on it after showering.”

    “It’s a pity the night market ended too late tonight, otherwise, the cameras in the room would still be on.”

    “It’s all your fault, being so considerate, they should have been on!”

    “Who would have thought this would happen, a three-and-a-half-year-old child wouldn’t even think of doing this, I wonder who taught her at home.”

    “My poor Little Maomao, is being cute a crime? To be hated like this…”

    “Wasn’t she quite clever just now? Have you forgotten who was supposed to go in next? Think about it carefully, who was it that you pitied?”

    “… Ah! Damn it!”

  • You’re Not Allowed to Kiss Me Anymore! [Quick Transmigration] 49p1

    Chapter 49 p1

    “Hahaha, Ms. Xu is really drunk!” Director Gao’s hearty laughter broke the stunned silence that had fallen over the room like a blanket of snow.

    Her carefree laughter dispelled the awkward tension caused by Xu Jingyu’s shocking words, bringing the room back to life.

    Meng Wanqing, sobered up by the unexpected turn of events, wiped the sweat from her brow, relieved that Director Gao was oblivious.

    Long live oblivious directors!

    But her own director wasn’t much sharper. She simply nodded, as if suddenly understanding.

    “Oh, so that’s why she called her ‘wife.’”

    “So Ms. Xu gets all lovey-dovey when she’s drunk. Unexpected. She’s quite the charmer.”

    Director Gao nodded in agreement. “She really startled me with that.”

    They continued chatting, their laughter echoing through the room.

    Meng Wanqing rolled her eyes. With their obliviousness, she wondered how they managed to film any love stories at all.

    The assistant director and the cinematographer, however, having overheard the conversation, covered their mouths with their hands, their eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.

    The assistant director, unable to contain herself, started trembling, her body swaying slightly.

    The cinematographer, her hand shaking, pinched her arm, trying to revive her.

    “Snap out of it! Pull yourself together!”

    After a moment, the assistant director recovered, her eyes shining as she grabbed her phone and started typing furiously, her message appearing in a group chat titled “Candy Squad.”

    The group had over 30 members, all crew members, their shared obsession clear.

    [OMG, OMG, OMG! (Assistant Director): Guys, I think we’re onto something real!]

    [Yaoyao is my baby! (Makeup Artist): ?]

    [Yaoyao is my baby! (Makeup Artist): What happened? I’m drunk. Just left.]

    [OMG, OMG, OMG! (Assistant Director): You’ll never understand the joy of witnessing this firsthand! You missed out!]

    [Just let me die. (Xi Yue): Get to the point.]

    [Xin Yao is MY wife, not yours! (Cinematographer): Just now!]

    [OMG, OMG, OMG! (Assistant Director): Just now, Ms. Xu, drunk as a skunk, grabbed Xin Yao’s hand and called her ‘wife’! Right in front of us!]

    [OMG, OMG, OMG! (Assistant Director): I was standing right there! It was glorious!]

    [OMG, OMG, OMG! (Assistant Director): They’re totally together! If they’re not, I’ll eat my hat!]

    [OMG, OMG, OMG! (Assistant Director): My ship has sailed! My life is complete!]

    [Yaoyao is my baby! (Makeup Artist): Holy shit!]

    [Just let me die. (Xi Yue): Holy shit!]

    [Just a humble worker. (Qian Yu): Holy shit!]

    …

    [Xiao Cen is working hard today! (University Student): Holy shit!]

    The chat exploded with shocked reactions.

    Their little CP fan group, a mere 30 members, had been operating in secrecy, their shared obsession a closely guarded secret.

    After all, Xu Jingyu had a massive fanbase, and Xin Yao, her reputation still tarnished, had more haters than fans.

    Who would believe them, who would dare to ship them, except for those who worked with them, who witnessed their interactions firsthand?

    Even they had been cautious, only sharing small, seemingly insignificant moments, their interpretations often exaggerated and wishful.

    For example, when Xin Yao napped on set, Xu Jingyu would always sit beside her, reading a book.

    Candy Squad: Totally shielding her from the sun! So protective!

    Or how Xin Yao often treated the crew to milk tea, but knowing Xu Jingyu didn’t like it, would always make her a special cup of red date tea.

    Candy Squad: Obvious favoritism!

    But they had been joking, their interpretations more wishful thinking than reality.

    They hadn’t actually believed it.

    But it was true!

    She had called her “wife”! In public! And Ms. Xu was even being all lovey-dovey!

    Ms. Xu, you’re so in love!

    [OMG, OMG, OMG! (Assistant Director): I’m so excited I can’t stop smiling!]

    [Xin Yao is MY wife, not yours! (Cinematographer): Calm down. I heard the zombie director say you have potential. You look like you’ve been infected. He wants you for a cameo in his movie.]

    [OMG, OMG, OMG! (Assistant Director): No way!]

    [Just let me die. (Xi Yue): I’m jumping up and down at home! My mom thinks I’m crazy!]

    [Just a humble worker. (Qian Yu): Aaaaaaaaaah!]

    [Yaoyao is my baby! (Makeup Artist): They’re actually together! When did this happen?!]

    The group chat was a flurry of excited messages, their joy almost palpable.

    Compared to the chaos online, the atmosphere on set was much calmer.

    Most people, slightly drunk and their minds a bit fuzzy, and the two directors being oblivious, hadn’t noticed the significance of Xu Jingyu’s words.

    The small incident seemed to have passed unnoticed.

    Xin Yao, looking at Xu Jingyu, who was still holding her hand, her gaze softening, a smile playing on her lips.

    Xu Jingyu, usually so aloof and composed, was acting strangely tonight.

    Her expression was calm, but her eyes, slightly unfocused from the alcohol, held a soft, almost vulnerable look, her demeanor unusually clingy and affectionate.

    And she had called Xin Yao “wife.”

    They weren’t even together.

    But the words had slipped out so easily, so naturally, as if she had been saying them in her mind for a long time.

    Xin Yao, hiding her amusement, let Xu Jingyu hold her hand, stepping closer, her voice a soft whisper.

    “I’m not going anywhere.”

    “Don’t hold on so tight. People are watching. Let go.”

    But Xu Jingyu’s grip only tightened.

    “No.”

    As they tugged at each other’s hands, Director Gao, having just returned from seeing off the zombie director, saw them and smiled.

    “You two are getting along so well now.”

    “Since Xin Yao didn’t drink tonight, and you’re staying on the same floor, could you please do me a favor and take Ms. Xu back to her room?”

    “I have to arrange for someone to clean up the set.”

    Xin Yao, of course, wouldn’t refuse.

    “Okay.”

    Meng Wanqing, also slightly drunk and exhausted from the afternoon’s snowball fight, also stood up to leave.

    “Yaoyao, I’m heading out. I’m exhausted. I need a shower and a good night’s sleep. I’ll leave Xu Jingyu to you.”

    Xin Yao smiled and waved.

    “Okay, be careful.”

    The assistant director and the cinematographer, seeing their cue, also prepared to leave, giving the “couple” some privacy.

    Although they really wanted to eavesdrop.

    They were the last ones left at their table, the other guests having already left.

    As Meng Wanqing and the others left, the room fell silent, only Xin Yao and Xu Jingyu remaining.

    The silence after the lively gathering, the dark, starry sky outside, the soft, white snow covering the ground, it all created a strangely intimate atmosphere.

    Winter had arrived early this year.

    Xin Yao looked at the snow, then at Xu Jingyu, her dark eyes fixed on Xin Yao’s face, and smiled, kneeling down before her.

    She looked up at Xu Jingyu’s face, her voice soft.

    “Are you really drunk?”

    “Do you even know who I am? You didn’t just call me ‘wife’ by accident, did you?”

    Xu Jingyu’s eyes, fixed on Xin Yao’s face, her grip tightening on her hand, she nodded.

    “You’re my wife.”

    “Don’t be silly,” Xin Yao laughed. “I’m not your wife.”

    Her denial made Xu Jingyu’s eyes flicker, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, her expression almost… vulnerable.

    She lowered her head, her voice a soft murmur.

    “You are my wife.”

    “Then,” Xin Yao squeezed her hand, “do you like me now? You can’t call me that if you don’t like me.”

    Xu Jingyu looked up, her beautiful eyes, reflecting the moonlight on the snow, shining brightly.

    But their dark depths still held a certain intensity, a silent question.

    She looked at Xin Yao, her lips pressed together, not speaking.

    Xin Yao, waiting for an answer, finally stood up.

    “It’s cold. Let’s go back. It’ll be difficult to walk if it starts snowing again.”

    Xu Jingyu, so close to Xin Yao, must have heard her, but she didn’t move, remaining silent.

    Xin Yao tugged at her arm, trying to pull her up, but she was like a statue, her body unyielding.

    What was she doing now?

    Drunk Xu Jingyu was surprisingly difficult to handle, her clinginess and her sulking a new and unexpected challenge.

    Xin Yao released her hand, turning to leave.

    “If you’re not coming, I’m leaving.”

    But as she turned, Xu Jingyu grabbed her wrist, her grip even tighter now, almost painful.

    Xin Yao looked back at her.

    Xu Jingyu’s eyes, dark and intense in the dim light, held a mix of vulnerability and possessiveness.

    “Yaoyao, are you leaving me?”

    Why did she keep asking that?

    Xin Yao didn’t understand, but Xu Jingyu’s expressions were always difficult to read, her emotions hidden behind a mask of indifference.

    Xin Yao could only try to reassure her, her hand reaching out to take Xu Jingyu’s.

    “Of course not. Why would I leave you?”

    “I’ve been waiting for you to understand, to come to me.”

    “And even if you don’t, I won’t leave you.”

    As she spoke, it started to snow again.

    If they didn’t leave now, they would be stranded, and driving in a blizzard was dangerous.

    Soothed by Xin Yao’s gentle words, Xu Jingyu finally relented, letting Xin Yao lead her away.

    They stepped out of the warm, brightly lit room and into the snowy night, their footsteps leaving a trail in the fresh snow.

    The moonlight, reflecting off the snow, elongated their shadows, their figures intertwined.

    The set was deserted, only the two of them walking hand in hand through the falling snow.

    As they walked, Xin Yao released Xu Jingyu’s hand, adjusting her scarf.

    Xu Jingyu, obediently, followed close behind.

  • The Grotesque Miss’s End Story v2c58

    Chapter Fifty-Eight: A Strange Ornament, The Company’s Deepest Secret

    Within the dimly lit cabin, the fireplace crackled, casting flickering shadows on the two figures within.

    A dark shadow lurked in the corner, silent and still.

    “Cough…”

    Philosopher, seated on a small stool, coughed violently. He looked even older than before, his wrinkled skin marked with dark spots resembling livor mortis.

    In just half a month, he had aged considerably, seemingly on the verge of death, yet a powerful life force still flickered within him.

    Educator sat on the sofa beside him, a connection established between them, his Myriad path ability sustaining Philosopher’s life.

    The childish yet aged boy closed his eyes, his mind seemingly elsewhere, until after a moment, he opened them, Philosopher’s deep, cloudy gaze fixed on him.

    “How did it go?”

    “She is indeed a Grotesque-side Awakened One with unprecedented aptitude.” Educator said gravely. “Far more powerful than the three of us, perhaps even comparable to… a Grotesquery Apostle.”

    Educator hadn’t left the cabin. It was an avatar created by Philosopher that had interviewed Alyssa.

    “I didn’t see any trace of the Company in her fate, but I can’t be certain. The ‘old man’s’ power… is comparable to ours.” Philosopher said slowly. “Educator, can you rule out the possibility of her being a Grotesquery Apostle?”

    Neither Philosopher nor the old man could constantly monitor all of Victoria. There were blind spots in their perception, a result of their ongoing power struggle.

    Therefore, Saint Alyssa’s fate, as seen by Philosopher, was fragmented, though the general outline was clear, seemingly nothing unusual.

    Educator remained silent for a long time, then shook his head. “We know too little about Apostles. I didn’t detect any signs, but I can’t be certain. Therefore, I only entrusted her with a basic task, revealing nothing else.”

    It was Educator’s domain that had suppressed Luo Ling’s spores, capable of specifically targeting and neutralizing Grotesqueries within its range. In previous tests, this suppression would sever a Grotesquery Apostle’s connection to their power source.

    However, it had no effect on Saint Alyssa, who showed no signs of distress, her expression unchanged.

    Although Educator had feigned great interest in this new Harbinger, the “Theologian,” he hadn’t revealed anything substantial about the Harbingers.

    Because he wasn’t certain.

    He wasn’t even sure if she was a pawn planted by the Company.

    Especially in this crucial period, they couldn’t afford any mistakes.

    Historian had explicitly expressed support for Philosopher’s path to godhood, so he wouldn’t interfere, even offering assistance.

    However, the three of them knew that the Harbingers’ complete plan wouldn’t be revealed to Historian, a precaution against betrayal.

    “Very good, such caution is necessary. However… if she’s not a problem, once she grows stronger, she will be a valuable asset.”

    Philosopher’s lips twitched slightly, as if smiling, but his wrinkled face made it hard to tell.

    “Philosopher, if you still intend to pursue godhood, you should act quickly.”

    Historian’s cold, emotionless voice echoed. “The Company isn’t just waiting.”

    Historian fell silent again, its dark form merging with the shadows.

    It rarely interfered with the other two’s decisions, only offering advice based on the Company directors’ actions… It was the same within the Company.

    Like a thin thread connecting both sides, subtle yet unbreakable.

    “Heh, this old body of mine can’t wait much longer.” Philosopher chuckled. “Don’t worry, when fate’s needle points to the right moment, I will ascend.

    “It won’t be… much longer.”

    …….

    Unlike the bustling daytime, the Church of Light cathedral was silent and empty after evening mass, the blind nun sitting alone in the central hall, facing the altar, seemingly in prayer.

    Religious, after escorting Alyssa back, had quickly left, as if in a hurry, likely to attend to his ascension preparations.

    It seemed the arrival of the “Theologian” had put some pressure on him.

    After Religious left, Luo Ling’s consciousness regained control of Alyssa.

    “Again… addicted to fleecing me, are you? I’ll make you pay for this one day…”

    Luo Ling grumbled, examining the object Educator had given her with her spore vision.

    It was an ornament-like object, a dark stone sphere suspended within a metallic, openwork frame, resting on a stone pedestal.

    It had been prepared by Educator beforehand. Luo Ling could sense the White Witch’s aura on it, even a faint semblance of her presence.

    This aura likely came from the White Witch’s dormant fungal threads in Jiangcheng County, perfectly preserved within this strange ornament.

    Luo Ling had sensed its unusual nature upon receiving it, but only now did she realize it was an incredibly intricate Sacred Tool.

    Although she seemed to possess several Sacred Tools, especially with Fiona gifting her one every time they met, they were incredibly valuable.

    Even an unsuitable Sacred Tool was rare.

    For example, the combined points earned by the entire Twintails Supreme team during their recent Incubation Barrier clearing missions weren’t enough to redeem even the lowest-level Sacred Tool.

    Crafting Sacred Tools was costly and time-consuming. Even the lowest-level ones were from Grotesqueries within the top three hundred Sequences. Anything lower wasn’t cost-effective, their power too weak, the success rate too low.

    Such Sacred Tools were usually practice pieces for apprentice crafters, their effectiveness far inferior to ordinary Sacred Tools… yet they were still in high demand.

    However, after a thorough examination, Luo Ling couldn’t discern this Sacred Tool’s purpose.

    The aura was just that, an aura. Although it mimicked the White Witch’s presence, it lacked any real power.

    After activating her “Kingdom” Authority, Luo Ling tried channeling the Puppet Ballad’s power into the ornament, only strengthening the aura, nothing else.

    “How strange…”

    Luo Ling placed the ornament on the altar, as instructed by Educator, then performed the sacrificial ritual.

    The sensation of sacrificing to herself was strange…

    But it was technically Alyssa sacrificing to the White Witch, and Alyssa was her Godchosen, so… it was normal.

    In fact, this was what Godchosen and God’s Favored were supposed to do, even Iris. Her and Elsa’s relationship was an exception.

    After the ritual, Luo Ling sensed that the Sacred Tool had gained a bit of the White Witch’s power, while she herself had lost a negligible amount.

    Such a small amount, like scraping a bit of dust from a skyscraper, easily overlooked if she wasn’t paying attention.

    “Not much different from before, except this lost power is now within the Sacred Tool.”

    Luo Ling frowned. What could such a small amount of power do? Even accumulating it for years wouldn’t be enough to cause a Dangerous Grotesquery level disaster.

    But she quickly dismissed the thought. She would figure it out later. For now, the Sacred Tool was in her possession. If anything happened, she could use Naraku’s power to change its ownership.

    Normally, a Sacred Tool’s ownership couldn’t be changed, unless its owner was dead, but for Naraku, it wasn’t a problem. She could simply “rewrite reality.”

    —Regardless of the previous owner, after rewriting reality, the owner would be her.

    In a way, Naraku’s first ability, “Ensnare,” was quite versatile, capable of disrupting the established order, as long as… she didn’t use it on herself.

    As Luo Ling was about to leave, allowing Alyssa to handle the Church of Light’s affairs, she heard a sound at the door.

    Luo Ling paused, then realized who it was.

    “…Sister?”

    Stasha whispered.

    “What’s wrong, Stasha?”

    Luo Ling turned her wheelchair towards the door, seeing the flaxen-haired girl peeking in hesitantly.

    Hearing her sister’s voice, Stasha sighed in relief and rushed over.

    She tripped midway, and Luo Ling, anticipating it through her spore vision, moved her wheelchair slightly, catching Stasha.

    However, since she was maintaining her blind persona, she didn’t reach out to steady Stasha, allowing her to fall into Alyssa’s arms.

    A softness Alyssa didn’t possess cushioned Stasha’s fall, her face buried in it.

    “Oh! Sister, are you… alright?”

    Stasha struggled to get up, but somehow just shifted her position, still in Alyssa’s arms.

    “I’m fine, but you, Stasha, should be more careful.”

    Luo Ling was amused by her clumsy sister, her lips twitching slightly. After helping Stasha up, she asked, “Why are you here so early? Shouldn’t you come later?”

    Alyssa usually had work to do, taking an hour or two, until the moon was high in the sky, before Stasha came to take her home.

    “I… I was afraid…”

    Stasha’s face was still slightly flushed, not from the physical contact, but from embarrassment.

    She hesitated, not finishing her sentence, but Luo Ling understood her concern.

    Afraid that, like before…

    After a casual parting, she would find her sister missing her legs, or her eyes gone.

    Or even worse, hearing that her sister had been dismembered. If Stasha hadn’t rushed to the church and seen her alive, it would have been a lifelong trauma.

    The past tragedies were like nightmares, even these three months of unbelievable happiness couldn’t erase the shadows, Stasha still fearing their recurrence.

    “That won’t happen again, Stasha.” Luo Ling stroked Stasha’s hair gently. “Sister… will be fine from now on.”

    “Okay… I know, sister.”

    Stasha felt like her sister had returned. She looked at her sister’s smile, a bright smile appearing on her own face.

    “But I still have to finish my prayers. You can sit here and wait, and we’ll go home together later, alright?” Luo Ling said gently.

    “Okay.”

    Stasha nodded, finding a seat and taking out a notebook, reading under the moonlight filtering through the stained-glass windows.

    This reminded Luo Ling of her high school days, always carrying notes for studying, a nostalgic feeling.

    …No, best not to dwell on high school.

    After reassuring her sister, Luo Ling withdrew her consciousness, allowing Alyssa to continue her duties.

    She had considered helping, but she didn’t know how to do Alyssa’s work…

    It was better to be a leader. That was a job she could handle, even without any specific skills, as long as she could manage her subordinates… which was practically instinctual for the Puppet Ballad.

    Back in her body, Luo Ling heard Elsa’s snores, closer than usual, her warm breath brushing against Luo Ling’s collarbone, her arms wrapped around her, even her little feet pressed against Luo Ling’s.

    “Is she afraid I’ll sneak away at night?”

    Luo Ling chuckled, but didn’t move.

    Night fell.

    ………..

    Unlike the desolate Slocken District, Victoria’s most prosperous district, London, was still brightly lit, even the performances at the Victoria Opera House hadn’t ended.

    However, Fiona, the opera house’s manager, wasn’t in her office, but in her room.

    Contrary to most people’s expectations, her living quarters were simple, just a bed and a dressing table.

    Even the bedside table was just a small stand, holding a candle that had been refilled countless times.

    This wasn’t due to frugality, but a long-standing habit.

    Fiona sat at her dressing table, her gaze fixed on the long-barreled firearm Sacred Tool, gently tracing its surface, then sighing softly.

    Even after hearing from Luo Ling that Linna might still be alive, she still couldn’t quite believe it, especially since Linna hadn’t returned after all these years… she couldn’t understand.

    Fiona’s expression turned serious.

    She took out a lamp-shaped Sacred Tool. As the lamp was lit, something seemed to shift within Victoria.

    Fiona’s presence…

    Vanished from Victoria’s past and present. The Fate Society now had only two constellations, and even in the “Hunt” team’s file, Frick was now listed as the captain.

    Although there were inconsistencies, they were difficult to notice immediately.

    …Even Philosopher of the Harbingers and the “old man” of the Company.

    “Now… it’s time to examine the results.” Fiona took out another Sacred Tool—as Victoria’s foremost Sacred Tool crafter, she had plenty.

    This Sacred Tool contained the results of her half-month investigation. The information was sensitive, and Fiona didn’t want to risk exposure.

    Her previous investigations had been fruitless due to interference, preventing her from finding any clues, let alone the culprit.

    Only after Luo Ling’s information had she finally found a starting point.

    Fiona’s high status granted her access to information far beyond Luo Ling’s surveillance network, especially the deliberately concealed truths.

    Under the lamp Sacred Tool’s protection, Fiona began to examine the information.

    “As expected…”

    After reviewing some of the information, a cold smile appeared on Fiona’s lips, her gaze sharpening as she looked towards the door.

    The other constellations were also involved, although not directly, their inaction a form of complicity.

    The Fate Society’s three constellations didn’t have a designated leader, maintaining a delicate balance of power, but Fiona’s exceptional talent in Sacred Tool crafting had earned her the support of many members, her influence gradually surpassing the other two.

    Of course, as fellow Fate Society members, they wouldn’t directly harm Fiona, merely withholding information.

    The result was the “Hunt” team’s tragedy.

    The “Hunt” team was Fiona’s most elite squad. Their annihilation was a devastating loss, and coupled with her years of grief, the other two constellations’ influence within the Fate Society had surpassed hers.

    However, the Torchbearers weren’t a monolithic entity either. This operation had been highly classified, known only to a single leader and a few high-ranking officials.

    If exposed, the Torchbearers would also face immense pressure.

    Even so, they had still paid a price.

    “You’re ruthless, Cheng Jianming…”

    A glint of anger flashed in Fiona’s eyes. She wasn’t one to be bullied without retaliating.

    As for who had obstructed her investigation…

    —Everyone.

    Including the Fate Society.

    No one wanted the truth revealed, except for a mother.

    “Simply saving the world… seems impossible now…”

    Fiona looked at a photo on her dressing table, a young Linna with a serious expression, Fiona smiling gently behind her.

    “Linna… this world is cruel, we’re struggling.” Fiona sighed deeply.

    There were also some fragmented pieces of information.

    Fiona examined them, sensing a connection.

    She remembered something Luo Ling had told her.

    “Victoria was about to experience a Taboo disaster, ‘Immortality’.”

    “Wait, this…”

    A terrifying thought formed in Fiona’s mind, connecting all the pieces.

    “It… it can’t be!”

    Fiona covered her mouth in disbelief.

    “The ‘Immortality’ disaster was orchestrated by the Company, and…”

    Fiona stopped the thought from surfacing.

    It couldn’t be revealed, even thinking about it… could be detected, even in her current state, hidden from Victoria.

    If discovered… she would be killed.

    The directors would stop at nothing to silence her.

    They had the power.

    Because this thought, this truth, was the Company’s deepest secret.

    Fiona took a small hammer-shaped Sacred Tool and struck her head, erasing the memory, but the unease lingered.

    She knew… it might be too late.

    And this truth couldn’t remain hidden.

    “I should leave a message for Miss Luo Ling.”

    Fiona took a deep breath.

    But the next moment, the candlelight flickered and died.

    The room was plunged into darkness.

  • Malicious Female Lead’s Guide to Causing Trouble [Quick Transmigration] 57p3

    Chapter Fifty-Seven p3

    Bo Chi and Yu Zhao stayed at the company for a day. Assistant Xu didn’t come back, and it was another employee who came to take over the tasks. Bo Chi didn’t hide anything, and when the employee tentatively joked, she directly admitted Yu Zhao’s identity.

    So when it got dark and it was already past closing time, Bo Chi finished all her work and went downstairs with her wife intimately. She saw that the usually empty office area still had more than half of the people staying in their seats. Seeing them coming down, they all turned their heads and stared at them intently.

    Bo Chi: “…”

    Good heavens, they looked like zombies in a biochemical movie.

    She was speechless for a while, and couldn’t help but ask: “Why aren’t you going home yet? Haven’t you finished today’s work?“

    The others were purely curious and wanted to see the ‘CEO’s wife’. At this moment, not only were they looking with their eyes, but some people were even secretly taking pictures.

    Hearing Bo Chi’s question, they quickly nodded obediently: “Yes, yes, yes, there are still some tasks that need to be finished.“

    Bo Chi didn’t suspect anything, and said helplessly: “It’s not safe to go back too late, and the work can’t be finished. Let’s call it a day.“

    The employees were moved, and thanked her excitedly. Some quick-witted ones directly began to praise the love between Bo Chi and Yu Zhao.

    Bo Chi was amused, and her eyes were curved when she left with Yu Zhao.

    After returning home, Yu Zhao started to cook, Bo Chi washed a plate of fruit, leaned against her, and occasionally fed her two cream grapes.

    After finishing the grapes sweetly, Bo Chi stopped disturbing Yu Zhao, and went to sit on the sofa, turning on her phone to surf the internet.

    She had been pampered since childhood, unlike Yu Zhao, who would go to work or study whenever she had free time, trying her best to improve herself.

    Bo Chi was a salted fish. She would only happily watch videos for the whole afternoon, sometimes admiring the beauty of beautiful older sisters, sometimes hugging her phone and crying that cats were the best in the world. In short, she didn’t do anything serious.

    After coming to this small world, she hadn’t suffered much either, and still had the same silly and sweet personality. She opened her phone and logged into Weibo.

    As usual, while browsing the trending topics, she saw Yu Zhao’s name at a glance.

    At first glance, she thought she had seen wrongly.

    Yu Zhao was now a complete nobody. If her name was on the trending topics, nine out of ten people would comment ‘Who is this‘

    Under such circumstances, which kind person would create hype for her for free?

    Not to mention the full title of this trending topic, which clearly said ‘Actress Yu Zhao’s sponsor exposed’. In the entertainment industry, which valued reputation very much, the malice in this trending topic was undisguised.

    Bo Chi didn’t even click on it, and directly called Xu Zhidie, wanting her to immediately suppress this trending topic. However, to her surprise, Assistant Xu, who never turned off her phone 24/7, couldn’t be reached this time.

    Bo Chi, who was used to leaving everything to Xu Zhidie, was stunned for a moment, but didn’t feel at a loss. Instead, she immediately called another employee and started giving instructions.

    After all, she didn’t lack anything.

    She just had a lot of money and a lot of employees.

    If one Assistant Xu couldn’t be counted on, she still had countless other Assistant Xus she could use.

    Xu Zhidie was never her only choice.

    Bo Chi saw this clearly, and after giving instructions, she had time to click on the trending topic and check it out.

    The trending topic was started by an anonymous marketing account, which claimed that Yu Zhao had no shame, and in order to become famous, she was willing to sell her body and cling to a rich sponsor. Now the sponsor had specially arranged a female lead role for her in a drama called “Rise of the Phoenix”, and asked netizens if they would watch it.

    Naturally, netizens scolded and rejected it, firmly stating that they would not watch this drama.

    If you said that there were no paid comments stirring up trouble, Bo Chi would be the first to not believe it.

    But compared to caring about these small figures, she cared more about who was targeting Yu Zhao.

    Tao Su?

    Although this person was stupid and vicious, she might not be willing to spend money to do this. Besides, she didn’t know that Yu Zhao had been chosen for the female lead role. If she knew, she wouldn’t cause trouble at this time. For the entertainment industry, being hated also meant having traffic. Being completely forgotten and not being included was the real frustration. Now that the production team wasn’t famous, and lacked publicity channels, if she did this, wouldn’t she be giving the production team free publicity?

    What if the hype worked, and Yu Zhao became famous because of this?

    This kind of mysterious thing, popularity, was really hard to say.

    Bo Chi was rarely smart, and put all her intelligence into finding out the truth for her wife.

    She came to a conclusion – the person who did this must be an outsider who didn’t understand the entertainment industry.

    She hadn’t figured out who this person was yet, but she immediately suspected Ming Songrui.

    Besides her, it seemed that no one else had a bad relationship with her wife, right?

    “What are you thinking about?” Yu Zhao walked over at some point, saw her staring at her phone in a daze, and asked casually.

    Bo Chi hesitated for a while, handed her the phone, and by the way, told her her guess.

    Yu Zhao listened quietly, refreshed her phone twice, and when she looked at the screen again, she saw that the trending topic had disappeared.

    She returned the phone to Bo Chi, and added: “This shouldn’t be Ming Songrui’s doing. Her family background is no worse than yours. If she was determined to deal with me, your employees would have called you for help by now. The fact that the trending topic was suppressed so easily shows that that person is not very capable, at least not as good as you in business.“

    As she spoke, she already had a guess in her heart.

    Glancing at Bo Chi, Yu Zhao thought for a while, and still said: “I think this was done by Assistant Xu.“

    Bo Chi was stunned, and a puzzled look appeared on her face, but she didn’t question it, and thought to herself: “If you say so, Xu Zhidie is indeed a bit strange. She usually never turns off her phone, but she turned it off at this time.“

    Yu Zhao wasn’t afraid of Xu Zhidie taking action, what she was afraid of was that the other party would always endure and restrain herself, not making any mistakes, always staying by Bo Chi’s side, acting as a small thorn in her and Bo Chi’s life.

    Now that the other party couldn’t bear it anymore and caused trouble, she actually curled her lips slightly, smiled happily, and then said: “Let’s investigate. If this was really done by Assistant Xu, then we can’t let her stay in the company anymore. She can buy a draft to slander me today, and maybe she will steal company secrets tomorrow. My matters are not important, but your company is very important, I don’t want you to stumble because of her.“

    Bo Chi was moved, and nodded repeatedly: “Don’t worry, if this really has something to do with Xu Zhidie, I definitely won’t be soft-hearted, and I’ll definitely fire her!“

    Yu Zhao smiled lowly: “Yes, I believe you.“

    The trending topic was short-lived. Many people scolded for a long time, but in the end, they didn’t even remember the name, only that it was the actress who was going to star in “Rise of the Phoenix”.

    The traffic of “Rise of the Phoenix” strangely increased, adding to the topic in reverse.

    Director Wei and the others were overjoyed, and shamelessly posted many stills, clearly wanting to take advantage of this wave of hype.

    Netizens were confused, but honestly attracted by the stills, and commented one after another.

    [Wow, who is the actress playing the female lead? She’s so beautiful!]

    [So pretty! How can someone be so cold and gorgeous at the same time?]

    [I came here from the trending topic, isn’t this a modern drama about a sponsor? Why are the stills all in ancient costumes?]

    [Following for the looks, does anyone know when this drama will be aired?]

    The dead official account welcomed a wave of fans who were attracted by the looks, and Director Wei’s hand was sore from replying to so many comments for the first time.

    Finally, after replying to all of them, he was still not satisfied. He stood up, picked up his coat, and continued to work overtime, striving to start filming and finish it as soon as possible.

    His hard work was not in vain. While Bo Chi was still thinking about who to ask to investigate Xu Zhidie, the production team sent news first, saying that the props team and the photography team were all ready, and were just waiting for Yu Zhao to join the crew and start filming.

    As the head of the company, Bo Chi naturally couldn’t stay in Hengdian for a long time. She could only watch Yu Zhao leave with pitiful eyes, like an abandoned kitten.

    Yu Zhao originally didn’t feel any sadness about parting, but seeing her like this – she couldn’t help but laugh.

    After laughing for a while, she came back with her things, closed the door while Bo Chi was confused, and kissed Bo Chi’s lips.

    After a whole week of delay, Bo Chi couldn’t take it anymore, and cried: “Please, go join the crew quickly! I work during the day and get fucked at night, I really dream of sleeping!“

    Yu Zhao hugged her waist and chuckled: “You heartless little thing.“

    Bo Chi’s eyes were teary.

    Yu Zhao kissed her eyelashes again, then stood up straight: “Then I’m leaving?“

    Bo Chi nodded repeatedly, and said sincerely: “Okay, remember to stay outside for a longer time, I don’t mind if you stay for half a year or a year.“

    Yu Zhao smiled gently at her, but her words were cruel: “What daydreams are you having in broad daylight? Be good, I will definitely come back often, and dutifully fulfill my duties as a little lover.“

    Bo Chi: “Wuwuwu.“

    After sending Yu Zhao away, Bo Chi still went back to her house to rest for the next few days.

    Although this house was small and cramped, it was filled with traces of Yu Zhao. She felt at ease staying here, completely unaware that Xu Zhidie, in order to find her, had been lingering in front of her original villa for several days.

    Ever since Yu Zhao became suspicious of Xu Zhidie, and Bo Chi couldn’t get through to her on the phone, Bo Chi directly promoted a new employee to replace Xu Zhidie, and took over all of Xu Zhidie’s work.

    The facts proved that the position of assistant was not irreplaceable by Xu Zhidie. Others could still do it well, and were very tactful, never interfering with any of Bo Chi’s ideas.

    Bo Chi was very satisfied with her current state. When the new assistant brought conclusive information, showing that Xu Zhidie was the one who bribed the paid comments and trending topic, she directly blacklisted Xu Zhidie and fired her.

    Bo Chi didn’t want to hear Xu Zhidie’s explanation, and didn’t want to know why she was targeting Yu Zhao for no reason. She only knew that Xu Zhidie had done something wrong, and had successfully angered her.

    The original owner didn’t have much of a relationship with Xu Zhidie. The reason why she had always let her be her assistant was purely because they graduated together, and Xu Zhidie hadn’t done anything too outrageous.

    Now that Bo Chi’s reverse scale had been touched, she didn’t even think of finding out the truth, and directly dealt with her swiftly.

    Out of sight, out of mind, Bo Chi barely calmed down.

    But she let her go, and Xu Zhidie refused to accept this result, and instead started to pester Bo Chi.

    After lingering by Bo Chi’s villa for a few days, she finally woke up from her daze, and remembered that there was another place Bo Chi could go – Yu Zhao’s house.

    Even though Yu Zhao had already joined the crew and wasn’t at home, Bo Chi still refused to come back, and stubbornly stayed there. Xu Zhidie felt sour and jealous just thinking about it, and her resentment towards Yu Zhao doubled.

    Before the other party appeared, she was clearly the person Bo Chi trusted the most.

    When she first got together with Bo Chi, Bo Chi was also willing to temporarily hand over the company to her.

    But after just a short period of time, Bo Chi had completely changed her mind, and directly sentenced her to death, disregarding so many years of friendship.

    What did this mean?

    It meant that Yu Zhao had ulterior motives!

    Xu Zhidie hated Yu Zhao extremely. When she found Yu Zhao’s house and saw Bo Chi opening the door in Yu Zhao’s pajamas, tears immediately streamed down her face, and she cried and accused: “Bo Chi, don’t be fooled by Yu Zhao anymore! If we’re talking about love, who can love you more than me!”

    The author has something to say:

    Xu Zhidie, an assistant who admires the strong, is self-moved, and is Bo Chi’s biggest fan (:з」∠)

    Don’t worry about her causing any big trouble, she will only think that it’s Yu Zhao’s fault, Ming Songrui’s fault, the world’s fault, anyway, it will definitely not be her beloved’s fault~

  • A Girl Dies Every Day in Her Dream Life 154

    Chapter 154: Your Highness, Please Reconsider, This is Taboo!

    Initially, no one noticed the young woman beside the Sixth Prince, as she was just a maid attending to him.

    But now, thinking about it carefully, how could an ordinary maid be brought into the Sun and Moon Twin Halls by the Sixth Prince…

    This was a rare opportunity to directly interact with the Immortal Emperor or the Empress, an opportunity many longed for!

    Even just showing their face and leaving an impression would be enough.

    If not for the Empress’s prior announcement, requesting young talents younger than half a jiazi, the lords and nobles would have brought their most outstanding prodigies.

    Within the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty, only those who reached the Nascent Soul Realm through their own cultivation within five hundred years were considered prodigies.

    Those who could achieve this were all top prodigies of their respective clans, appearing only once every few thousand years on average.

    This gentle young woman, called “Xiao Mian,” although seemingly unremarkable, was actually the most qualified among the young talents present to be called a “prodigy.”

    Xiao Mian stepped forward slightly, her bright eyes and beautiful smile hiding the fact that she was Mian Wudi, the body cultivator known for her extremely violent fighting style.

    Even the Empress, within the faint purple mist, couldn’t help but glance at her, after all, she was family.

    “What, is there no one who wants to have a spar with Xiao Mian?” The Sixth Prince said cheerfully, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. “You can’t let the Empress and Princess Xue think you’re all just a joke, can you?”

    The Sixth Prince’s blatant provocation was quite effective, and several young talents were eager to try.

    They had heard of Mian Wudi’s title and knew that she was invincible among her peers.

    But what they saw now was just a gentle young woman, without the appearance of a body cultivator, making them doubt the rumors.

    Even Luo Xue, behind the gauze curtain, couldn’t help but be a bit interested. After all, she had always been the one being watched during sparring matches, never a spectator.

    Now, finally sitting in the front row, Luo Xue relaxed considerably, even wanting to sit cross-legged.

    But with the etiquette official beside her, Luo Xue could only suppress the urge, though her posture did relax slightly.

    The etiquette official observed Luo Xue’s behavior, her cloudy eyes deepening slightly, then she looked towards the Empress with worry.

    Then, as if receiving an order, the etiquette official stopped staring at Luo Xue and closed her eyes slightly, as if dozing off from exhaustion, no longer correcting Luo Xue’s minor breaches of etiquette.

    “This ‘Xiao Mian’s’ strength should be above Foundation Establishment… perhaps late-stage or peak? There’s no aura of a Core Formation small world, and she looks only about twenty years old… truly impressive.”

    Luo Xue couldn’t help but sigh. The Foundation Establishment cultivators she had seen before were all over thirty years old, and most inner disciples of the Peerless Summit Sect reached Foundation Establishment around sixty.

    Besides Xiao Yao, Luo Xue hadn’t seen many who reached the peak of Foundation Establishment at this age.

    As for herself, her situation was rather special.

    After all, not many Foundation Establishment cultivators had the experience of fighting against Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation experts…

    The silver-haired figure behind the gauze curtain stirred slightly, as if interested, which was noticed by some of the young talents.

    Many of them started thinking,

    “Princess Xue seems… to be looking forward to it? Does she like watching sparring matches?”

    “If I’m chosen by the princess, my future will be secured…”

    “Even if I lose, so what? I’m losing to Mian Wudi. They can’t make her marry the princess, can they? As long as I perform well, I still have a chance!”

    Finally, after a few moments, a young man stepped forward.

    Everyone looked closely and saw that it was Zhou Ling, the youngest son of You Wang.

    It was well known that You Wang was fond of women and had thousands of wives and concubines, and countless children.

    Zhou Ling was his youngest son. Although his talent was decent, it wasn’t top-tier. There were many among his peers who were more outstanding.

    But because Zhou Ling’s mother was currently favored by You Wang, he was brought to this banquet.

    In other words…

    Zhou Ling’s strength was far inferior to Mian Wudi’s.

    “This subject, Zhou Ling, greets Your Majesty the Empress, and Your Highness Princess Xue.”

    After stepping forward, Zhou Ling first bowed to those above, then looked at Xiao Mian, his expression neither humble nor arrogant.

    “Miss Mian, since this is a friendly competition, I, Zhou, will make bold and ask for your guidance… Please be merciful.”

    Xiao Mian, seeing Zhou Ling’s slightly affected manner, covered her mouth and chuckled.

    “Of course, of course, but Young Master Zhou, you should also be careful.”

    “…Naturally.”

    Zhou Ling’s face showed a hint of discomfort, but he quickly straightened his back, his gaze firming.

    He knew his current status was only because of his mother’s favor.

    Once his mother lost favor, he would be worthless in his father’s eyes, lost among his countless siblings.

    This was an extremely rare opportunity, and he had to seize it.

    Being the first to step forward and displaying his talent, no matter what, he could definitely leave a deep impression on the Empress and Princess Xue.

    “Please… instruct me.”

    Zhou Ling took a deep breath, circulated his family’s cultivation technique, the Nine Nether Abyss Scripture, and a dark aura enveloped him, the surroundings turning slightly colder.

    But at this moment, Xiao Mian just walked towards Zhou Ling casually, without even circulating her energy.

    “She actually looks down on me so much?” Seeing this, Zhou Ling felt a surge of anger. “Even if you’re Mian Wudi, you’re still just at Foundation Establishment. How dare you walk towards me so casually, without any defenses… you’re courting death!”

    “Nine Nether Descent… Bind!”

    Zhou Ling’s eyes widened, and countless evil ghosts appeared around Xiao Mian, dragging chains, binding her.

    “It worked!”

    Zhou Ling’s face lit up with joy, but the next moment, Xiao Mian easily broke free from the restraints and continued walking towards him step by step.

    “Like a mortal’s trick, but skillfully executed.”

    Xiao Mian giggled, offering her evaluation.

    “How… It’s fine, I still have another move!”

    Zhou Ling changed his hand seals, and the evil ghosts lunged towards Xiao Mian.

    “Explode!”

    The evil ghosts let out shrill screams, then rapidly expanded, until they exploded.

    “Boom…”

    After a loud bang, the shockwave from the explosion swept through the surroundings, but it was blocked by an invisible barrier.

    “This… this time… even you, Mian Wudi, can’t be unharmed, right…”

    Zhou Ling panted, a smile appearing on his lips.

    This attack wasn’t without a price. He had lost quite a bit of his blood essence and would need three to five months to recover.

    But it was worth it.

    However…

    The next moment, the smile on Zhou Ling’s face froze.

    Xiao Mian walked out of the dark mist created by the explosion, her steps light, and arrived before Zhou Ling.

    She stood on her tiptoes, patted Zhou Ling’s shoulder, and said,

    “Hey, Young Master Zhou, you lost.”

    Zhou Ling was actually a head taller than Xiao Mian, but at this moment, the petite Xiao Mian seemed terrifying.

    “You, you…”

    Zhou Ling stumbled back in disbelief. He couldn’t believe the huge difference in strength between them, both at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

    “Why didn’t you attack…”

    Zhou Ling asked through gritted teeth.

    “I was afraid of hurting you.”

    Xiao Mian tilted her head and replied.

    Her expression was serious, not like she was joking.

    But this serious attitude was an even greater blow to Zhou Ling.

    His face turned pale, and only when You Wang frowned in displeasure did he secretly use a technique to pull Zhou Ling back.

    The lords and nobles were shocked, but not by Xiao Mian’s strength.

    Many prodigies could defeat someone like Zhou Ling, at the peak of Foundation Establishment, upon reaching Foundation Establishment themselves. It wasn’t that surprising.

    But… the technique Xiao Mian displayed was astonishing.

    “Is that the Desolate Extinction Scripture?”

    “The legendary top-tier body cultivation technique that can lead to Enlightenment Core Formation? Is she actually taking that path?”

    “But Enlightenment Core Formation is incredibly rare. The Sixth Prince definitely doesn’t lack Heavenly Vein energy, why not choose to form a Heaven Core?”

    “Could it be that Enlightenment Core Formation and Heaven Core Formation… are not the same? Is there something special about it?”

    And behind the gauze curtain, Luo Xue was also shocked.

    Luo Xue looked at Xiao Mian’s back, slightly dazed, her image overlapping with someone in her memory, and she murmured softly,

    “Is that… Introduction to Body Tempering?”

    The body cultivation technique recommended to her by Nangong Mengxiang, said to be inherited from her master, True Person Fengyin.

    But why was it here?

    Xiao Mian definitely wasn’t Nangong Mengxiang. Nangong Mengxiang had already reached Enlightenment Core Formation before Luo Xue went to the Blood Sea. Then who was she?

    Another disciple of True Person Fengyin?

    But… Luo Xue remembered that Nangong Mengxiang had mentioned that her other Senior Sisters were almost all dead.

    Not because they were all killed, but because most of them had ordinary talent, around the Spirit Condensation Realm, and few could reach Foundation Establishment.

    Even if they luckily reached Foundation Establishment, in the dangerous Demon Abyss, even Foundation Establishment cultivators could barely protect themselves.

    It was even less likely for them to appear in this unknown place…

    Luo Xue, in her shock, unconsciously murmured these words.

    If it were an ordinary person, they wouldn’t have known what she was saying, but the etiquette official was no ordinary person.

    Hearing Luo Xue’s words, she almost lost her composure.

    “How could Her Highness mistake the extraordinary Desolate Extinction Scripture for a beginner’s body tempering technique…”

    Just then, Luo Xue turned slightly and looked at the seemingly dozing etiquette official.

    “Madam, may I ask you something?”

    The etiquette official opened her eyes, lowered her head slightly, and replied respectfully,

    “Please speak, Your Highness. This old servant will answer truthfully.”

    However, beneath her calm exterior, her heart was in turmoil.

    “Oh no, could Her Highness be interested in this cultivation path?”

    Such a delicate princess, how could she endure the hardships of body cultivation…

    “Who is this person?”

    Luo Xue pointed at Xiao Mian and asked.

    Hearing this unexpected question, the etiquette official’s face was filled with surprise, then she replied,

    “She is from the Empress’s clan, a direct descendant of the Sixth Prince’s lineage, her name is…”

    “Nangong Mian.”

    “Nangong Mian, you mean… her surname is Nangong?”

    Luo Xue’s eyes widened, thinking, oh no, could she really be Nangong Mengxiang’s sister or something…

    “The Empress’s clan… is the Nangong clan,” the etiquette official looked at Luo Xue strangely, as if asking if there was something wrong with her brain. “Your Highness, are you… interested in her?”

    “Ah, sort of.”

    Luo Xue replied absently.

    Thinking about it carefully, she shouldn’t be Nangong Mengxiang’s sister…

    Because Nangong Mengxiang’s surname came from her master, Nangong Fengyin, and True Person Fengyin… had a deep connection with Phoenix Venerable.

    True Person Fengyin had been in contact with Phoenix Venerable since she was very young, becoming a tomb keeper. It was very likely that the surname “Nangong” came from Phoenix Venerable.

    Furthermore, True Person Fengyin’s Introduction to Body Tempering was probably also taught by Phoenix Venerable.

    If it wasn’t a coincidence… if her bold guess was correct…

    Luo Xue looked towards the Empress again, her face conflicted.

    “Could the Empress be… Phoenix Venerable?”

    “No, no… that doesn’t seem right either, their temperaments are different…”

    “But one thing is certain, this place should be outside the nine provinces and four domains, and very likely… the Ancient Demon Lands that the forbidden area lords keep mentioning…”

    But looking around, it didn’t seem very… demonic…

    Luo Xue’s conflicted expression was noticed by the etiquette official, especially her glances towards the Empress, which shocked her.

    Coupled with the fact that Her Highness had just expressed interest in Nangong Mian…

    “Could it be that Her Highness has fallen in love with Nangong Mian at first sight?”

    Although she couldn’t be completely certain, it was highly likely.

    Especially Luo Xue’s conflicted gaze towards the Empress, the etiquette official could almost read her thoughts.

    “I like Nangong Mian so much, but she’s a girl, and so am I, what should I do…”

    “And Nangong Mian is also from the Empress’s family… there are so many obstacles between us…”

    “If only these obstacles didn’t exist…”

    And finally, Her Highness’s lovestruck gaze towards Nangong Mian, it was clear she was a girl in love (actually, she was just spacing out).

    This wouldn’t do!

    “Your Highness… please reconsider!” The etiquette official said, gritting her teeth. “This is taboo!”

    Even if she incurred Her Highness’s wrath, she had to say it!

    “What do you mean, reconsider? And what taboo?”

    Luo Xue, hearing this and seeing the etiquette official’s resolute expression, was completely confused.

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 241

    Chapter 241: Broken People

    Meggie Liran’s resentment towards Kailun had reached its peak. This kind of mockery was unbearable.

    Everyone had been completely played by Kailun, the entire Temple becoming his stepping stone.

    Not only could she only watch helplessly, but she also had to become “Kailun” in name.

    The blow was beyond words. Kailun was a master manipulator.

    “Not bad. With the black robe, you’ve become Kailun’s stand-in.”

    Kailun messed up Meggie Liran’s black robe. “Don’t you find it interesting? I’ve replaced you, and you’ve become me. Isn’t this another form of becoming what you hate the most?”

    Meggie Liran: “…”

    She wanted to speak, to scold Kailun, but the hard bread in her mouth prevented her from doing so.

    How could such a sinister person exist in the world? No wonder Chrissy, a Saint, had fallen so quickly. She suddenly understood.

    “Alright, today’s tasks are complete. Let’s return to the Papal Palace and rest.”

    Kailun held Illusion in his arms, enveloping them both in white light.

    Fortunately, Illusion was petite. Under normal circumstances, no one would notice anything unusual.

    “Helena, bring the Pope along.” Kailun walked ahead, holding Illusion.

    “Coming.”

    Helena took out a rope, tied it around Meggie Liran’s waist, and led her along like a pet.

    The distance from the Hanging Gardens to the Papal Palace wasn’t far. Kailun didn’t intend to use teleportation.

    Since he had announced that “Kailun” had been captured, he naturally had to let “Kailun” make an appearance.

    Back at the Papal Palace, Kailun locked her in a side room.

    Not only that, but he also tied her to a table leg and set up a ninth-rank magic barrier. Without his permission, no one could enter.

    “Mmm…”

    Meggie Liran sat on the floor, watching Kailun’s retreating figure, her heart filled with despair.

    ……

    Kailun closed the door and added another layer of magical seals. Afra was waiting for him.

    “Do you think I went too far?”

    Kailun walked over to Afra and pinched her cheek. “You’ve worked hard today, running around the city all day.”

    Afra rubbed against his hand. “No, it’s my duty. Isn’t it natural for an older sister to help her younger brother? I have no objections to how you handled the Pope. Winning is the most important thing, right? Besides, you’re enemies. It’s already merciful of you not to kill her directly.”

    Afra sensed a subtle shift in his emotions. She caressed his face. “Are you tired?”

    “Not really.”

    Kailun shrugged. “Being stared at with such eyes… it’s not as enjoyable as I imagined. It feels like… something’s missing.”

    He was getting a bit tired of it. Repeatedly toying with someone who couldn’t resist was ultimately beneath him. If it weren’t for the attribute points he could gain, he might have already moved on to more important matters.

    He hoped Fate would be a worthy opponent.

    “You’ve worked hard. Have a good rest tonight. You can leave the rest to Chrissy. She’ll complete her task diligently.”

    Afra took his arm.

    “Alright, I’ll rest early tonight. I still have to deal with the Temple’s affairs tomorrow.”

    Kailun leaned against Afra’s soft body, her warmth comforting.

    Only at times like this was he willing to admit that Afra was a few years older than him, his older sister in name.

    It was truly fortunate to have such a powerful and trustworthy sister. If she had been this strong from the beginning, he would have happily relied on her and lived a carefree life.

    People grow, and Kailun’s growth stemmed from the crushing defeat in his past life.

    Recalling that unpleasant memory gave him the confidence to bully Meggie Liran. It felt good.

    Meggie Liran: ?

    ……

    “Ugh!”

    That night, Meggie Liran, parched, spat out the remaining half of the bread.

    Her saliva had softened the hard bread.

    But the process was slow. It had taken her several hours.

    Now, all she wanted was water, lots of water.

    “Damn you, Kailun…”

    Perhaps because her mouth was too dry, she didn’t even have the energy to curse him.

    After a while, she used her head to lift the table, attempting to free her hands from the ropes.

    Her hands were not only tied behind her back but also to the table leg.

    That’s why she was trying to lift the table and lower her wrists, hoping to slip the ropes off.

    But it was not only awkward but also incredibly difficult. The immense friction made every movement a struggle.

    Fortunately, she was flexible enough to keep moving her wrists and make some progress.

    “Phew~”

    After another half hour, Meggie Liran, drenched in sweat, finally freed her hands from the table leg, gaining a sliver of freedom.

    She looked at her numb legs and stood up unsteadily. Coincidentally, she noticed a plate of apples and a fruit knife on the table.

    After a moment of silence, she kicked the knife into the air and caught it.

    Although her hands were still tied together, she now had a knife and didn’t need to find a glass bottle to break.

    She sat down on the chair and slowly cut the ropes, her stomach growling.

    Except for the small piece of bread she had been forced to eat, she hadn’t eaten anything all day.

    Although she had a good constitution due to her sealed magic power, she still felt hungry.

    An ordinary person would die after starving for a week, but she could last for a month.

    Her gaze involuntarily drifted to the remaining half of the bread on the floor. She instinctively licked her dry lips.

    “Damn it, what am I thinking?”

    She quickly came back to her senses. She was the Pope, a high and mighty figure. How could she eat such scraps?

    However, after cutting the ropes around her wrists, she still picked up the bread and placed it on the table. It wasn’t that she wanted to eat it, but she felt uncomfortable seeing it on the floor.

    After cleaning the fruit knife, she peeled a few apples, both to replenish her fluids and to satisfy her hunger.

    “There are indeed magic fluctuations. It seems that demon is very cautious. Damn it!”

    Meggie Liran cursed under her breath and paced around the room. The apples had given her a temporary sense of fullness.

    Unfortunately, she, who had never experienced true hunger, didn’t know that this feeling was only temporary. An hour later, she felt even hungrier.

    Her stomach growled non-stop, her mouth watering, images of delicacies flashing through her mind.

    She felt dizzy and lightheaded.

    She looked towards the corner of the room, where a burning red incense stick was placed on top of a two-meter-tall bookshelf.

    It was the incense that had heightened her senses and made her feel dizzy.

    “I thought I had overestimated him, but it seems that demon is even more sinister than I imagined. I wonder what his heart is made of…”

    Meggie Liran muttered to herself and climbed onto the bookshelf, extinguishing the incense.

    Regardless of its purpose, it couldn’t be anything good.

    Another hour passed, and it was three in the morning. Sitting on the chair, pondering her escape, Meggie Liran looked at the bread on the table again.

    This time, she looked closely, even noticing that one end of the bread was slightly damp from her saliva.

    “Was I really affected by that incense?”

    She frowned and closed her eyes, trying to ignore her physical sensations.

    But it didn’t work. Within half an hour, she was starving.

    Finally, Meggie Liran picked up the bread. Her eyes bloodshot, she tore off the outer layer because it was slightly dusty.

    This was her last shred of pride.

    She devoured the bread without any regard for her image, tears of sadness dripping from the corners of her eyes.

    She had finally given in. She wasn’t as strong as she had imagined.

    Without her power, she was just an ordinary person.

    “Sorry, I might have come at the wrong time.”

    But the most despairing thing was that before she could finish the bread, she heard the voice she least wanted to hear right now.

    Meggie Liran turned around stiffly and saw Chrissy standing behind her, holding a food box.

    Life was full of disappointments, and the most painful one was being seen in your most pathetic state by someone you cared about.

    “When… when did you arrive?”

    Meggie Liran suddenly forgot all about her hunger. She put down the bread and wiped her face with her sleeve.

    Perhaps only she knew whether she was wiping her eyes or her mouth.

    Chrissy held up the food box. “I just teleported here. I didn’t expect you to be… I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have ended up like this. I’ll talk to Kailun later and ask him not to bully you anymore. He can just bully me.”

    “Crack!”

    Hearing these words, half of Meggie Liran’s sanity shattered.

    She forced a smile. “So, are you regretting it now?”

    Chrissy lowered her head. “…Sorry.”

    Meggie Liran walked up to Chrissy, opened her mouth, and then sighed helplessly. There were many things she wanted to say, accusations she wanted to make, but the words were stuck in her throat.

    She was also at fault. If she hadn’t sent Chrissy there, none of this would have happened.

    After all, she couldn’t even deal with a monster like Kailun herself, let alone Chrissy.

    Now that she had finally seen Chrissy, she didn’t want to drive her away. After a moment of silence, she looked at the food box in Chrissy’s hand. “Is this for me?”

    Chrissy: “Yes.”

    Even now, Chrissy didn’t raise her head. It wasn’t because she was ashamed to face Meggie Liran, but because she was afraid that the latter would see the excitement on her face.

    This “Mother Pope” seemed quite fun to play with.

    Hee hee~

    She was broken, completely broken.

  • The Villainous Older Sister Who Loves Her Younger Sister Aims for the Guillotine 61

    61: A Chance Encounter and a Promise

    I’d been avoiding Leticia since the [Horse Riding Event].

    To be precise, I was the one avoiding her.

    For the past three days, I’d been making excuses to dine out, claiming I had work to do in my room, avoiding her even in the dining hall.

    While it wasn’t a lie, I could have made time to eat at home.

    Knowing I only had about a year left with my sister, I wanted to have meals with her.

    But I was afraid.

    I knew that avoiding her wouldn’t solve anything.

    While my sister wasn’t injured, judging by the timing and my actions, she probably knew that I had deliberately caused her fall.

    However, even after I left, Leticia apparently maintained her stance that the fall was just an accident.

    There had been no official or unofficial reaction from the Royal Palace, the Eustasia Knights, or the Royal Medical Corps.

    As the head of the Vanderwaals, a young girl’s testimony held no weight.

    So, even if my sister tried to remove me from my position, it would have been easy to dismiss her.

    However, I hadn’t expected her to defend me.

    …That was the kind of girl she was.

    She believed in family—and she wasn’t entirely wrong.

    Even now, my sister was visiting the Royal Castle.

    She was probably accumulating [Individual Events] with the [Capture Targets].

    However, according to the reports from her guards and attendants—which I inquired about as casually as possible—she seemed to be meeting with all three of them.

    Prince Konrad, Knight Commander Felix, Chief Physician Louis, and even the castle guards, knights, and physicians… a wide range of people.

    I couldn’t ask for more specific details, like who seemed to be the most promising.

    Since Ciel sometimes accompanied her, I wondered if she had noticed anything… but the matters of [Moonlight Liberium] were mine alone to handle.

    I couldn’t rely on my most trusted subordinate, my exceptionally competent assistant head of the family, whom other families envied.

    Lost in thought about the next [Event], I turned a corner in the hallway and heard a cheerful voice.

    “…Oh! Elder Sister!”

    ――I had let my guard down.

    Running into her in the hallway was a possibility.

    We lived in the same mansion; we were sisters.

    However, since I knew her general schedule, I should have been able to avoid her if I paid attention to her footsteps and presence.

    Even though I couldn’t avoid her forever.

    I wanted to take a step back and avert my gaze, but my pride as the head of the ducal family rooted me to the spot.

    “—What do you want?”

    I put on my bravest face, glaring at her, and my sister lowered her gaze slightly.

    My confidence in my glare was fleeting.

    “I haven’t seen Elder Sister lately… and I’ve been… a little lonely.”

    Lonely.

    …Lonely?

    For a moment, I thought it was a foreign word.

    Even with “Tailor,” who was from another country, I sometimes wondered if she was truly speaking Eustasian.

    What was my sister saying?

    To an older sister who had put her on a pony and then pushed her into a mud puddle?

    I didn’t know how much she knew.

    But she must at least realize that I wasn’t a cheerful, compassionate, and kind older sister.

    My sister looked up and smiled.

    “But seeing you now… I feel relieved.”

    Relieved.

    Did she say relieved? This time, I understood the meaning more quickly.

    But I still couldn’t understand her heart.

    I felt like I could relate more to some monstrous demon lurking in the dark abyss.

    I couldn’t understand people with pure, beautiful, and kind hearts.

    ――Until now, I hadn’t needed to.

    Nobles didn’t need to consider the existence of such people.

    …Come to think of it, the ‘sister in the game,’ while sometimes expressing vulnerability in [Individual Events], never expressed jealousy or resentment.

    I couldn’t forgive anyone who would hurt such a sister.

    However.

    The character I disliked the most in [Moonlight Liberium]…

    …was ‘Adelheid von Vanderwaals.’

    Because of her, I couldn’t focus on the story.

    She had the same name as me, looked exactly like me, and sometimes said things I might actually say.

    Everything about her annoyed me.

    Of course, introducing an unpleasant character and then eliminating them for a happy ending was a common storytelling technique.

    However, for a romance story, where the focus was on developing relationships while overcoming various obstacles, I felt like such an antagonist was unnecessary, a shallow plot device.

    Leticia, perhaps misinterpreting my silence, continued.

    “Elder Sister, can we have dinner together tonight?”

    Yes.

    I wanted to answer immediately, but I had to let reason prevail over my desires.

    …For the sake of guiding the story along the lines of [Moonlight Liberium], it was a good thing that I hadn’t been avoiding my sister too much.

    However, it was emotionally taxing.

    “Yes… I suppose… I’m free now…”

    It wasn’t a lie to say I was free, since I had completed the [Horse Riding Event] without actually injuring my sister.

    I felt a sense of accomplishment, having taken another step towards my goal—the guillotine—and the burden on my shoulders seemed to lighten with each step, even as I prepared for the next event.

    “Really?!”

    My sister clasped her hands together in delight.

    Her reaction was adorable… but honestly, I didn’t understand why I was able to enjoy my sister’s company so much.

    I had expected her to dislike me more.

    I had imagined that in the unwritten spaces between the [Text Log] entries, my sister and I would have a much more strained, distant relationship, exchanging only the bare minimum of formal pleasantries.

    “Oh, and Elder Sister, thank you for the other day, for the horseback riding. It was fun.”

    “F-fun?”

    I couldn’t help but ask again.

    Even ignoring the [Falling Event], she had been made to ride a pony and only walked alongside her older sister, who was suppressing a huge grin behind a stern facade.

    And she didn’t seem particularly enamored with any of the three men.

    “Yes. But I’m sorry I interrupted it by falling…”

    “…………”

    No, that interpretation was wrong.

    …It would be unnatural for her not to realize what had happened.

    Leticia had been about to say something at the time.

    She had lowered her head, her shoulders trembling, as if suppressing her emotions.

    Hadn’t she swallowed her frustration?

    Hadn’t she suppressed her sadness, her pain, to avoid making a scene?

    …Was this what she meant by “let’s just say that’s what happened”?

    “But there’s something I wanted to ask…”

    My sister continued, after a brief pause.

    “Why was my horse a pony?”

    Please don’t ask me that with such a serious expression.

    I had thought it was the best option at the time.

    I wasn’t sure if I could have successfully caused her to fall if she had been riding a horse of Lillie’s caliber.

    If she had fallen, for whatever reason, there was a chance she would be kicked by the startled horse, and the larger the horse, the greater the danger.

    “…Riding different kinds of horses… is good practice.”

    I did it! That was a surprisingly convincing excuse, considering I came up with it on the spot.

    “I see! Then next time, will it be a large horse, like the one Sir Felix was riding?”

    “There are… considerations of physique…”

    I had received such training from Ciel.

    “Oh, right. I’m still a beginner.”

    She wasn’t a beginner, since she was able to participate in a long ride.

    However, it was dangerous to think you were no longer a beginner, so I didn’t say that.

    My sister gazed at me intently with her blue eyes, the same shade as mine.

    “—I would be happy to ride with Elder Sister again. Will there be another opportunity?”

    ――There wouldn’t be.

    There were no more official events where my sister and I would ride together.

    Things would become busy soon. After summer ended.

    I wouldn’t have time.

    And I shouldn’t have time.

    Going on a leisurely horseback ride with my sister, deepening our bond, would only make things more painful for both of us.

    I didn’t want to hurt her.

    …And I didn’t want to be hurt.

    “…It will be difficult for a while.”

    After that ‘while,’ I would no longer have a role to play—or a life.

    My sister nodded seriously.

    “Yes, even if it’s not soon… someday… definitely.”

    Even if it’s not soon.

    Someday.

    Definitely.

    ――Someday.

    My sister’s words resonated deeply within me.

    In the afterlife, perhaps?

    …If there was an afterlife, and people were separated into heaven and hell based on their deeds, I would be going to hell.

    A noble who didn’t go to hell was a disgrace to the nobility.

    While I hadn’t believed in the afterlife, considering the current situation, where unrealistic phenomena like this world being the stage of a romance simulation game called [Moonlight Liberium] were commonplace, I couldn’t completely dismiss the possibility.

    My sister took my hand.

    I reflexively tried to pull away, but she held on tight with both hands.

    “—It’s a promise.”

    My sister released my hand.

    “See you at dinner!”

    She waved and ran off.

    I thought about telling her that running in the hallway wasn’t proper behavior for a noble lady, but I didn’t have the energy to yell after her, or to chase after her.

    I would scold her later, with a sarcastic remark, as befitting a villain.

    I looked down at my hand.

    The faint warmth of her touch lingered.

    I clenched my hand tightly, and the warmth disappeared.

    I opened my hand again and stared at it.

    …A promise I couldn’t keep.

    I couldn’t even protect my sister.

    I wasn’t the one who would protect her.

    My ‘role’ was different.

    I murmured softly,

    “…Someday?”

    I didn’t have a someday.

  • Second Time Around, the Villainous Daughter Decides to Indulge First 52

    Chapter 52: The Girl Without a Profession

    Lena brought her back in the end.

    Like a big bad wolf who had lured Little Red Riding Hood into her lair and devoured her grandmother…

    Lena walked ahead, Mines trailing behind, her small hand nervously clutching Lena’s sleeve, struggling to keep up.

    Her 1.6-meter stature and short legs made it difficult, but Lena slowed down, waiting for her, as if Mines were the Master.

    “Need a break?” Lena stopped, frowning.

    “I’m fine, Master, please don’t mind me…”

    Mines clearly wasn’t used to physical exertion. After just a few hundred meters from the arena, she was already out of breath, sweat glistening on her face.

    How could such a person kill?

    Lena felt like she had picked up a delicate flower, beautiful but fragile. A lovely vase, but hardly a bodyguard who would collapse after a short run, needing her master to wait…

    “Forget it if you can’t keep up.”

    Lena glanced at the sky. It was getting late, and the others should be returning soon.

    “I can do it!” Mines said anxiously.

    Her flat chest heaved as she said with conviction, “I can definitely handle this job, Master, please believe me!”

    “…”

    Lena’s expression remained unchanged.

    “Master…”

    “I’m saying you should go back and pack your things. Report to the mansion tomorrow.” Lena said, exasperated.

    Did she look that scary, that unapproachable? Why was everyone so afraid of her?

    She felt wronged and wanted to go home and cuddle with the little fox girl…

    “Then tomorrow… what time should I arrive?” Mines wanted to clarify, to avoid any further misunderstandings.

    This bodyguard job was crucial for her, directly related to her siblings’ well-being, the primary source of income for her family of thirteen.

    Mines had already decided to cling to someone powerful, like her friend, selling her body for a better life.

    If pushed to desperation, she would even offer the most sacred thing a girl could give—praying this “Master” wouldn’t recoil from her scarred, broken body…

    A painful memory seemed to surface, Mines’s eyes trembling. She looked up at Lena, like a fledgling instinctively flapping its wings, searching for its mother.

    Mines desperately clung to this lifeline, refusing to let go.

    And this Master… seemed approachable, not discriminating against her scarred skin, not as aggressive as other Masters…

    “Tomorrow… come as early as possible. I usually wake up quite early,” Lena said casually. “As for your salary… ten gold coins a month, how about that? Don’t think it’s too little. According to the mercenary market, this is already a high salary. After a one-month probationary period, your salary will double.”

    Double, that was twenty gold coins…

    This was enough to cover her siblings’ food and lodging for several years, with plenty to spare.

    And this was just her monthly salary.

    Master was so kind…

    Mines was genuinely happy, but she couldn’t help but wonder about the job’s specifics.

    “Master…” Mines asked softly, her delicate face seemingly carrying an innate submissiveness. “Is it dangerous work?”

    She felt uneasy accepting so much money unless Lena admitted to wanting her to go through fire and water, or if she was after her body. Only then would Mines feel better.

    “Are you scared?” Lena paused, chuckling, her chest jiggling slightly. “You have the guts to fight to the death for money, but not the courage to work with me? Don’t tell me you killed Taylan just by sheer luck…”

    “I… I understand.”

    Mines let go of her last reservation.

    “Mm, I will protect you, Master, and ensure you’re never harmed.”

    “Nice words, but lacking conviction.”

    Lena took Mines for a stroll, buying her a new outfit along the way. A beautiful clothes hanger needed beautiful clothes. “Try this on. An evening gown isn’t suitable for you.”

    Mines hesitantly held the clothes, entering the fitting room at Lena’s urging.

    Moments later, a girl in a red feather dress appeared before Lena.

    The close-fitting neckline revealed the girl’s delicate collarbone and slender neck.

    Her soft, slightly curled black hair made her small face appear even smaller. Her eyelashes were long and curled, the corners of her eyes slightly downturned, her crimson eyes sparkling like stars, yet a hint of sorrow lingered within them.

    She was incredibly thin. Even the smallest size looked too big on her, the burn scars on her back alarming, like a monstrous parasite feeding on her life force.

    “Master, is this okay?”

    Mines asked timidly, her face flushed with the shyness of a young girl.

    Under Lena’s gaze, her cheeks turned a delicate pink, like a ripe peach.

    “Is there anything strange about it?”

    “Wonderful, red suits you. It helps to offset your melancholy.”

    The red feather dress resembled a phoenix reborn from ashes, symbolizing the girl’s new beginning, leaving the past behind and embracing the future.

    Lena’s judgment was impeccable. She paid for the dress and left the store.

    “This will be your uniform from now on. You have to wear it both inside and outside. I’ll buy you a few more in different styles so you can change…”

    Looking at Mines’s emaciated figure, Lena swallowed the words “the cost will be deducted from your salary.”

    Damn, she had spent the money too soon!

    She hadn’t even checked Mines’s professional rank before giving her a dress! Was it too late to take it back?

    “Thank you, Master, I love it. I will work hard to repay your kindness.”

    Mines’s words made Lena even more embarrassed to ask for the dress back.

    Forget it…

    It was just a dress; Lena wasn’t stingy. “Mm, one question, what is your profession…?”

    This was important, especially the rank.

    Lena estimated that Mines’s rank couldn’t be lower than four. After all, she had instantly killed the arena champion, so she must be at least rank five.

    Twenty gold coins a month for a loyal rank five bodyguard, what a bargain!

    A huge profit!

    Mines: “Profession? I don’t have one.”

    “???”

    Lena thought she was joking, her expression darkening.

    But Mines nodded seriously, her voice weak. “I haven’t awakened yet, Master…”

    “Didn’t you say you’re an adult?!”

    “I am…” Mines bit her lip, her hands fidgeting. “I’m an adult, but I haven’t awakened my profession…”

    Lena almost fainted, wanting to demand Mines return the dress.

    But then she thought, if Mines didn’t have a profession, how did she conjure that blade?

    The little girl was definitely hiding something!

  • Captivating Beauty 60

    Chapter 60

    Shen Shu’s long eyelashes fluttered against her cheek like raven feathers, her sweet scent filling the air, her lips warm and soft against Xu Jinnan’s.

    Xu Jinnan felt like she was standing on the edge of an erupting volcano, her breath coming in short, rapid gasps. She deepened the kiss slightly, savoring the moment.

    She felt Shen Shu trembling in her arms, her hand instinctively tightening around her wrist. Just as she was about to lose herself in the kiss, the intoxicating scent of Shen Shu’s pheromones, stronger than ever before, filled her senses.

    A sharp tingling sensation shot through her scent gland, and she abruptly pulled away.

    The warmth vanished from Shen Shu’s lips, and her heart seemed to skip a beat as she opened her eyes, a flicker of confusion and disappointment in her gaze.

    “Shu Shu,” Xu Jinnan asked, her voice slightly breathless, “is your heat cycle coming soon?”

    Shen Shu looked at her for a moment, the desire in her eyes fading. While she understood Xu Jinnan’s concern, she couldn’t deny the sting of rejection.

    She couldn’t describe the feeling, a strange mix of shame and embarrassment.

    She looked away, leaning against the car window. “Yes,” she murmured.

    “Did you bring your suppressants?”

    Shen Shu’s gaze fixed on the scenery outside. “I don’t need them yet,” she replied calmly.

    Xu Jinnan’s heart sank. Even without hearing the subtle coldness in Shen Shu’s voice, she knew she was upset. It had been Xu Jinnan’s fault. The memory of her previous rut, the terrifying loss of control, had triggered an instinctive reaction, the tingling in her scent gland a warning sign.

    “Shu Shu,” she began, wanting to apologize, but Shen Shu turned away, her voice flat. “I’m going to sleep.”

    Xu Jinnan touched her nose. “Okay… sleep well,” she said, then offered Shen Shu a pillow, but received no response.

    Her lips tingled, remembering the warmth and softness of Shen Shu’s.

    Shen Shu must have thought she had deliberately pulled away. How could she make amends? Should she kiss her again?

    The thought crossed her mind, but she dismissed it.

    Their earlier kiss had been spontaneous, a natural progression of the moment. But now, she was afraid of being too forceful, of scaring Shen Shu.

    She had made that mistake too many times in her previous life.

    —

    It was past 4 p.m. when they left Qucheng, the afternoon traffic heavy, and they were stuck in a jam for half an hour after exiting the highway. By the time they reached Shen Shu’s apartment, it was already 10 p.m.

    Exhausted from the long drive, Shen Shu went to take a shower without even asking if Xu Jinnan wanted to go first.

    After her shower, she went straight to her bedroom, closing the door, not speaking to Xu Jinnan.

    Xu Jinnan took a quick shower, then knocked on Shen Shu’s door, but Shen Shu simply said, “I’m going to sleep.”

    She didn’t know how to explain herself. If she mentioned the rut, she would have to reveal her Alpha identity.

    And Shen Shu’s therapy appointment slip was still in her drawer, a reminder of her aversion to Alphas.

    What would happen if she found out?

    But she had to tell her eventually.

    She didn’t want to keep it a secret.

    She just needed a little more time, since she was the one who had initiated their… connection.

    Her thoughts were a jumble. She was usually decisive, but when it came to Shen Shu, she always overthought things, wanting to find the perfect approach.

    The thought of Shen Shu’s hurt expression, the potential rejection, made her anxious.

    She didn’t want to see that look on Shen Shu’s face.

    She stood outside Shen Shu’s door for a while, then, deciding not to mention the kiss, which would only make things more awkward, and seeing how tired Shen Shu was, she let her rest.

    Back in her room, she sent Shen Shu a few messages.

    [I was wrong today.]

    After a few minutes:

    [Good night. See you tomorrow.]

    She put down her phone, staring at the ceiling. Shen Shu seemed genuinely upset this time. How could she make amends?

    How could she convince her it hadn’t been intentional?

    If it hadn’t been for the sudden tingling in her scent gland, triggering an instinctive reaction, she would have lost control in that enclosed space, her desire overwhelming.

    Of course, it had only been a fleeting thought.

    She had intended to stop after the kiss.

    The image of Shen Shu’s alluring eyes, her lips slightly parted, flashed through her mind, and she bit her lip, suddenly unsure.

    Her restless thoughts kept her awake most of the night, her body damp with sweat.

    —

    In the next room, Shen Shu sat up in bed, her heart pounding, and turned on the light.

    She had just had a strange, unsettling dream.

    She was in an unfamiliar place, a small, square courtyard with white walls and black tiles. She couldn’t see much else, only that she was standing in the center, unable to move.

    Then, she felt someone approaching.

    She wanted to run, but her legs were frozen.

    The footsteps stopped behind her…

    Then, she was lifted off the ground, a terrifying sensation of weightlessness, her body suspended in midair, her heart pounding with fear.

    She woke up with a gasp.

    Even before her mind fully cleared, she was reminded of the woman she had seen yesterday, Xu Jinnan’s aunt.

    A chill ran down her spine.

    She had never met this woman before, had no memory of any interaction with the Xu family.

    But the feeling… was undeniably familiar. She had met this woman before, she was sure of it.

    Her unease intensified as she remembered that face peering through the car window.

    Then, she heard a soft noise from outside the bedroom.

    The walls were thin, and she could almost picture Xu Jinnan walking to the kitchen island and pouring herself a glass of water.

    She hadn’t even bothered boiling the water; it was the leftover water from this morning.

    It must be ice-cold by now.

    Xu Jinnan was drinking cold water again.

    Shen Shu frowned. Wasn’t that bad for her stomach, especially in this weather?

    Then, she remembered the kiss in the car, and her thoughts shifted.

    Let her drink whatever she wants. It’s not my concern.

    —

    Shen Shu woke up early again, at 6 a.m., to get ready for her makeup call.

    Xu Jinnan, having slept late, didn’t hear her leave. She heated some milk, ate a piece of toast, and went to the office.

    As she stepped out of the elevator on the 26th floor, she glanced through the glass wall of the office area across the hall and saw Shen Shu standing near the back, rehearsing a scene with Xia Chun.

    Xia Chun was wearing a long dress and a trench coat, while Shen Shu was in her usual business attire.

    Xu Jinnan hadn’t read much of Full Dress yet, so she didn’t know the details of the scene.

    Back in her office, she saw Cai Ying’s messages in the group chat.

    Cai Ying: [Shu Shu, are you free today? I miss you! @Shen Shu]

    Cai Ying: [@Xu Jinnan It doesn’t really matter if you’re free or not, but I’ll ask anyway, are you free to cook?]

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    Seriously?

    While she was used to Cai Ying’s two-faced behavior, sometimes, she really wanted to slap this child.

    She didn’t reply immediately, even though she knew from Tong Jia that Shen Shu would be done with work before dinner.

    She put her phone aside and focused on her work.

    About twenty minutes later, her phone rang. It was a notification from Shen Shu in the group chat.

    Shen Shu: [What do you want to eat? And where?]

    Cai Ying: [Let’s go to your place! I’m tired of eating out. Xu Jinnan’s cooking is better. But it’s fine if she’s not free.]

    Cai Ying: [@Xu Jinnan Hello? Are you there?]

    Xu Jinnan, after about thirty seconds, replied: [I’m free. What do you want?]

    Cai Ying: [Sour fish soup, lobster thermidor, pork ribs with potatoes, stir-fried pork with green peppers, and… Shu Shu’s favorite salt and pepper shrimp!]

    Xu Jinnan: “…” She’s not holding back.

    Cai Ying: [Let me know when you’ll be home, so I can time the delivery.]

    Xu Jinnan: [Okay.]

    She checked the time. She wouldn’t have time to go grocery shopping, so she asked Viola to pick up the ingredients from a nearby supermarket.

    —

    As Viola arrived at the supermarket, she saw Tong Jia standing by the entrance with a folding chair.

    “Miss Tong,” she said, greeting her.

    Tong Jia’s eyes widened as she saw the large lobster in Viola’s shopping bag. “Wow, someone’s having a feast! Grocery shopping during work hours?”

    Viola smiled. “I can’t cook. I’m shopping for my boss.”

    Tong Jia nodded, and they entered the elevator together, joining a small crowd waiting.

    As they stepped inside, Tong Jia’s folding chair slipped, and she instinctively reached for it, but Viola had already caught it.

    “I’ll carry it for you,” Viola said, easily lifting the chair.

    Tong Jia, slightly embarrassed, thought, She’s quite thoughtful.

    Viola was half a head taller than her, and Tong Jia had to tilt her head back slightly. “Thanks, sis,” she said.

    “You’re welcome, Miss Tong,” Viola replied.

    As they stepped out of the elevator, Viola placed the chair in Shen Shu’s designated resting area, then returned to Xu Jinnan’s office.

    “I’ll treat you to afternoon tea sometime,” Tong Jia called out after her.

    Viola turned around, smiling. “I look forward to it, Miss Tong.”

    —

    As soon as Shen Shu finished filming, Tong Jia hurried over, complaining about being treated unfairly. Xu Jinnan got a feast, while she only got stir-fried vegetables.

    She wanted a feast too.

    She sent the same complaint to Xu Jinnan, who was in a meeting.

    Xu Jinnan didn’t say much, simply telling her to come over with Shen Shu for dinner.

    Tong Jia: [Are you and Shu Shu fighting?]

    Xu Jinnan: [Is it that obvious?]

    Tong Jia: [Very. Why else would you be messaging me, asking when she’ll be done, when you’re practically in the same building?]

    Xu Jinnan: […We are having a little disagreement. My fault.]

    Tong Jia: [Make amends!]

    Xu Jinnan: [How?]

    Tong Jia: […]

    Tong Jia: [Gifts, flowers, kisses… or just pin her against a wall! You’re asking me? Aren’t you the expert, Teacher Xu?]

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    —

    At 7 p.m., Xu Jinnan started preparing dinner, arriving home an hour early. Cai Ying arrived even before Shen Shu and Tong Jia, the apartment already filled with the aroma of food.

    At 8 p.m., the four of them sat down to dinner. Although it was their first meeting, Tong Jia and Cai Ying hit it off immediately, bonding over their shared experiences with “scumbags,” raising their glasses in solidarity.

    “All cheaters should be chemically castrated!” Cai Ying declared.

    “I couldn’t agree more! Jia-jie, you’re my new best friend! If you ever need anything, just ask! I’ll always have your back!”

    Tong Jia threw her arms around Cai Ying. “You’re the best, little sis!”

    “Jia-jie, do you have any hobbies? I love reading novels,” Cai Ying said, leaning closer to Tong Jia, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Do you read?”

    Tong Jia’s eyes lit up. “What a coincidence! What genres do you like? I just started reading recently. Do you read fanfiction?”

    “What a coincidence! Have you read anything by Little Bunny?”

    “What a coincidence! I’m reading Little Bunny right now!”

    Their enthusiastic exchange left no room for anyone else to speak.

    Xu Jinnan: “…”

    If she remembered correctly, the story was about her and Shen Shu. She even remembered the first chapter, where the “sickly, domineering CEO Omega,” Nannan, was tied to a chair by the “Alpha,” Shu.

    She glanced at Shen Shu, who, while slightly more responsive than last night, was still quiet, only speaking when directly addressed by Cai Ying or Tong Jia.

    “Have some shrimp,” Xu Jinnan said, placing a peeled shrimp in Shen Shu’s bowl.

    Shen Shu didn’t reply, but she ate the shrimp, a sign of a slight thaw in their relationship.

    —

    After dinner, Tong Jia and Cai Ying were practically sworn sisters, their shared personalities and boisterous laughter filling the apartment.

    It wasn’t until 9:30 p.m. that their chatter finally subsided.

    Cai Ying, slightly tipsy after a bottle of fruit wine, rested her chin on her hand. “Let’s play Landlord!” she suggested.

    “Look at the time,” Xu Jinnan said.

    Tong Jia, protective of her new “little sister,” wasn’t having it. “Let’s play! I’ll play with you! Shu Shu, you can sleep in tomorrow. How many rounds?” Knowing she couldn’t convince Xu Jinnan, she turned to Shen Shu.

    Shen Shu hesitated, and Xu Jinnan, seeing her wavering, knew she wouldn’t refuse.

    Not wanting to put her in a difficult position, she said, “I’ll play if you play.”

    Shen Shu paused, not looking at Xu Jinnan. “It’s getting late. Just a few rounds,” she said.

    “Yay!” Cai Ying exclaimed, jumping up.

    Just as Xu Jinnan was about to suggest going downstairs to buy a deck of cards, Cai Ying retrieved one from her bag. “I played with my friends the other day and forgot to take it out. Perfect timing!”

    To avoid a repeat of the KTV incident, Xu Jinnan set some ground rules before they started – a standard game, no funny business.

    Tong Jia looked at her, as if offended. “Little Cai is still young! Do you think I would suggest anything inappropriate?”

    “Yes,” Xu Jinnan replied flatly.

    Tong Jia: “…”

    They played Landlord, and Tong Jia, surprisingly creative when it came to games, suggested a new set of rules.

    Since it was getting late, they would only play ten rounds, the overall winner determined by the total number of wins, not individual rounds.

    The landlord played against the other three players.

    The other three players teamed up against the landlord.

    If the landlord lost, they lost.

    If the other three players lost, they would play rock-paper-scissors, and the loser would be considered the overall loser of the round.

    And at the end, the person with the most losses would have to wash the feet of the person with the fewest losses.

    “…Wash feet?”

    Even Xu Jinnan was impressed by Tong Jia’s creativity.

    “Don’t worry, there’s another option. If CEO Xu loses, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to wash either mine or Little Cai’s feet, so if Little Cai and I win, you can transfer us ten thousand yuan each, and vice versa. As for Shu Shu, we’re both Omegas, so we can wash each other’s feet,” Tong Jia explained.

    “Why do you assume I’ll lose?” Xu Jinnan asked, smiling.

    She had never lost a game involving numbers.

    And she could count cards.

    She couldn’t lose.

    She turned to Shen Shu, who, after a brief glance at Cai Ying, who winked at her, realized this was a setup.

    Shen Shu: “…”

    What are they up to?

    Xu Jinnan had a photographic memory and a sharp mind. Cai Ying and Tong Jia’s plan to team up against her was unlikely to succeed.

    But Shen Shu didn’t say anything – it was a childish plan, but she still wanted to see if Xu Jinnan would lose.

    Clearly, Cai Ying and Tong Jia had underestimated her.

    They hadn’t anticipated her card-counting skills and her uncanny luck, as she became the landlord for three consecutive rounds.

    No matter how good their hands were, Xu Jinnan always managed to win.

    As the fourth round began, Xu Jinnan received a message from Tong Jia.

    Tong Jia: [CEO Xu, can’t you tell Little Cai and I are trying to help you? Make your wife happy, then you can make amends.]

    Tong Jia: [Stop winning! If you keep winning, your wife will have to wash your feet!]

    Tong Jia: [Little Cai and I are working so hard to feed you cards! And it’s not like we’re actually going to make you wash our feet!]

    Xu Jinnan: […I know.]

    She was just afraid of being too obvious and having Shen Shu realize what they were doing.

    Tong Jia: [You don’t understand Omegas at all! The more deliberately you lose, the happier she’ll be! It shows you care! You’re not the expert anymore, are you? All those fancy moves in bed, but clueless when it comes to relationships?]

    Xu Jinnan: “…………”

    She glanced at Tong Jia, who immediately bit her lip, then, after playing a card, sent another message. [But you’re still my one and only, sacred and inviolable teacher – Teacher Xu.]

    Their silent exchange made Xu Jinnan reconsider. Tong Jia had a point.

    For the rest of the game, she deliberately avoided playing cards Shen Shu couldn’t beat and fed her as many winning cards as possible.

    By the last two rounds, it was obvious to everyone except Shen Shu what they were doing.

    Shen Shu: “…”

    She felt a strange mix of emotions.

    She was still slightly annoyed, but also amused, and even a little touched.

    The outcome was predictable.

    Xu Jinnan lost; Shen Shu won.

    “Whether or not you wash her feet, and when and how, is up to you two,” Tong Jia said as she was leaving, leaning in close to Xu Jinnan. “But no matter what, you have to send us a photo. It’s the rule. No cheating.” Her breath smelled faintly of alcohol, but she was sober.

    Xu Jinnan: “…” As if I would send you a photo of that.

    —

    After seeing Tong Jia and Cai Ying off, Xu Jinnan and Shen Shu returned to the apartment.

    Cai Ying was staying over, so Shen Shu changed the bedsheets in the guest room.

    It was almost 11 p.m. when Shen Shu and Cai Ying finished getting ready for bed. Xu Jinnan was the last one.

    After her shower, she glanced at the open guest room door. “Get some sleep,” she called out to Cai Ying.

    Cai Ying poked her head out, her eyes sparkling. “CEO Xu~ I didn’t mean to peek into your closet, but can I admire your handbags?”

    “Sure, take whatever you want,” Xu Jinnan replied.

    “Really?” Cai Ying grinned. “Even the limited edition ones?”

    “Of course.”

    While Xu Jinnan liked her bags, she wasn’t particularly attached to them.

    It didn’t matter.

    Cai Ying jumped up and down excitedly. “Xu Jinnan, you’re the best! There are so many I couldn’t get my hands on! Don’t worry, I’ll only choose one! I’m not greedy~” She dashed towards the closet before even finishing her sentence, humming happily.

    Xu Jinnan chuckled. Now she’s being nice to me?

    She walked over to the bedroom and opened the door. Shen Shu was sitting on the bed, and their eyes met briefly before Shen Shu looked away.

    Xu Jinnan sat down beside her. “Still mad?”

    “No,” Shen Shu replied calmly, though there was still a hint of annoyance in her voice, much less than before.

    “Don’t worry about what happened earlier. I know they were doing it on purpose.” And I know you were too.

    She had deliberately controlled her tone and her reactions, not wanting to seem overly sensitive. It was just a kiss, interrupted… it was nothing.

    Xu Jinnan looked at her for a moment, then leaned closer. “How can I make it up to you?” she asked softly, her voice husky.

    Shen Shu looked up at her. “Anything?”

    “Anything,” Xu Jinnan replied, meeting her gaze.

    Just then, Cai Ying’s excited voice echoed from the next room.

    “Xu Jinnan! This red square bag is a limited edition! Can I have this one?!”

    Xu Jinnan had brought so many bags from the hotel that she hadn’t even looked through them properly.

    And she usually preferred darker colors.

    “Sure, whatever—” she began, then suddenly stopped. “Wait a second,” she said, hurrying to the guest room.

    “It’s so heavy! There’s something else inside… huh?” Cai Ying, standing on a stool, had just unzipped the red square bag when Xu Jinnan snatched it from her.

    Cai Ying: “…?”

    “Choose something else. Not this one,” Xu Jinnan said.

    The bag, though not large, was surprisingly heavy.

    She had suddenly remembered. Most of the bags in the closet weren’t from the hotel, but from the old apartment. And the red square bag – wasn’t that the one she had used to carry those… items on her wedding night?

    “You tricked me! You gave me hope, then crushed it! How could you? That’s so mean!” Cai Ying exclaimed.

    “Two bags, three bags, even. Just not this one,” Xu Jinnan said.

    “Don’t lie to me! If you lie again, you’re dead.”

    Xu Jinnan nodded, then carried the bag back to Shen Shu’s bedroom.

    Just as she opened the door, Shen Shu emerged, and they collided.

    The bag fell to the floor, its contents spilling out – a collection of items that made Shen Shu’s face flush.

    A coiled rope landed at her feet.

    She glanced down at it, then, as Xu Jinnan closed the door, her eyes met Xu Jinnan’s, her gaze intense and questioning.

    As if continuing their earlier conversation: Anything?

    Or perhaps asking: Is this what you meant by “anything”?

  • My Evil God Girlfriend (gl) 93

    Chapter 93: The Letter

    After a long, deep kiss, Xiang Er leaned against Akhe, the heart-shaped gem pressed against her own chest.

    She looked up at Akhe and whispered:

    “I’ll keep this safe.”

    The temple was cold and ancient, the flickering oil lamps casting long, dancing shadows, and as Xiang Er looked up, her eyes, reflecting the red light, shone like a startled rabbit’s, wide and wet with unshed tears.

    Or like a deer, a pure, innocent creature in this dark, corrupted world, unaware, untouched, her presence a beacon, a guiding star, a vessel of hope… a home.

    Even gods could be fragile, Akhe thought.

    Akhe gently stroked Xiang Er’s hair, her voice low and husky:

    “Let’s go home.”

    Xiang Er, about to stand up, suddenly cried out in alarm!

    A thick tentacle had wrapped around her waist, lifting her into the air, and beneath her feet, the giant stone steps began to crack!

    A deafening roar echoed through the temple as it began to collapse!

    The massive stone steps, the intricately carved gargoyles, the vibrant murals, all cracked and crumbled, the floor shattering, the altar splitting apart, the human skulls, as if coming alive, leaping and scattering!

    A chasm opened beneath them, black slime oozing out, devouring everything.

    The slime swallowed the altar, the pillars and statues, the grotesque, eye-adorned monsters, the human bones and animal furs… the falling oil lamps igniting the fur, the fat, the wood, eerie blue flames spreading rapidly.

    And Xiang Er, protected by the tentacles, had already been carried to the temple entrance by Akhe, hovering high above, watching the destruction unfold.

    Xiang Er, speechless, stared at the epic scene, a spectacle she had never imagined witnessing.

    The hot, dry air, thick with the stench of decay and burning flesh, the black smoke swirling, those primitive, roughly hewn statues and carvings, testaments to humanity’s earliest creativity, worthy of a museum, all crumbling, dissolving into the black slime… those terrifying, or perhaps sacred, works of art, imbued with the faith of countless humans… all gone!

    Beneath the burning blue flames, Xiang Er felt a strange, inexplicable sadness.

    She didn’t know where it came from, but… her eyes stung, her throat tightened, and she turned to look at Akhe, who held her close.

    Akhe’s familiar face, in the flickering firelight, was expressionless, like a perfectly sculpted statue.

    What was she thinking? As her own temple crumbled, did she feel regret, or relief?

    Akhe suddenly turned, her gaze meeting Xiang Er’s.

    Her eyes, reflecting the blue flames, seemed frozen, then, seeing Xiang Er, thawing instantly, a smile curving her lips:

    “Let’s go.”

    Xiang Er:

    “This place… like this… is it really okay?”

    Akhe’s voice was calm:

    “It’s okay, its purpose has been fulfilled.”

    The tentacles shifted, adjusting Xiang Er’s position, making her more comfortable, and they rose into the air, leaving without looking back.

    The valley below burned with eerie blue flames, the black stream swelling, the massive wooden pillars collapsing, soon, it would be just an ordinary valley again, no trace of the temple remaining.

    Xiang Er, high above, suddenly felt a pang of fear. Was this… a premonition?

    But it was probably just her imagination… Akhe was powerful, wasn’t she?

    They flew all the way back, Akhe seemingly abandoning the car, flying much faster, and they arrived home just as night fell.

    Xiang Er’s mood, throughout the journey, had been somber, although reconciling with Akhe was a good thing, she still felt… a lingering unease.

    As soon as they entered the apartment, Akhe’s bag still in her hand, Xiang Er wrapped her arms around Akhe’s neck, pulling her close, her lips finding Akhe’s.

    She couldn’t say the words, but she thought them, a silent plea: Kiss me…

    She craved the comfort, the familiarity of a loving touch, to quell her anxiety and fear.

    Akhe immediately kissed her back.

    The kiss was forceful, almost desperate, her tongue, like a small snake, invading Xiang Er’s mouth, the force of it almost painful.

    Xiang Er had thought the kiss would calm her, would dispel her worries, but… it had the opposite effect.

    A sudden clap of thunder, lightning splitting the sky, the camphor tree outside thrashing wildly in the wind, the incessant beeping of car alarms…

    It was the last storm before autumn… a cold wind blew in from the balcony, ruffling Xiang Er’s hair, her neck arching back, her body bending, the wind and the tentacles caressing her bare skin… she shivered, her legs involuntarily parting, a cry escaping her lips:

    “Mm…”

    A single tear rolled down her cheek.

    And at that moment, the rain, with a sudden “whoosh,” began to pour down.

    The stars and moon vanished, the world falling silent for a moment, only the sound of rain, a chaotic drumming. Raindrops splattered on the ground, on the trembling flower petals, on the very source of life.

    That night, in the storm, they were lost in a frenzy of passion.

    When Xiang Er woke up, her eyelids felt heavy, the simple act of opening them requiring all her strength.

    She opened her eyes, and a weak sunlight, filtering through the blue windowpane, illuminated her desk.

    Her body ached with exhaustion, but she seemed to have been healed, there were no injuries. She sat up, pushing herself up with her arms, and saw that it was already afternoon.

    The air, washed clean by the rain, was fresh and cool. Xiang Er tried to get out of bed, but her body felt weak and heavy.

    She sat there for a while, leaning against the headboard, resting.

    Her throat was parched, she wanted some water.

    But… she waited, and no water came.

    A scratching sound at her door made Xiang Er frown, puzzled, when had Akhe developed a habit of scratching at the door?

    Xiang Er coughed a few times, put on her nightgown, and went to the door, opening it.

    The small eyeball was crouching there, several black tentacles extended, and seeing her, it blinked its large eye, its expression one of unconcealed panic.

    Xiang Er was now familiar with the small eyeball’s every move, every expression, but she had rarely seen it look so frightened.

    A sudden fear gripped her, and she frowned, asking the small eyeball:

    “What’s wrong?”

    The small eyeball opened its slit-like mouth, but… no sound came out.

    It blinked, as if struggling to speak, its mouth open, yet silent. It rolled away from the door, gesturing with a tentacle towards a certain direction.

    Xiang Er’s hands and feet trembled, a terrible premonition washing over her, her movements clumsy, bumping against the door and the doorframe.

    She walked forward, as if crossing the boundary between dream and reality, the pink bubble of her illusions about to burst, her steps slow and hesitant, unable to even leave the doorway.

    Her breathing grew heavy and labored, and she pushed open the door, following the small eyeball, looking around…

    There was nothing there.

    Yes, nothing. The apartment was clean and tidy, meticulously so, the old furniture even polished, not a speck of dust, the lightbulb in the ceiling fixture replaced.

    The cushions on the sofa, neatly arranged by color. The sofa itself smooth and clean.

    But last night… Xiang Er remembered what had happened on the sofa, the tentacles writhing in the slimy fluid, the entire sofa soaked…

    The floor, too, was spotless, gleaming, not a single trace.

    Xiang Er looked towards the master bedroom. Last night, they had… made a mess of that bed… but now, the bed was perfectly made, the sheets clean and smooth, nothing out of place.

    The small eyeball hopped onto the dining table, where a piece of paper lay.

    But Xiang Er avoided looking at it, her gaze, filled with a mixture of panic and a strange, lingering hope, fixed on the kitchen.

    Every morning, Akhe would be there, preparing breakfast, her culinary skills now so advanced that it wasn’t unusual for her to be quiet… perfectly normal.

    She must be in the kitchen, preparing breakfast, that’s why she wasn’t there to greet her. It had to be.

    Xiang Er walked towards the kitchen, her steps slow and cautious, and looked inside.

    It was… empty.

    Clean and tidy, spotless, the utensils neatly arranged, no one there, no tentacles.

    No one was making breakfast.

    Xiang Er, her heart sinking, stumbled back, then ran to the bathroom, frantically searching.

    Finally, she couldn’t help but call out:

    “Akhe…? Where… where are you?”

    She ran through the apartment, searching every room, but she couldn’t find her.

    The apartment now felt vast and empty, terrifying, like a cave in the deep mountains, the air heavy, suffocating.

    Xiang Er passed by a mirror and saw her own reflection, her face pale and bloodless.

    Ignoring it, she turned and walked towards the dining table, where the small eyeball was.

    The small eyeball was crying silently, large, transparent tears dripping onto the table, carefully avoiding the piece of paper.

    Xiang Er, her hand trembling, picked up the paper, a few lines of elegant handwriting:

    “My beloved Xiang Er:

    Remember the… other one I mentioned? It has arrived near this planet, and I have to go and… negotiate, or perhaps fight, so I must say goodbye.

    I promised to be honest with you, so I have to tell you, the outcome of this battle is uncertain. You have my heart, and if it… breaks, disappears, then please… forget me, and live your life.

    I am truly sorry for everything I’ve done to you. And I’m eternally grateful for your… forgiveness. I will fight for you, but please don’t wait for me.

    I’ve instructed the investigators to… look after you. If you need anything, contact An Yue, she’s always nearby.

    The small eyeball will stay with you, but it will gradually weaken without me, you can give it to An Yue if you want.

    Under the witness of the universe and the stars, I will always love you, until I cease to exist.

    Your most devoted lover, Akhe.”