Chapter 42
Linmen, Luoqiao District — inside An Le's home.
After changing into her pajamas, An Le returned to her room and glanced at the neatly folded clothes laid out on the bed.
They were also newly bought, but not the expensive one that had cost over a thousand yuan. Instead, it was a more affordable alternative she purchased after leaving the store.
Of course, in terms of style and fabric, it was far inferior to the dress Little Pinky had previously taken a liking to.
But An Le was still quite satisfied.
She gave the new clothes another appreciative look.
Smiling warmly, she decided she would wear them tomorrow after giving them a wash.
Folding the clothes once again, she turned her head toward the white snake lying motionless on the bed and softly called out,
"Little Pinky?"
"..."
At the sound of her voice, Little Pinky gave An Le a weak glance.
Then, it dropped its head again and let out a long, exaggerated sigh.
It didn’t say a word, but that sigh seemed to express everything.
An Le climbed onto the bed and reached out a finger to poke its snake head.
Normally, Little Pinky would have completely freaked out, but this time, it looked like its soul had gone missing.
It didn’t react at all and allowed An Le to do whatever she wanted.
Worried, An Le asked,
"Little Pinky, can you get sick too? You look really uncomfortable."
"..."
Hearing this, Little Pinky finally lifted its head and stared at her, its eyes practically saying,
"Are you serious?"
An Le’s concerned expression didn’t change—she clearly meant what she said.
And just like that, Little Pinky was utterly defeated by the pure innocence in her eyes.
"Waaahhhh! Why is my fate so miserable?! Why?! Why did I choose you as my Host, waaahhh!"
"Eh-eh?"
An Le pursed her lips, as if she’d finally figured out why Little Pinky was so upset.
She looked at the snake, which had begun ramming its head into the mattress, and asked carefully,
"But... Little Pinky, didn’t you say you wanted to help fulfill my wish? Then why are you unhappy with what I did?"
"That’s nonsense! You clearly wanted that beautiful dress too! Wasn’t that your wish? You’re going against your own wish!"
An Le blinked and replied softly,
"That was indeed my wish. But not wanting that shop clerk older sister to suffer a loss because of me is also one of my wishes. So... it’s not really breaking our agreement, right?"
Little Pinky’s mouth hung open, completely dumbfounded by her reasoning.
An Le continued,
"Besides, it just didn’t feel right. Once I save a bit more money, I’ll ask Mama for a little extra, and then we can go back and buy that dress together."
Little Pinky took several deep breaths in a row, nearly passing out right there on the bed.
"...You’re unbeatable."
'Why, deity?! Why is this happening?!'
'I’ve already gone through two Hosts—one didn’t even glance at me before punching me away, and the other is even worse!'
'Everyone else gets cheats and immediately swears off eating beef, and here you are trying to be a goody-two-shoes?'
(*) "Cheats" refers to special powers or advantages in games or stories, often used by protagonists.
'How is this any different from stopping at a red light while playing a driving game?!'
'If you keep raising your desires like a law-abiding citizen, how long will it take before I reach my full form?!'
'Why is someone as brilliant as me cursed with such a tragic fate?!'
'Seriously, why?!'
"Don’t worry, Little Pinky. The new clothes are also really pretty~"
"Today I did my hair, bought new clothes and... underwear, so I’m fully prepared."
"My biggest, biggest wish is to reunite with Xiaohuan. I’ve prepared so early this time—it’s bound to succeed!"
An Le couldn’t bear to see anyone looking disappointed—not even Little Pinky.
She didn’t see it as just a spirit or some magical entity, but as a friend.
So whether she was cheering herself on or trying to comfort Little Pinky, she blushed slightly and clenched her fists as she spoke.
However, upon hearing her words, Little Pinky merely rolled its eyes dramatically.
'Oh come on, thank heavens.'
'That Yan Huan is definitely being targeted by the other Fingers.'
(*) "Fingers" here refers to other powerful entities or characters in the story, possibly tied to a motif with body parts.
'He’s practically the perfect food source for desire.'
'With a weak and kind Host like you, who never even laid a solid foundation, do you really think you can beat powerhouses like Index Finger and Thumb?!'
'Be realistic and at least learn how Modifiers work first!'
(*) "Modifiers" likely refer to supernatural enhancements or powers.
'Even that scumbag Pu Shuwen could bully you so easily, and you had to rely on Spencer to clean up the mess.'
'You tell me—how does any of that make sense?!'
'Seriously, my brilliant reputation as the genius Little Pinky has been completely ruined by you...'
'I’ve lost all face!'
Thinking of this, Little Pinky twitched and collapsed onto the bed, nearly fainting again.
An Le, assuming it was going to sleep, leaned over and whispered,
"Are you going to sleep, Little Pinky?"
"..."
"Then sleep tight. I still want to play on the computer for a bit..."
"..."
This time, Little Pinky didn’t even twitch.
It must have died.
An Le got out of bed and walked to her computer, opening the browser.
She planned to check out the galgame forum to see if there were any fun new games.
(*) "Galgame" refers to Japanese-style dating simulation games, often with romantic or visual novel elements.
But instead of a game, she stumbled across a post that piqued her interest:
"Looks like Baima Studio’s new release 'Bound Dragon' will debut at Sunday’s Linmen Game Expo. Anyone going who can buy a copy for me?"
Baima Studio specialized in niche R-rated otome games, and An Le was a devoted fan.
(*) "Otome games" are story-based games primarily targeted toward women, often focusing on romance.
She clicked on the post and began reading the replies.
"Where do you even get tickets? Scalpers grabbed them all—one ticket is over a thousand yuan! You could buy so many games with that!"
"Sigh, I guess I’ll just wait for the digital version to go live on their website."
Linmen Game Expo, huh...
Baima Studio is attending too?
An Le blinked and searched for the expo in her browser, which led her to the official website.
"Linmen GL Game Expo, sponsored by Gold Lion Group, is an annual, large-scale ACG convention."
(*) "ACG" stands for Anime, Comics, and Games.
"This year’s event is the largest ever, featuring the most invited companies and doujin circles in history!"
(*) "Doujin circles" are independent creator groups producing fan-made or original works.
"One main venue and twelve sub-venues will showcase the most comprehensive and dynamic cultural festival Linmen has ever seen!"
'Wow, it looks really fun, but...'
'The tickets are so expensive!!'
Seeing the price was in the four-digit range, An Le, who had been excited, instantly lost all interest.
She moved to close the browser in disappointment, but her mouse accidentally clicked on the words “Gold Lion Group.”
She was instantly redirected to the official site of Gold Lion Group.
Against a luxurious golden background, a lion head icon with a golden mane bared its fangs and claws.
This was the logo of Gold Lion Group—and the origin behind the corporation’s name.
The shimmering icon caught An Le’s attention. She’d definitely heard of this world-famous enterprise before.
She stared at the image, watching as the lion in the icon slowly lifted its head and roared,
*"Roar!"*
The roaring animation gradually morphed into a real-life lion mural on a marble wall in a luxury apartment in Jinghe District.
The lion on the wall silently gazed at the spacious room before it—and at the golden-haired girl lying on the sofa near the floor-to-ceiling window.
The lighting in the room was dim, but her golden hair still shimmered beautifully.
She wore a sporty T-shirt and shorts, her long, pale legs stretched straight up against the wall.
Meanwhile, she lay on the sofa cushion, her head hanging off the edge, facing the ceiling.
Her mouth was wide open, as if preparing for something.
In the next second, she tossed a jelly bean into the air.
Her open mouth, like a net, reached up and caught the falling jelly bean with perfect precision.
*"Awoo~"*
Having caught the falling jelly bean, the girl named "Aruiya Spencer" chewed it slowly, savoring the sweetness with a bored expression.
"So boring."
In the vast, luxurious apartment, only her voice echoed—no reply came.
Swallowing the jelly bean, Spencer sat up and picked up her phone.
She started browsing through cartoons on a video streaming site, planning to project one onto the big screen.
But nothing piqued her interest. The more she browsed, the more irritated she became.
She had already finished watching *Peppa Pig* and found the other cartoons dull.
Spencer was in a terrible mood today.
Her clear blue eyes, like the sky, stared at the massive 115-inch screen, where the image of a golden lion's head looked back at her.
It was her mother’s AI butler, which had sent her a message earlier that day.
"Miss, the President has received feedback regarding your recent academic performance."
"She is very upset."
Thinking of this, Spencer narrowed her eyes, grabbed a bag of chips from the table, and tore it open.
"Please make sure to pay attention in class, complete your assignments on time, and participate in study groups according to the student council's emails."
"If you need my assistance, feel free to contact me. I will continue to report your status to the President in real time."
*Tsk.* Spencer clicked her tongue, took a bite of chips, and pressed the smart remote again.
On the TV, the golden lion butler’s voice returned,
"Do you have any instructions, Miss?"
"When is she coming back?"
"I am unaware of the President’s exact schedule. However, based on the last update, I estimate she will return to Linmen within two months and stay for two to three days."
Spencer glanced out the window at the night view of Linmen, her expression reading: 'Just as I thought.'
She ruffled her golden hair and muttered in frustration,
"I'm so bored this weekend. Find me something fun to do."
"I recommend visiting the library or gym. Reading is said to cultivate character. I believe—"
'Ugh, this stupid AI.'
A vein popped on Spencer's forehead. Folding her arms, she turned her head and shouted,
"I want to go out and have fun! Take me somewhere exciting! Tell me what's fun in Linmen this weekend, or I swear I’ll go smoke, drink, and get a boyfriend!"
"...Understood. Please wait a moment, Miss."
The golden lion paused, then appeared to retrieve a matching message.
"I recommend attending the GL Game Expo in Linmen this Sunday. It is a grand cultural event we are sponsoring."
"The Linmen GL Game Expo?"
Spencer blinked, sat up straight, and rubbed her chin while eyeing the TV screen.
Then, as if something finally caught her interest, the boredom on her face slightly faded.
"Eh~"
'Mother, when are you finally going to let Xiaohuan stay?'
In a suite at a luxury hotel in the southern district, Ye Shiyu picked at her food using her own chopsticks from her backpack, thinking this.
She looked up at Yan Huan and Ye Lan across the table, who were chatting, while she quietly pondered.
'Maybe... I should speak up first?'
"Aunt Ye, were you already in the southern district today?"
"Yes. I came to discuss a few matters with some Linmen departments and inspect the southern district. We're planning to install charging stations and supporting infrastructure. The current environment is, well, quite poor."
"Yeah, the southern district can be a bit rough."
'This is a great opportunity!'
While eating, Ye Shiyu set down her chopsticks, looked up at Yan Huan, and proactively suggested,
"Xiaohuan is still working part-time in the southern district, and since the environment is so concerning, why don’t we let him stay at home? That way, he wouldn’t have such a hard time."
Yan Huan was slightly stunned, looking across the table at Ye Shiyu.
He was surprised she would actually invite him back herself.
And she even brought up how tough part-time work was—seemed like whatever Yinggong had told her earlier worked wonders.
But for some reason, watching Ye Shiyu speak like this gave Yan Huan a faint sense of unease.
'So should I go back or not?'
The benefits were obvious—Yan Huan no longer wanted to emphasize Ye Lan’s status. If he returned, it would be a major turning point.
Goodbye to part-time jobs, the poverty of the southern district, and over ten years of orphan life.
But he was also weighing whether returning would help resolve Ye Shiyu’s “modifier” issue.
(*) Modifier likely refers to a psychological condition or abnormal behavior, possibly obsessive tendencies.
*"Meow~"*
Under the table, the phantom cat Meow-chan stood beside the paper bag Yan Huan had placed next to his chair.
It stuck its furry head inside, pawing at something.
Then, discovering something, it looked up at Yan Huan and cried again,
*"Meow!"*
'Did you find something, Meow-chan?'
Yan Huan turned to look at the paper bag containing the clothes Ye Shiyu had returned. Meow-chan was pawing persistently at one of the garments, meowing nonstop.
"What do you want to show me, Meow-chan?"
Yan Huan examined the clothes for a while but didn’t see anything. So he asked mentally.
'Yan Huan, look inside the collar. A bit closer. It’s in a very hidden spot.'
Yan Huan didn’t check right away. Instead, he glanced at Ye Lan beside him and noticed a contemplative look on her face.
Casually, he pushed the ladle off the table.
*Clatter.*
"Sorry."
Yan Huan smiled slightly, then bent down to pick up the ladle—while actually leaning closer to inspect the spot Meow-chan had been pointing out.
Looking carefully, he finally discovered something.
Inside his school uniform, in an extremely hidden corner, someone had stitched three minuscule characters with incredibly fine needlework.
If not for Meow-chan’s reminder, no normal person would’ve noticed the tiny embroidery.
'Hehe, can you guess what those three characters are?'
"Ye Shiyu."
Seeing that tiny name stitched into his clothes, Yan Huan swallowed hard. The pressure mounted instantly.
"And it’s not just this school uniform, meow. The other clothes have it too, all in different places."
"..."
*Hiss.*
'And to think I was still hesitating about going back, thinking Ye Shiyu’s condition had improved...'
'This isn’t improvement—it’s late-stage obsession!'
'I’ve already become hers without realizing it. No wonder I didn’t notice her twisted habit hadn’t changed at all!'
'Thank goodness for Meow-chan. Otherwise, I might’ve unlocked the bad ending CG tonight.'
(*) CG typically refers to "computer graphic" scenes in visual novels or games, often used for key plot points or endings.
"Meow-chan, I love you."
*"Meow?"*
Holding the ladle, Yan Huan sat upright again, smiling brightly, though his mind was frantically searching for excuses.
Excuses to avoid going back to the mansion in Jinghe District.
'A rich life may be tempting, but for the sake of my sanity and solving her modifier—'
'Aunt Ye, I’m really sorry, but I’m afraid I’ll have to turn you down again.'
But after a moment of thought, Ye Lan sighed, shook her head, and said,
"Shiyu, I told you that spending time with Xiaohuan would make you more cheerful. But even before Mama arrived, I had already thought this through and realized I was too impulsive."
"Eh?"
Both Ye Shiyu and Yan Huan were stunned.
Ye Lan, however, looked apologetically at Yan Huan. Resting her chin in her hands, she said,
"Xiaohuan has lived in Linmen for over ten years. He’s a boy on the verge of independence, yet I’ve always treated him like a child.
"Even though we had never met, I half-forced him to give up his familiar life just to meet my expectations—that was truly unfair."
As she spoke, Ye Lan turned to Ye Shiyu again.
"This past week, I had someone look into Xiaohuan’s life. I now understand that he’s already a mature young man who can take care of himself.
"So Mama plans to support him more financially from now on, to make his life easier, rather than forcing him to move in with us."
"What do you think, Shiyu?"
'Aunt Ye!!'
Looking at the smiling Ye Lan beside him, Yan Huan almost saw angel wings and a halo behind her, divine light shining down—sacred and beautiful.
That maternal gentleness washed over him, making Yan Huan want to close his eyes and bask in it reverently, as if it were a sacred blessing.
Not only had she saved him from going home that night and being hypnotized by Ye Shiyu, but she also offered him her unconditional support.
'Aunt Ye, you're my goddess!'
"Xiaohuan, recite your prayer to the merciful deity—Aunt Ye~"
"Aunt Ye, I don't want to work hard anymore."
"Hehe, how cute~"
In sharp contrast to Yan Huan, who had fully converted to the Church of Ye Lan (*), Ye Shiyu was in complete shock.
(*) A humorous metaphor implying blind devotion, likening Aunt Ye to a religious figure.
'Mama?!'
Ye Shiyu widened her eyes, paused, and then reluctantly spoke.
"But..."
"Just because we don't live together doesn't mean our bond has to weaken. Shiyu, you and Xiaohuan go to school together every day, and on weekends, I can invite him over to our house. Wouldn't that be even better?"
Ye Shiyu looked at her mother, then at Yan Huan, who was nodding eagerly beside her, and said,
"But... the environment in the southern district is chaotic. I even heard there have been gang fights. I'm worried..."
Seeing the concern on Ye Lan’s face at those words, Yan Huan quickly jumped in.
"It's okay, Shiyu-sis. I've lived there for over ten years. I can take care of myself. And besides, with Aunt Ye’s help, the southern district is bound to improve."
"Thanks to me? Why?"
Yan Huan gave a small smile and said,
"The Linmen government plans to cooperate with Aunt Ye to develop the area’s infrastructure. Naturally, they'll have to improve public safety too."
"After all, it's real money on the line. If thugs keep causing trouble every few days, the losses won’t fall on Aunt Ye, right?"
Ye Lan covered her mouth and chuckled, clearly realizing she hadn’t considered that before.
"That does make sense. I don’t know if the southern district will improve, but at least we won’t lose money. Worst case, Xiaohuan, you can just rent a place elsewhere later—it doesn’t have to be in the southern district."
As she spoke, she pulled a white card from her bag and handed it to Yan Huan.
"This is a credit card Aunt prepared for you. The password is six ones. From now on, use this for all your expenses—Aunt will take care of it~"
Yan Huan blinked at the white card in his hand.
Then he looked up at Ye Lan, who now appeared to have angel wings and a compassionate smile, and instinctively opened his mouth.
"Thank—"
"Shh. No need to thank Aunt. Just take it, Xiaohuan."
"Alrighty, Aunt."
That heartwarming scene of "maternal kindness and filial devotion" left Ye Shiyu, sitting across the table, with no chance to bring Xiaohuan home that night.
Ye Lan’s maneuver had caught both Yan Huan and Ye Shiyu completely off guard.
However—
Holding her phone, Ye Shiyu looked at the smiling Ye Lan and Yan Huan. Her heart gradually settled.
Her mother had spoken about Xiaohuan for so long, and it was clear that Xiaohuan yearned for familial warmth too.
Perhaps this moment was just right.
If she took him home now, she might act impulsively and ruin this beautiful atmosphere.
Besides, they'd still see each other every day at school, and she could invite Xiaohuan over on weekends.
No rush.
In the end, reason triumphed over desire—it rose once more.
She held her phone and let out a long breath, silently accepting her mother’s arrangement.
Between her fingers, the phone screen lit up again without being touched, morphing into a swirling dark purple vortex.
But just then, the screen began flickering wildly, as if losing signal, and filled with snowy static.
A second later, the screen dimmed again, fading into the quiet ambiance of the room.
[End of this chapter]