Chapter 368 – Your family’s plum blossom is lost again (44)

Wang Shi froze slightly upon hearing the soft and cute voice of Little Pink.

Hearing the mention of the horror dimension and recalling the voice from earlier, she hadn’t seen the system itself, but she was all too familiar with its voice.

The tall, dark figure beside her had no time to say much before its body stiffened and dissipated.

A pink light flickered slightly, then floated toward Yan Luo.

Wang Shi collapsed onto the ground, her bond with the system abruptly severed, sending a violent shock through her mind.

The pain in her head was unbearable. She clutched her head with one hand, pressed the other against the ground, and gritted her teeth as she looked up at Yan Luo.

By now, Yan Luo no longer showed any trace of earlier panic and distress. Though still a bit pale, she stood there calmly, looking down at Wang Shi.

The little pink light swayed and slowly drifted in front of her.

“You have a system too…?! You’re from another world as well?!”

[That thing you had, something that doesn’t even have a proper name, existing solely to plunder, doesn’t qualify as a system, little girl.] Though Little Pink’s voice remained as soft and cute as before, there was a distinct chill in its tone.

Clearly, it was displeased that Wang Shi had lumped it together with the pseudo-system.

—No wonder… No wonder I had never been able to defeat her, even with all my advantages…

Wang Shi lowered her head slightly, her fingers clenching tighter and tighter as she listened to Little Pink. The pain was so intense that she was close to losing consciousness.

Then she heard Yan Luo speak. “Little Pink, that pseudo-system has already been destroyed. What about this person?”

[Ordinary people without special abilities can bind with a pseudo-system, but their minds aren’t strong enough to withstand its energy. In a few minutes, this barrier will fade, and by then, she’ll suffer a complete mental breakdown.]

In other words, Wang Shi would go insane.

[I’ve already notified headquarters. There will be professionals sent to take care of people like her.] Handling it themselves would be troublesome, it was easier to let headquarters deal with it.

“In that case, since the problem is solved so quickly, let’s go.” Yan Luo still had to figure out how to provoke that supposedly emotionless Xiao Gege.

Since he had changed so much recently, it meant there was still a way to handle him.

Watching Yan Luo’s retreating figure, Wang Shi let out an unwilling roar. “You were just luckier than me! If I had bonded with your system…”

—If I had bonded with your system, you would have been the one to lose to me instead of things turning out like this…

Little Pink was just about to return to its original position when it heard that and immediately flared up.

Did she think it would bind with just any random thing?!

Before it could even respond, its Host suddenly paused, tapped lightly on the now-weakening barrier, then turned slightly to look at Wang Shi.

“Harboring malice only brings misfortune upon yourself. Understand?”

The pain in Wang Shi’s mind peaked. She collapsed on the ground, trembling slightly. She watched as the barrier in front of Yan Luo shattered into countless shimmering fragments, then she lost consciousness entirely.

Yan Luo, on the other hand, paused mid-step. A few raindrops fell onto her face, and then—

A sudden clap of thunder roared in her ears, draining what little color had returned to her face.

The original owner’s emotions surged violently within her.

Yan Luo : This weather… is out to get me… So cursed! Q_AQ

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Chapter 367 – Your family’s plum blossom is lost again (43)

“You will disappear from this world, and I will take away your luck for you. Oh, right, you don’t have to worry about your grandfather either. He will slowly forget about you and won’t feel sad.”

The sharp blade in Wang Shi’s hand slashed toward Yan Luo. She instinctively moved back. After traveling through so many dimensions and learning so much, the only reason she hadn’t used her skills before was due to the restrictions of her character settings in each world.

She had said it before, she trained every day. She was not weak, okay?

The attack missed. Instead, Yan Luo knocked the knife out of Wang Shi’s hand with a swift counter. The blade, shrouded in black mist, clattered onto the ground with a crisp sound before being kicked far away by Yan Luo.

“Impossible! There’s no way you have the ability to dodge that!” Wang Shi yanked her hand back, but she couldn’t break free from Yan Luo’s grip. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at her.

“Oh, really?” Yan Luo’s eyes curved in a smile. “I should thank you for providing information about this dimension and setting up this barrier. But as someone who has been through this before, you shouldn’t make reckless moves without real ability. The consequences will be severe.”

Cowardly—no, playing it safe was the real key to life.

What dimension? What has been through? This time, the one feeling fear had changed. Wang Shi stared at Yan Luo’s fair and delicate face, which now carried the expression of a seasoned veteran offering advice. Her fingers tightened slightly.

She swallowed hard, disbelief filling her voice. “You… What are you saying? What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’re an idiot.” Yan Luo pursed her lips. “You lost control and made your move too soon. Luckily, I’m smart enough not to deal with you right away. Otherwise, no one would have figured out what’s going on with Mu Ci.”

A human experiment? A laboratory? No wonder Yan Luo and Grandpa Mu Ci to be stronger, to learn more, while Mu Ci, in turn, kept increasing his blackening value at an alarming rate.

As for the Mu family, they were even worse. Not only did they assist in evil, but they also raised Mu Ci as a living organ donor for their own child.

And emotional deficiencies? Those expressions of joy, anger, sorrow—were they all just an act? Yan Luo found that easy to believe. No matter how close they had seemed before, there was always a sense of distance between them.

So he needed stimulation?

Yan Luo’s eyes lit up.

“System! System!!!”

Wang Shi, who had always held all the trump cards, finally panicked. She struggled frantically, desperately calling out the name of the entity that had guided her to power.

“You… What are you? You’re not Yan Luo! You’re not!!!”

She called again and again, but there was no response. True panic set in. Then, suddenly, a sharp pain struck her head.

A hoarse, icy voice filled with agony and rage echoed nearby. The sound was eerily familiar. She jerked her head to the side and saw—

A terrifying, unfamiliar black figure appeared beside her. She instinctively took a step back—only to find that Yan Luo reacted even faster than her.

Letting go immediately, Yan Luo leaped to the side.

“Oh my god! Scam Pink, what are you doing?! Can’t you clean up your own mess without showing me something like this?!”

Her heart was about to give out in this dimension, seriously! Q_AQ

[Aiya, dear host, you need to train more. Just think—what if you end up in a horror dimension next time…?]

Yan Luo’s expression was blank. “No. I refuse.”

---

Chapter 366 – Your family’s plum blossom is lost again (43)

“This was the condition that the research institute exchanged with the Mu family—an officially recognized identity and the most seamless way to handle things.

“But after all, being an artificial human with the most perfect genes, he’s indeed so smart it’s terrifying. At such a young age, he already noticed how he was different from others. By piecing together conversations between the Mu family members and the people from the research institute, he figured out his own identity. Then he began to disguise himself—pretending to be naive and ignorant, deliberately slowing down their experiments, making them believe that the project had failed.”

Yan Luo’s face turned deathly pale, as if she had been frightened by Wang Shi’s words.

But indeed, it all sounded too fantastical to be true.

“That Xiao Gege of yours has done quite a lot behind the scenes. He became the biggest seller in the underground arms market, using his intelligence and abilities to find other test subjects from the same lab. He then leveraged their individual strengths to build a flawless underground empire, slowly luring the research institute into his trap, until he finally destroyed it completely.”

Wang Shi shook her head. “It’s honestly terrifying…”

In the novel, the Wang family was ultimately destroyed by Yan Luo. Wang Shi and Yan Luo had originally met in university. Wang Shi had a strong personality, and she naturally disliked Yan Luo, who always outshone her in everything. Over time, their rivalry deepened, and Wang Shi resorted to some rather unsavory tactics. But in the end, she was swiftly crushed by the combined efforts of the Yan and Mu families, orchestrated behind the scenes.

Although she was no longer the original Wang Shi, she had inherited Wang Shi’s hatred and memories. As she spoke these words now, her heart was filled with a mix of emotions.

But time was almost up. Seeing the look on Yan Luo’s face, Wang Shi felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Finally, she curled her lips into a faint smile. “Alright, enough useless talk. You know everything you need to know. No regrets now, right? As for your future… I’ll be sure to inherit it for you…”

A small dagger, tainted with a black aura, appeared in Wang Shi’s hand as she slowly approached Yan Luo.

Who would have thought that the supposedly terrified, pale-faced Yan Luo would purse her lips slightly and turn away?

“Little Pink, in this situation, if I break character, that should be fine, right?”

[Mhm, I think it’s fine.] Little Pink responded with evident displeasure as it watched the arrogant pseudo-system and woman before them.

This thing not only dared to frighten its Dear Host but also had the audacity to try and erase her existence? Where did she get such confidence from? Did she really think this Master Pink was powerless?

A pink light shot out from between Yan Luo’s eyebrows, silently enveloping the pseudo-system before her, completely locking it down.

With that reassurance, Yan Luo felt at ease. She lifted her head, and under Little Pink’s control, the eerie figure of the pseudo-system was already obscured. The corners of her lips curled as she slowly stood up, dusted off her clothes, propped her chin on her hand, and blinked as she said, “Hmm… haven’t you heard? Villains usually die from talking too much.”

Though, she was thankful for what Wang Shi talked about. (*^▽^*)

Wang Shi, dagger in hand, halted in her tracks, frowning in confusion as she looked at Yan Luo, who suddenly seemed like a completely different person. “Are you just trying to act tough? It’s useless, you know. I have a system. Do you even understand what that means just from the name alone? You and I are not the same. In this place, you can’t escape. And your Xiao Gege? He’s not coming to save you.”

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Chapter 365 – Your family’s plum blossom is lost again (42)

Yan Luo gathered her thoughts, lowered her head, and blinked.

So this person transmigrated into this book world and was then bound by this pseudo-system because of her characteristics?

“What exactly do you mean?” Yan Luo shifted her body slightly backward, her face a mix of terror and anger as she stared at Wang Shi. “I don’t care what you are—send me back right now! Otherwise, my Grandpa and my Xiao Gege won’t let you off!”

“This is all you ever rely on, isn’t it?” Wang Shi sneered. “Clinging to your powerful family, clinging to Mu Ci. Tell me, did you already know? About Mu Ci’s real identity?”

“Xiao Gege’s identity…?” Yan Luo froze, looking at Wang Shi, her fingers curling slightly. “What are you talking about? I don’t know anything.”

Yan Luo : Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up! So curious! (✧◡✧)

“Mu Ci isn’t just some ordinary person,” Wang Shi leaned in slightly, smiling as she spoke. “He’s a genetically engineered human, created by a top-secret research lab using the most perfect human genome.”

Yan Luo : What the—?! w(ﾟДﾟ)w What did you just say?!

—Wait a second! Isn’t this supposed to be a lighthearted school-life dimension?! What the hell is this research lab nonsense?!

“They used the genetic material of the Mu family couple and combined it with experimental modifications. With today’s medical technology, it’s impossible to detect his true identity. But because the genetic engineering is still in its experimental phase, there’s a fatal flaw. Mu Ci has an emotional deficiency. Every emotion he displays is something he learned to mimic over time.” Wang Shi relished the disbelief in Yan Luo’s eyes, finding immense satisfaction in finally revealing the secret she had been holding onto. She looked down at Yan Luo from above and continued, “So, while I don’t know how he first came across you when you were lost….”

Yan Luo’s pupils dilated slightly as Wang Shi’s voice, laced with malice and amusement, echoed in her ears.

“But one thing is certain. You never meant anything to him. As for you and the Yan family, from the very beginning, Mu Ci was only using you… Using you all to escape the Mu family’s surveillance, to deceive the research institute behind them.”

—Yan Luo.
—To him, you were nothing.

“No, that’s not true! That’s not true! You’re lying! Xiao Gege isn’t like that!” Yan Luo shook her head violently, her eyes rimmed red, though stubbornly refusing to let her tears fall. “You couldn’t possibly know these things. He’s just an ordinary human. A research lab? That’s impossible!”

“Impossible? You think I couldn’t know? You think it’s unscientific? But aren’t you witnessing something unscientific right now? Then why don’t you explain, scientifically, why you and I ended up here?” Wang Shi grinned, enjoying the despair creeping onto Yan Luo’s face.

“Besides, your Xiao Gege is nothing more than an experiment, a test subject being monitored. That research institute needed a family to help integrate this artificial human into society for observation. His fate was already decided long ago…”

Wang Shi smiled faintly. “After all, the Mu family already has a real son. He was diagnosed with organ failure at a young age. The original plan was for Mu Ci’s experiment to conclude when he turned eighteen, at which point he would ‘accidentally’ die, and his organs would be transplanted into the only true Mu family heir, Mu Li.”

---

Chapter 364 – Your family’s plum blossom is lost again (41)

Yan Luo slowly stood up, took two steps back, and looked around in panic, her voice slightly sharp, as if she had been startled. “Here? You…”

“Feels strange?” Wang Shi chuckled as she stepped toward Yan Luo, her smile eerie and unsettling.

—Uh… Not to dampen your enthusiasm, but honestly, I don’t feel anything strange at all…

Yan Luo’s fingers tightened slightly. When she saw the pseudo-system entity appear behind Wang Shi, her face instinctively turned pale. This time, she didn’t even have to fake it.

It wasn’t that she was scared!! Think about it—if you suddenly saw a tall figure shrouded in black mist behind a woman with an eerie, sinister smile, and that figure was semi transparent and wearing a terrifying ghost mask, wouldn’t anyone be…

Little Pink : [Alright, alright, stop talking. I get it, you’re just scared.]

Yan Luo: …

“Little Pink, can you handle this pseudo-system?”

Little Pink scanned the surroundings. This pseudo-system had enclosed the area for convenience, which actually made it easier for Little Pink and Yan Luo to act.

Compared to Wang Shi and the pseudo-system, this setting worked in their favor.

Thinking this, Little Pink couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for Wang Shi, who had no idea what was about to happen.

[This pseudo-system used its own power to carve out this space. It’s temporarily a separate sub-dimension. If I make a move here, it won’t affect the main world.]

Hearing this, Yan Luo nearly wept with joy.

“That’s great! Hurry up and get rid of that creepy thing! I feel like I haven’t grown tall enough yet, haven’t gotten long legs, and it’s all because it scared me! I don’t want to see it anymore! Q_AQ“

Little Pink : …You might be overthinking things a little…

—[Long legs? Fighting back? Yeah, keep dreaming.] ┓(=∀=)┏
—[Not happening, dear Host.]

Just as Yan Luo was about to urge Little Pink to act quickly, Wang Shi, seeing Yan Luo’s pale face, actually smiled. She even had the leisure to chat with someone she believed was doomed.

“Don’t be scared. So, our once-proud Miss Yan Luo is afraid now? Weren’t you supposed to be strong and aloof? Hahaha.” Wang Shi slowly approached her. “Too frightened to even speak? Want to know what I really am?”

“Wait, wait! Why do I feel like she’s about to spill some big secret? Little Pink, hold off for a bit!”

Yan Luo looked up in a panic, but deep down, she was secretly excited.

“You, you…” The girl’s voice had always been soft and sweet, but now, tinged with fear, it sounded even more pitiful.

“Originally, I had no personal grudge against you,” Wang Shi said smugly. “But since I took over this body, I also inherited all its emotions. And, well, I happened to read a book that told me everything that happens next.”

Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “I know everything that’s going to happen, including what will become of you. But too bad… you won’t have a future.”

Took over the body? Inherited its emotions??

“Little Pink, is this pseudo-system also a quick transmigration system?”

[Judging by its power, probably not. It seems to have originated from this dimension, surviving by absorbing its energy. It usually chooses hosts who are either easily manipulated villains or people accidentally dragged in from other worlds.]

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Chapter 363 – Your family’s plum blossom is lost again (40)

The system seemed to hesitate for a moment, sensing that something was off. However, the desire for power ultimately won out. Because of what had happened yesterday, all their previous efforts had gone to waste. The issued tasks had failed several times in a row, consuming so much energy that even the system itself was struggling to endure it.

If it didn’t take action soon, it wouldn’t even have the power to issue tasks anymore, let alone strengthen itself.

Although using this method made it easy to be detected by the Dimensional Management Bureau, they had no other choice at the moment.

By erasing this person’s existence in this dimension, they could seize her fate for themselves.

It was a vicious method, but highly effective. However, because it involved erasing someone’s presence from the dimension, it would cause significant disruptions, making it highly likely to attract the attention of the Dimensional Management Bureau. The system had to act quickly, before they sent someone to track it down.

[I will shield you from surveillance during this period. Once Yan Luo is devoured and erased, the memories of those around her will quickly fade. But this method has serious long-term consequences for us, don’t get addicted. This is a one-time thing.]

“That’s enough. As long as I can devour her luck, I can turn everything around.” Wang Shi’s lips curled into a chilling smile.

[In that case, I’ll transfer you to a secluded place first. Until you finish what you need to do, no one will notice you.]

“Alright.” Wang Shi responded softly. Just the thought of Yan Luo disappearing filled her with excitement. She couldn’t wait to swallow Yan Luo’s luck entirely.

—Without Yan Luo… Without Yan Luo… As long as Yan Luo no longer existed…

As long as Yan Luo was gone, Mu Ci wouldn’t side with the Yan family anymore. With the information she possessed, she was confident that she could soon win Mu Ci over to her side.

Without Yan Luo, everything would change.

At this moment, Yan Luo’s face was pale, but she was clearly in better condition than before.

She frowned.

“Why does this pseudo-system always have to appear right in front of me whenever it speaks?”

She really didn’t want to see it, okay?! It’s its own fault for looking ugly, yet why did it still come out to scare people?!

[Because its level is too low.] Little Pink replied in a watching-the-drama tone. Suddenly, it paused slightly. [Dear Host, the opposing system seems to be initiating a teleportation. The targets are you and Wang Shi. Should we resist?]

“Teleportation? Wow, amazing. Why can’t you do something like that, Little Pink?”

Yan Luo widened her eyes but decided to let it be. She was curious to see what these two were planning to do.

Little Pink hesitated for a moment before responding in the same tone as when they first met. [As long as you have enough points, Dear Host, teleportation and any kind of tools are absolutely no problem~(＾Ｕ＾)ノ~]

It was just short of saying, [Dear customer, if you’re satisfied, please leave a five-star review!]

Yan Luo was speechless for a long moment.

Then suddenly, her body felt weightless. The table in front of her vanished, and she lost her balance, stumbling to the side and landing on the cold ground. She blinked and looked up, feigning confusion.

Not far away, Wang Shi also landed, her lips stretching into an eerie grin as she looked at Yan Luo.

They were now in a secluded alleyway. At the end of the alley, a faint black barrier shrouded the area, isolating it from the outside world.

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Chapter 362 – Your family’s plum blossom is lost again (39)

He could chase after her now, but what would he say if he did?

There were still things that couldn’t be exposed, actions that hadn’t fully unfolded yet. If he wanted to see things through to the end, he had no choice but to maintain the status quo.

The girl was only seventeen—he still had time… time…

—Time, my ass!

With a clatter, he slammed his chopsticks onto the table, his expression dark. Pulling out his phone, he quickly typed a message.

Early in the morning, the private group chat for planning covert operations buzzed with notifications.

Boss Ci : [Speed things up. Get rid of that faction as soon as possible. If you keep messing around, I’ll send you all overseas to expand the market.]

Unlike Mu Ci, who still had to attend school, the others, half-asleep and groggy, were jolted awake by the special task alert.

Speed things up? Sure, sure…

Σ(っ°Д°;)っ？？

Wait—what?! Speed things up?! Boss, that’s not what you said before! Weren’t we supposed to be careful and cautious?!

Ignoring their reactions, Mu Ci tossed his phone aside and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. This growing sense of urgency made him feel like if he hesitated any longer, his little girl would slip away.

No, no, no! Absolutely not! He needed to wrap things up—fast.

Though he wasn’t entirely sure what this feeling was—whether it was the so-called ‘liking’—whenever he thought of Yan Luo, he just felt the need to snatch her up and keep her close.

As for Old Master Yan… well, he’d deal with that after he brought her home.

---

Meanwhile, Yan Luo sat in the Yan family’s car, her head lowered, looking somewhat dejected.

But inside, she was more anxious than anything.

It had been a while since she last heard the system notify her of a rise or fall in blackening value. Pressing her lips together, she remained cautious.

Based on the original owner’s personality, she couldn’t push too hard or say anything too reckless. If she provoked him too much and his blackening value spiked, that would be a disaster.

She still needed to steer things back on track, but this situation couldn’t go on forever. She had to find a breakthrough.

Lost in thought, she stepped out of the car under the concerned gaze of the driver.

It was still early, and there weren’t many people on campus. As soon as she entered the classroom, she saw Wang Shi standing at her desk, eyes bloodshot.

The moment the door opened, Wang Shi turned to stare at her, making Yan Luo jump in surprise.

Confused, Yan Luo hesitated before taking a few steps forward toward her seat, full of questions.

—What’s with that girl?

Seeing Yan Luo’s innocent and clueless expression, Wang Shi’s anger flared.

A single day and night could change so much.

Just yesterday, the Wang family business had been attacked by an unknown hacker. Confidential documents had been leaked, followed by major business partners pulling out of deals. To make things worse, past sales of substandard products had been exposed.

Now, the Wang family was on the verge of collapse.

But she had already warned her father to stop selling those things. By all logic, their downfall wasn’t supposed to happen yet. Why now?!

Clenching her fists slightly, she scanned the empty classroom.

A vicious smile curled at her lips as she asked her system:

“It’s come to this point. Can I use another method to steal her luck now?”

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Chapter 361 – Your family’s plum blossom is lost again (38)

What Mu Ci used to take for granted unexpectedly transformed into a sense of satisfaction.

Then, a quiet hope began to take root in his heart—wishing that this little girl would always remain the same, that there would be no need for anyone else in her eyes, that no one else would intrude into their world.

Was this the possessiveness he had once read about in books?

Mu Ci lowered his gaze slightly, the corners of his lips curling up.

His identity was special, and even he wasn’t sure if he possessed the emotions of an ordinary person. But toward her, he felt a genuine yearning.

And once he became aware of it, that yearning seemed to ferment, expanding endlessly within his heart.

Just seeing her made it difficult to suppress.

He wasn’t even sure what he wanted to do—just that he wanted to get closer, to be near her.

And come to think of it, even before he had realized anything, even in his busiest, most chaotic moments, he would still find himself gravitating toward her—teasing her, watching her throw little tantrums. The weight in his heart would always feel a little lighter afterward.

As for the fluffiness…

Mu Ci’s gaze fell on Yan Luo’s freshly washed hair, now drying and turning slightly fluffy. He pursed his lips slightly.

She really was adorably fluffy. And he liked fluffy things.

Something crossed his mind, and his gaze suddenly darkened.

Then, he heard the girl beside him speak.

“But even so, I should follow Grandpa’s advice and work hard to overcome it. I can’t always rely on Grandpa or you, Xiao Gege. One day, you won’t be able to shield me anymore, we’ll all have our own lives.”

Mu Ci : Our own lives???

His movement halted for a moment, his breath catching slightly. Just as he registered the unsettling meaning in her words, she continued.

“I can’t always depend on my family. I need to learn to be independent.” She clenched her fist in determination as she spoke to Mu Ci with conviction.

Mu Ci : Family???

…Had he not made himself clear enough lately?

Right now, he had no intention of living separate lives. And as for just being family? That was definitely not what he wanted.

Before he could say anything, Yan Luo went on, “And besides, like Grandpa said, I can’t keep shutting myself off in my own world. If I stay like this, sometimes even you might get annoyed with me, right?”

Her voice was light, tinged with a faint self-reproach.

It was as if she had realized something. But Mu Ci had a feeling that whatever she had realized was not in his favor. And that realization sent an unfamiliar panic creeping into his chest.

He instinctively wanted to reach out and stop her.

But before he could, she quickly finished the custard bun in her hands, got up, and swept away her earlier emotions in an instant. Her smile was as sweet as ever.

“Xiao Gege, I need to catch up on what I missed yesterday, so I’m heading to school now. See you later!”

And just like that, she turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

For the first time, Mu Ci dumbly watched the little girl—who had always followed him around—walk away in the opposite direction.

He didn’t know what love was, nor did he fully understand these emotions.

But having been spoiled by Yan Luo for so long, this was the first time she had treated him like this.

His eyes widened slightly, his fingers still hovering midair, not yet able to reach out. A flicker of frustration crossed his gaze before he finally withdrew his hand.

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Chapter 360 – Your family’s plum blossom is lost again (37)

It was unknown what had crossed Mu Ci’s mind, but a fleeting glimmer flashed through his eyes. By the time Yan Luo looked again, it had already disappeared. He spoke softly, his tone warm and indulgent.

“Are you hungry?”

It was rare to see him openly display such tenderness. Usually, he wore a careless, roguish smile, teasing her, watching her get flustered, relishing the changes in her usual demeanor.

And then, she would come over to him and cared for him—only to watch his blacking value jumps up, leaving her feeling utterly helpless.

He never seemed to tire of it. But lately, he appeared to have changed.

He used to keep his distance, but now he often leaned in, sticking close as if testing something. His handsome face carried an expression of quiet study, as if trying to confirm a suspicion.

And the colder she acted, the closer he wanted to get.

Like today, when he had lingered near her all the way into the night.

Yan Luo nodded slightly. Watching him leave, hands casually tucked in his pockets, a familiar, carefree smile on his lips, she touched her chin, eyes thoughtful.

Could it be that this kind of attention wasn’t just simple concern? That he needed… more stimulation?

Hmm… but wouldn’t pushing him too much only make his blackening value rise even higher?

She felt a bit uneasy, but dragging things out wasn’t a solution either.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she glanced toward the door.

Besides, her Xiao Gege seemed to be hiding quite a few things.

He concealed it well, but since they had practically grown up together, no one could maintain a perfect façade in daily life. There were always clues.

Given his reactions today and his recent changes, Yan Luo wasn’t foolish enough not to notice.

Before long, Mu Ci returned with a tray of light dishes. After dinner, he stayed and watched her until she fell asleep.

---

The next morning, the sky was overcast, looking as if it might rain.

Mu Ci was up early for once. When Yan Luo came downstairs, she saw him lounging lazily, biting into a steamed bun.

Upon seeing her, his eyes brightened slightly. He beckoned her over with a wave and approached her attentively.

“Feeling better?”

Yan Luo blinked, then nodded. “Mm, much better.”

Mu Ci responded with a soft hum, lips pressing together as if deep in thought. He took another bite of his bun, then watched as his fair, delicate little girl took a small bite of her own soft custard bun.

Lowering her gaze, her delicate features were tinged with contemplation. Suddenly, she turned to look at him, tilting her head.

“Xiao Gege, I’m turning seventeen next month. I’m having a birthday banquet.”

Mu Ci’s fingers tensed slightly as he looked at her. “Mm, and?”

Yan Luo lowered her eyes again, taking another bite of her bun. Her voice was a little muffled.

“There’ll be a lot of people.”

Mu Ci immediately recalled that she didn’t like being around strangers. Crowds made her uneasy, restless.

A lingering shadow from what had happened to her parents when she was young.

That was why she only felt comfortable around him and Yan Luzheng.

He had always taken it for granted, but after his conversation with Yan Luzheng—or perhaps after noticing the subtle shifts in his own emotions—he couldn’t ignore it anymore.

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Chapter 359 – Your family’s plum blossom is lost again (36)

Thinking it over, Lin Yixuan finally guessed hesitantly, “Boss, do you think she might have been possessed by a ghost?”

“Maybe…” Mu Ci’s gaze darkened, his tone light, carrying a meaning Lin Yixuan couldn’t quite grasp.

His eyes rested on Yan Luo’s room, his expression calm, but his grip on his phone tightened.

Again, he recalled what the family doctor had said earlier.

Yan Luo had been frightened, triggering an instinctive self-protection response.

Ever since her parents’ accident, her mental state had never been particularly stable. She had seen psychologists multiple times as a child, but the diagnosis had always been mild psychological barriers—manageable with care, adjustments, and avoiding major emotional shocks.

Back then, Yan Luzheng had paid close attention to her condition. Over time, as Yan Luo grew up into a well-behaved and intelligent girl, despite her aloof demeanor around strangers, both of them had finally let their guard down.

Who would have thought something like this would happen today?

Originally, Mu Ci had little impression of Wang Shi. But now? That was over. Every ounce of his accumulated frustration and anger had doubled and was directed squarely at her.

Who cared whether she was human, ghost, or monster? If she dared to mess with his girl, even if she could ascend to the heavens, he’d drag her right back down.

To be fair, Wang Shi was rather unlucky. She never intended to scare Yan Luo like this. She had planned things out carefully, but before she could act, she ended up shouldering the blame. Though, in a way, it wasn’t entirely unjustified.

“Hey, hey, hey…” Lin Yixuan shuddered at Mu Ci’s ominous tone. “Boss, I’m timid—don’t scare me like that.”

Though he claimed to be scared, his voice carried a hint of excitement. After all, none of them were ordinary people. This kind of game was just the right kind of thrill.

Then, Mu Ci hung up on him.

Hearing the beeping of the disconnected call, Lin Yixuan’s smile froze slightly.

Frustrated, he vented in their group chat : [I have never had human rights under our boss!]

Instead of sympathy, the so-called human-rights-deprived guy was promptly mocked by his merciless teammates.

---

By the time Yan Luo woke up, the sky was already dark. She stretched lazily, but her hand suddenly bumped into something.

Startled, she blinked, only for the soft glow of a nightlight to turn on, illuminating the person sitting beside her.

She blinked in confusion. She had no idea what time it was, but Mu Ci was still wearing the same outfit from the morning. His eyes, laced with exhaustion, rubbed at his temples as he sat up.

He had been lightly dozing at the head of her bed.

His clothes were slightly wrinkled, and his hair, tousled from sleep, stuck up in disarray, making him look almost childlike. Raising a brow, he studied her.

“Awake?” His voice was husky from sleep. As he spoke, he leaned in and placed a hand on her forehead, checking her temperature.

After a moment, he finally nodded in satisfaction. “Good. No fever.” If she wasn’t feverish, then she should be fine after sleeping it off.

“Why are you here, Xiao Gege? What time is it?” Yan Luo glanced around in confusion.

“It’s past eight. You slept through the entire afternoon and evening,” Mu Ci replied, ruffling her hair. Only when he saw the color returning to her cheeks did he finally relax.

He had been worried that she’d wake up still afraid, so he had stayed by her side. Before he knew it, hours had passed.

---