Chapter 10
When you were little and lost sothing, how did your parents usually react?
If it was nothing important, they might scold you for being careless and tell you to be more careful next ti. But if it was sothing critical—say, the house keys or a bank card—you could expect a proper scolding, maybe even a spanking.
Of course, every family is different; that's just how Yan Huan rembers it.
Whatever the case, no parent would ever turn the car around and drive back to the shopping mall at eight-thirty on a Saturday night to hunt for a lost keychain—let alone do it without uttering a single reproach.
Yet that was exactly what Ye Lan did.
The mont she heard Ye Shiyu's request, she told the driver to make a U-turn and take them back to the mall where they'd eaten earlier. The car had barely stopped before Ye Shiyu jumped out, forgetting the coat she'd taken off because of the heater inside.
Yan Huan glanced at the coat, picked it up, and followed her out.
Ye Lan stepped out as well, exchanged a few words with the driver—who apparently wanted to help search—but Ye Lan sent her ho first. After a brief tug-of-war, the car finally drove off.
Even though the mall was still ablaze with lights, the late-winter night had wrapped the building in a subtle chill.
Ye Lan, wearing a shawl over her shoulders and clicking along in high heels, gave a helpless smile to Yan Huan, who was already walking ahead.
"Let's go. Sorry to drag you into this, Xiao Huan. Shiyu will probably retrace her steps while she thinks, so we'll just follow the route we took this afternoon."
Retrace the route... Yan Huan blinked, then looked toward Ye Shiyu, who had already stalked ahead. She stood at the edge of the plaza, staring at the darkened aquarium that had lted into the night sky.
"Shiyu sis."
Hearing Yan Huan's voice, she turned around expressionlessly. Yan Huan offered her the coat.
"It's getting cold. Put this on."
Ye Shiyu's gaze fell on Yan Huan's hand—right where the tag with her na was sewn—and paused.
"Thanks."
She took the coat but didn't put it on.
Yan Huan didn't press her. He simply walked beside her and asked, "Shiyu sis, do you rember when you last opened your bag? Was it inside the aquarium or after we ca to the mall?"
"I haven't opened my bag since I bought the keychain."
"Really?" Yan Huan raised an eyebrow. "Could the bag have a hole?"
Ye Shiyu checked the tote; nothing was missing.
That was odd. A supernatural disappearance?
He had watched her slip the newly nad keychain into the bag this morning—or maybe she had opened it again later and simply forgotten.
"The aquarium's closed," she said coolly. "I'll walk the route back to the mall and look for it."
Without another word, she spun on her heel and left.
Yan Huan and Ye Lan had no choice but to follow, retracing their path from lunch.
"Dear shoppers, the mall will close in twenty minutes. Except for the cinema area, please make your way to the exits. Use the 7A elevator on the seventh floor to reach the first floor or the underground garage. All other elevators will be shut down."
The announcent echoed through the seven-storey building. Lights dimd, and the tallic clatter of shop shutters filled the air.
Yan Huan rode the escalator down to the first floor. He spotted Ye Lan sitting on a bench, slipping off her high heels to rub her ankles. Her long skirt fanned out like petals; exhaustion flickered in her eyes.
She lifted her head and smiled. "Any luck, Xiao Huan?"
"No. We've searched everywhere—lost-and-found, even asked the staff. Nobody's seen it."
"Mmm, that is strange." Ye Lan pouted, moved the shoes aside, and patted the seat beside her. "Tired? Sit for a bit. Sorry for dragging you around, making you run errands for big sis when we're supposed to be having fun."
"Not at all. We already had our fun, Auntie."
Yan Huan sat down beside her. She hugged her knees, massaging her calves and feet. Her ankles were flushed scarlet—high heels all day would do that. No wonder she had let the two of them search while she rested.
Yan Huan exhaled and watched the mall grow quiet around them.
Ye Lan studied his profile, chin in hand, then asked softly, "Do you think this is over-the-top, Xiao Huan?"
"Over-the-top?"
He turned to her. She was still smiling.
"Driving back for a cheap keychain, spending an entire hour looking—sounds a bit foolish, right?"
"Not really."
Yan Huan blinked. "I thought you'd summon a battalion, have the aquarium reopened, and order a hundred people to comb the place."
Ye Lan laughed behind her hand. "That would be ridiculous!"
"Ridiculous? That's how every web-novel CEO does it," Yan Huan said with a grin, then put on his best ice-cold tycoon face, pointing dramatically. "If you can't find it, you'll all be buried with it!"
Ye Lan burst out laughing, clutching her stomach, her toes wiggling in the air. "So commanding! You should be in movies, Xiao Huan~"
Grinning, Yan Huan watched her. She reached over and tapped his head in mock reproach.
"But it's just a keychain. No way I'd waste that much manpower."
Yan Huan rubbed his head, dodging her feather-light fist.
"Exactly—novel plot devices. But Auntie, you're basically the CEO who bills a million an hour. Spending an evening on a cheap keychain is practically the sa thing."
Ye Lan's smile deepened. She ruffled his hair without mussing it.
"Shiyu hardly ever loses things. If no one touches them, she won't misplace them. It might look troubleso, but it's only happened a few tis. And you've probably noticed—besides her dolls, jellyfish are her favorite."
"Yeah, but we checked the security caras. No stranger ca near her bag."
"Exactly. That's why it's so strange. Maybe she really did drop it inside the aquarium." She paused, then said gently, "But I can't trouble other people with sothing like this."
Ye Lan stroked his head. "What she lost is important to her—sothing she treasures, with her na on it. I know that once she's labeled sothing, a replacent won't do. But that's only true for her and for .
"To anyone else, it's just a cheap keychain.
"I ca back because I'm her mom. Whatever is special to her is special to . That kind of special can't be asured in money—and besides, we had nothing else planned tonight.
"There's no way I could ask other people to give up their Saturday evening for sothing that's only precious to us. So I really am sorry for dragging you out so late, Xiao Huan."
Yan Huan didn't mind. Going ho late ant dodging Ye Shiyu's hypnotic ambush.
The air around them had grown warr, perhaps because of Ye Lan's smile.
"No wonder even the driver offered to help, and you still turned her down."
"Exactly. She'd already worked overti today. She should go ho and rest. We'll take a taxi back later."
Saturday overti ant the driver had only needed to shuttle Ye Lan in the morning and collect her at night—no need to stay on call and still earn a full overti rate.
For so reason, Yan Huan's eyes stung a little. Maybe because he had literally worked himself to death in his previous life. Hearing a boss who wouldn't keep employees past their shift felt like eting a kindred spirit.
"Auntie, if I ever get the chance, I'm definitely coming to work for you."
Caught up in the mont, Yan Huan blurted it out.
If you'll have , I'll gladly call you boss.
Ye Lan burst into laughter again, petting his head fondly.
"With your talents, it wouldn't be hard. Just don't regret it—because Auntie's only lenient in this one area. In everything else... heh."
"..."
Looking at Ye Lan's suddenly sly grin, Yan Huan wondered if he'd spoken too soon.
But he was only a first-year. He didn't need to pick a career path just yet. Plenty of ti to dream—like kids who announce they're going to be astronauts when they grow up.
While Ye Lan was still ruffling his hair, Ye Shiyu descended the escalator, her expressionless face darker than usual.
The result, as expected—she still hadn't found it.
Yan Huan rose and offered, "Shiyu sis, should I go up one more ti and look?"
Ye Shiyu flicked a glance at him, then let her gaze slide to Ye Lan, who was rubbing her sore feet.
Her mother had spent the whole day in heels, tailing her from store to store, searching again and again.
Besides, it was only a keychain—sothing she adored, sure, but nothing she couldn't bear to lose... or even give away.
The thought jarred her. A tiny frown creased her brow; where had that idea co from? It had flashed and vanished, yet it left a sour taste, because she treasured every single thing she owned.
In the past, when she'd lost sothing, she might decide not to trouble her mother and drop the search—but never had she felt her desire for a cherished possession simply drain away. If anything, losing it only made her want it more.
Because of that alien notion, she felt suddenly nauseous; her face chilled with anger she couldn't na.
The phone in her hand lit up, bathing her fingers in a deep, devilish violet.
Yan Huan lifted an eyebrow.
She's mad?
Over a keychain?
And why is the Modifier glowing? Who can you hypnotise into finding your stuff?
Seeing her expression darken, Ye Lan slipped her feet back into her heels, buckled the straps, and stood.
"We've got another twenty minutes before the mall closes. Let Xiao Huan and take one last look with you—what do you say?"
The ice in Ye Shiyu's eyes thawed a fraction at her mother's gentle voice. She shook her head.
"Forget it, Mommy. Let's go ho."
"I'll buy you a new one tomorrow, okay?"
"No need. Let's just leave."
Ye Shiyu turned to go. Ye Lan shot Yan Huan a puzzled look.
"Your sister's temper's worse than usual today. She never got this upset about losing things before."
Yan Huan kept watching Ye Shiyu's receding back, thoughts unreadable.
A day that had started out light-hearted ended on an awkward note. Even the taxi ride ho felt muted.
Back at the house, Ye Lan and Ye Shiyu went upstairs to rest. Auntie Chen was in the ground-floor laundry room, gathering the clothes the driver had brought back for washing.
Curious, Yan Huan lingered. Ye Shiyu had stuck na tags on everything—how would Auntie Chen handle them?
He watched her peel the temporary tags off first. Noticing his interest, she explained,
"These are just stickers. Miss Shiyu will embroider the nas herself later—her needlework's amazing. The madam hired a top tailor to teach her when she was little."
While sorting the garnts into a separate washer, she added,
"All the outfits on the dolls in her room? She sewed every one. Oh, Xiao Huan, you haven't seen them yet. Tomorrow, ask her to show you."
"Sure—if I get the chance," Yan Huan answered with a smile, privately doubting Ye Shiyu would agree.
Earlier, she'd discarded the shawl he'd rely brushed against; it wasn't in the laundry pile. She hated people touching her things—at least outsiders like him. Auntie Chen and Ye Lan were exceptions. Auntie Chen could wash her clothes; the jacket Ye Lan had worn earlier had also been Ye Shiyu's.
Mulling it over, Yan Huan headed upstairs.
"There's milk in the kitchen, Xiao Huan. Don't forget to take so."
"Got it. Thanks, Auntie Chen."
Milk in hand, Yan Huan reached his room on the second floor. He flicked on the light; on the sofa sat a plump black cat, poised like royalty.
"ow~"
"ow-chan."
"You're back. How was today?"
He set the milk down, let himself fall onto the sofa. The impact bounced ow-chan, but the cat's bulk kept her steady.
"Sa as ever, I guess."
ow-chan hopped onto his chest and studied him.
"Sothing happen?"
"Mm, hard to explain..."
He paused, expression shifting, then hurried to the door and locked it.
Click.
Only then did he relax and lie back down.
Sipping the milk, he looked at the cat's tilted head.
"ow-chan, what's the link between dolls and jellyfish?"
"A riddle?"
"It's about Ye Shiyu. The two things her Modifier's host loves most: dolls and jellyfish. Why those two? Any connection?"
ow-chan tilted her head.
"Is there one?"
"Hey, I'm asking you."
"But what humans like is complicated. There doesn't have to be a logical link."
Yan Huan drained the milk and sighed.
"She's not normal. The way she loves dolls and jellyfish goes way beyond ordinary. Feels like there's a reason. And today was weird—like ghosts were involved."
Ye Shiyu's keychain had vanished. Ye Lan said she was usually careful and rarely lost things; Ye Shiyu herself couldn't rember opening her bag. Yet the jellyfish keychain had simply disappeared.
It might still be sowhere in the aquarium, but sothing felt off.
Dolls and jellyfish—things Ye Shiyu adored.
A keychain gone without trace, and her sudden, inexplicable anger.
Basketballs and chickens—seemingly unrelated, yet if you squinted, a faint silhouette of soone in strange overalls appeared... that kind of feeling.
Yan Huan suddenly had an idea. He snapped a photo of ow-chan beside him.
Click.
The adorable cat immortalised, he opened plane and sent it to Sakuramiya Vice-President—her avatar a white cat. He added the sticker "Today's friend fee paid," then typed:
"Sakuramiya Vice-President, are you free? Got a quick question."
She loved cats and knew everything about them—usually helpful.
A few minutes later, her status changed to "typing..." then his screen went black—an incoming call. Yan Huan connected his Bluetooth earpiece and answered.
He smiled.
"Cute enough, the kitten?"
"Mm, adorable. Is it President-auntie's cat?"
Her voice drifted through, silky and soft.
"Nope, a stray I picked up. I call her ow-chan."
Beside him, ow-chan yawned hugely.
"I see."
Sakuramiya Hitomi didn't comnt on the na; instead she guessed his motive.
"President wants advice on raising cats?"
"Not exactly." Yan Huan chuckled, then asked,
"Tell —why do you like cats, Sakuramiya?"
A beat of silence.
"Sakuramiya Vice-President?"
"Because they're cute."
Just as Yan Huan wanted to press further, Sakuramiya Hitomi suddenly responded without any pause, catching him off guard.
"Emm..."
Cats were undeniably cute, but were jellyfish?
They were, actually, but it didn't feel like the right answer.
The illusory silhouette in overalls gradually faded from view, as if telling Yan Huan that this wasn't the correct connection between basketball and chickens.
"Besides that?"
"President, you're asking what qualities I love about cats beyond their appearance, right?"
Right—could it be sothing related to jellyfish qualities?
"Mm, what qualities do you like about cats, Sakuramiya?"
"Hmm... because cats are independent, yet they can act affectionate toward their owners when needed. They're both strong and fragile, like children. They're clearly independent beings, yet they still have to rely on their parents. Besides being cute, that's the only reason."
Sakuramiya, the vice-president, sighed and explained.
"But, President, everyone has different reasons for liking sothing. Perhaps it's so quality they lack and desire, or maybe the thing itself resembles them, or perhaps it makes them feel safe and comfortable... and so on. So, there will always be a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people. Rather than saying people love the thing itself, it's more like they love the part of themselves reflected in that thing."
Listening to Sakuramiya's beautiful voice, Yan Huan suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
Lacking qualities...
His mind involuntarily recalled Ye Shiyu's stunning profile as she watched the jellyfish today.
She had stared blankly at the glowing jellyfish in the tank, watching them move by expelling water.
Movent—such vibrant movent.
Her dark eyes reflected the glowing jellyfish in the tank, like tears sparkling.
Seems like the chicken feet have been revealed.
"Thank you so much, Sakuramiya."
Yan Huan sat up abruptly, speaking into the Bluetooth headset.
Though it was just speculation, at least it gave him so direction.
Of course, that was sothing to handle tomorrow.
After hearing Yan Huan's thanks, the voice on the other end fell silent.
Then, Sakuramiya guessed again.
"President... why do I feel like what you really wanted to ask wasn't why I like cats?"
"I rember, Sakuramiya."
Yan Huan, being a quick learner, copied her zero-fra speech pattern.
"Huh?"
"I rember why you like cats now."
Sakuramiya sighed helplessly.
"Well, forget it. This is probably related to your family matters anyway, so I shouldn't have opinions. Rest early, President. I'm glad I could help."
"You too. Good night."
"Mm."
The call ended. Yan Huan removed his Bluetooth headset and looked toward the door.
Hmm, no knock.
Seems like tonight would be peaceful?
That was unexpected. Yan Huan thought she'd definitely co vent about losing sothing tonight.
But she didn't show up?
Better that way—who wants to be hypnotized?
Yan Huan shook his head, stood up, stretched, and prepared to wash up for bed.
anwhile, outside his room on the stairs, Ye Shiyu, dressed in pajamas and holding her phone and milk, was coming up from downstairs.
Reaching the second floor, she glanced toward Yan Huan's room.
"."
She hesitated, but after a mont of silence, she turned toward the third floor.
Because tonight, she had other things to do.
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