"Hmm-hmm-hmm."
In the corridor that resembled a high-end hotel, Aruiya walked in front, sizing up the five rooms on this floor.
The walls were completely bare, with nothing written on them.
Although there were only five rooms, Ye Lan, who had made the arrangents in advance, knew that only two were occupied by her daughter and Xiao Huan—specifically, Room 1 and Room 2.
However, at this mont, Ye Lan's attention was not on the rooms, but on Aruiya right in front of her.
'This child... seems to have a rather unusual relationship with Xiao Huan as well.'
Ye Lan was an adult after all, and Aruiya made no attempt to hide her feelings, making it naturally easy to see.
But the problem was...
There was her own daughter, and earlier at the High Table Dinner, Xiao Huan had apparently led the dance with that child from the Sakuramiya family...
Adding the girl currently in front of her, how was the situation around Xiao Huan becoming increasingly complicated?
Moreover...
During the al just now, Ye Lan had learned from Elvira that Xiao Huan had already led the dance with that Sakuramiya child.
This was equivalent to saying: Xiao Huan already had a girlfriend!
Therefore, even though Aruiya had taken the initiative to invite her tonight, Ye Lan would have co over to take a look later even if she hadn't.
Because, no matter what, Ye Lan had to talk to Ye Shiyu about this.
She understood her daughter best. What if she couldn't accept it and decided to replicate her past controlling behaviors...
Could it be that she really wouldn't be satisfied until she spent her youth working the sewing machines in a detention center?!
"Auntie, which room is Yan Huan staying in?"
"Ah... in the second room."
Hearing the young girl's voice bring her back to reality, Ye Lan took a deep breath and smiled.
Aruiya turned her head to glance at the tightly shut door and gently knocked.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Yan Huan, I'm here!"
"..."
No matter how good the room's soundproofing was, the knocking and the shouting from outside would inevitably filter through.
Naturally, the people inside the room could hear it.
Yan Huan had already learned of the situation outside through Myau-chan. He felt a faint surge of joy in his heart but did not act rashly.
He was still obediently playing the role of the "sleeping younger brother" who had drunk the sleep-aid milk.
Behind him, Ye Shiyu, who was holding Yan Huan, suddenly opened her eyes.
"..."
Hearing Spencer's voice, she could not help but freeze slightly.
Among the other hosts—setting aside Bai Yi, who had already severed ties with Xiao Huan—An Le and Sakuramiya Hitomi had both sent ssages to ask, only to be subjected to her "online shopping link insult."
This Spencer didn't ask a single question, yet unexpectedly charged straight over?!
"..."
She narrowed her eyes, her irises gradually shifting into a deep purple as she used the Index Finger to connect to the surveillance caras in the corridor outside.
However, just a single glance nearly frightened the soul out of her body.
"Mama?!"
Yes, Ye Lan was standing right outside the room's entrance.
"Don't rush, little Spencer. I'll send Xiao Huan a ssage telling him we're here..."
"Okay."
"Buzz."
Inside the room, Yan Huan's phone resting on the nightstand suddenly lit up and vibrated.
Ye Shiyu stared at it with wide eyes. The hidden Plane notification on the screen felt like a death warrant, causing her body to tremble slightly.
She still rembered what her mother had once told her:
"If there is a next ti, I will send you back to the country and never allow you to co to Linn again!
"If you refuse to go back, that's fine too. I will call the police imdiately and throw you into the detention center to properly reflect on yourself!!"
And now, everything inside this room...
Ye Shiyu looked at the situation in the room. She was scantily clad, Xiao Huan was unconscious, and the two of them were sharing a bed.
The crucial point was that her mother had the room cards for every single room!!
"Yan Huan isn't replying to his ssages, Auntie... He didn't reply when I ssaged him earlier either."
Seeing that Yan Huan hadn't replied for a long ti, Ye Lan paused slightly.
She had received a report from the front desk this afternoon saying that the employee for Room 2 on the top floor had checked in.
That ant today was Xiao Huan's first day staying here.
And then, right after moving in, he lost contact?
"..."
Ye Lan narrowed her eyes, seemingly realizing sothing. The affectionate smile on her face instantly transford into an expressionless face far more terrifying than Ye Shiyu's.
She turned her head to glance at Room 1, where Ye Shiyu was staying, and imdiately unzipped her handbag, searching for the room card.
"It's fine. Auntie has the card. We'll know once we open the door and take a look."
"Alright!"
"Gulp!!"
That single glance, seen through the surveillance caras, made Ye Shiyu's legs go so weak that she couldn't even stand up.
Ye Shiyu's body trembled like a leaf in the wind, a motion felt clearly by Yan Huan who shared the bed with her.
But this ti, he did not feel any schadenfreude at Ye Shiyu's impending doom. Instead, his expression shifted slightly.
"Yan Huan, Ye Shiyu's Modifier... the Modifier, ow!!"
'Oh no!'
Yes, Yan Huan realized it too. At this mont, the Modifier on Ye Shiyu's body was exuding an extre sense of oppression for so reason.
It wasn't just born of fear; Ye Shiyu had been terrified during her previous setbacks, but it had never escalated to this degree.
The only reason was...
If she were discovered this ti, she would truly be forcibly sent back to the country!
Her mother had always ant what she said and would absolutely follow through.
And it was not hard to imagine that her mother would likely never let her see Xiao Huan again for the rest of her life!!
'What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?'
Ye Shiyu subconsciously looked under the bed, as if she could escape through there, but in the ti it took to open the door, there was absolutely no way she could make it back to her room!
'Then, should I use Hypnosis on Xiao Huan to make him cooperate and help
cross the sea under false pretenses?'
'No...'
'I'm dressed like this, and Xiao Huan isn't wearing anything at all.'
'Mama isn't an idiot. She would see through this glaring loophole at a single glance!'
'Plus, Spencer is out there. She has a superpower too, a broken ability that can directly shatter hypnosis. I'd be exposed instantly.'
'Then what do I do?'
'What do I do...'
'What do I do...'
Ye Shiyu began to sweat like rain, her entire face turning deathly pale.
Her eyes locked onto the tightly closed door. In this fleeting instant, ti seed to slow down infinitely in her vision.
However, in the very next second, just as she was out of options, a translucent interface suddenly materialized before her eyes.
[Ergency Quest: Hypnotize Ye Lan]
[Once the door opens, if Ye Lan discovers your actions, you will be forced to leave Linn forever.]
[You won't just be leaving Yan Huan; you'll be leaving Ye Lan as well.]
[The mont the door opens, the two most important people in your life will be lost to you.]
[Therefore, the choice is already obvious: You rely need to place Ye Lan under temporary hypnosis, forcing her to wait until you have left the room before opening the door.]
[By doing this, no one will get hurt. Ye Lan won't even realize what happened...]
[Reward: Yezi AI Final Upgrade]
When she read the text on the phantom interface, Ye Shiyu's pupils shrank to pinpricks.
'Hypnotize...'
'My mother?!'
Such a treasonous thought had never once crossed Ye Shiyu's mind.
To the point that, upon seeing this quest, she felt a profound, trembling dread.
Although, objectively speaking, it was indeed the optimal solution to prevent her from being banished from Linn.
The AI was right. Her mother could not possibly be transferred out of Linn right now. Thus, if she were sent back to the country, she had no idea when she would ever see either Xiao Huan or her mother again.
But...
"Grind."
"Click."
At this mont, Ye Shiyu clenched her silver teeth, tightly gripping her phone. Despite her pale face, she remained motionless.
Ye Shiyu's fierce internal struggle had barely lasted a few seconds in real ti. Very quickly, the electronic lock was bypassed by the card.
The door swung wide open, revealing Aruiya holding her phone's flashlight and Ye Lan standing behind her with deeply furrowed brows.
"Ye... Ye Shiyu?! Why are you here? And Yan Huan! Yan Huan, what's wrong?"
"..."
Aruiya saw Ye Shiyu sitting on the bed, wearing revealing lingerie and black stockings. Naturally, she also saw Yan Huan lying motionless on his side, completely unconscious.
The duvet covered most of his body, but judging by the clothes scattered on the floor...
Beneath the covers, he wasn't wearing anything at all.
Aruiya's face burned crimson, but more than that, she felt anxious.
Because, even though she had shouted so loudly, Yan Huan still hadn't shown any response.
"..."
Behind Aruiya, Ye Lan seed a bit incredulous, yet she hurriedly switched on the room's lights.
The mont the lights flooded the room, all the filthy details inside were thoroughly exposed.
"Ma... Mama, listen to my explanation!"
The sudden glare of the lights made Ye Shiyu squint, but she imdiately pleaded with her mother.
"..."
Ye Lan stared blankly at everything in the room. The rims of her eyes reddened slightly, but in the very next second, her expression hardened into sheer resolve.
She instantly raised her phone and dialed a number.
"Beep... Hello, this is the Linn Public Security Bureau, how may I—"
"Top floor of the Ye International Staff Dormitory Building. There is a sexual assault offender here, please send officers imdiately!"
"A sexual assault offender?! Understood. Please ensure your own safety, ma'am, we will be there right away!!"
Ye Shiyu stared blankly as her mother lowered her phone. She panted, desperately wanting to explain, but Ye Lan, with red, teary eyes, marched toward the bed in absolute disgust and viciously grabbed Ye Shiyu's shoulder.
"Get the hell out of that bed! Put your clothes on, then go next door and wait for the police!"
"Mama... Mama, I was wrong, I was really wrong... I didn't plan to do anything to Xiao Huan. I just wanted to share a bed with him, to let him slowly realize that I'm not an older sister, but soone of the opposite gender, so he wouldn't be confused about what I am anymore... I really didn't plan to do anything to him..."
"Make excuses! Keep making up excuses! Do you think I'd believe your nonsense?! Get off the bed!"
"Mama!!"
Completely defenseless, Ye Shiyu was yanked off the bed by her hair. Ignoring her frantic struggles, Ye Lan dragged her step by step out of the room.
"Hiss... Mama!"
The agonizing pain of having her hair pulled brought tears to Ye Shiyu's eyes, yet she still tried to explain herself to Ye Lan.
This brutal scene left Aruiya utterly stunned, shrinking back into the corner of the entryway, too terrified to utter a word.
"..."
It wasn't until Ye Lan expressionlessly dragged Ye Shiyu over to Aruiya that she finally turned to look at the girl, speaking softly.
"Little Spencer, could you do
a favor and call an ambulance to have them check what's wrong with Xiao Huan?"
"O-okay..."
"Mhm."
No matter how much Ye Shiyu tearfully struggled, she couldn't break free from her mother's iron grip, practically dragged by her hair out the door.
In the very next second, the mont Ye Shiyu was hauled into the corridor, Ye Lan slamd the door shut, completely cutting off any chance of her getting near Yan Huan again.
Ye Lan shoved her aside, threw a coat over her shoulders, and then stood there with a freezing glare, waiting for the police.
"Wee-woo! Wee-woo! Wee-woo!"
Ye International and the Jinshi Group were both located in the heart of Linn. There were four or five fire departnts in the imdiate vicinity alone, let alone police stations.
In less than a few minutes, the wailing of police sirens echoed from below.
Of course, very quickly, swarms of police officers poured out of the elevators.
"Where is the sexual assault offender?!"
"Here."
Ye Lan pointed with a cold face. Countless officers wielding Taser guns and police batons imdiately turned their gaze toward Ye Shiyu, who was bundled in thick clothes and huddled in the corner, her face covered in tears.
Everyone froze in collective shock, never expecting that the beautiful young woman before them was the supposed sexual assault offender.
"..."
But swiftly enough, several female officers stepped forward, briefly investigated the scene, and slapped handcuffs on Ye Shiyu, taking her away.
Not long after, Ye Shiyu was convicted of an Indecency Offense and sentenced to prison.
In prison, she actively participated in rehabilitation, keeping the sewing machine smoking from overuse as she desperately fought for an early release.
She tried to see her mother and Xiao Huan again, hoping to explain her actions.
But when she finally stepped out of her cage carrying the countless garnts she had woven behind bars, it wasn't her mother or Xiao Huan waiting for her...
It was several Ye International staff mbers wearing black suits.
"Eldest Miss, we are here to escort you back to the country. President Ye has already booked your afternoon flight. If we leave now, we will be perfectly on ti."
"..."
Staring at the won before her, Ye Shiyu froze for a second...
Then, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed unconscious right there on the spot.
Even so, she was hoisted up by the won and loaded into the car bound for her flight out of the country.
[Defeat~]
[...]
[Battle Defeat CG Unlocked]
[Ending C: Returnee]
[You returned to your ho country bearing vast experience in operating sewing machines. Upon your return, you passed on the superb weaving skills you had mastered to the masses.]
[With peaches and plums filling the world, you quickly rose to fa, hailed dostically as the Contemporary Weaving Maid. The garnts you wove beca priceless treasures sought by all.]
[Although your refusal to use hypnosis on your mother resulted in a fate where you could never see her or Yan Huan again, at least now...]
[You have very nimble hands.]
[GA OVER]
[Return to the save point?]
"Haa... haa... haa..."
In the absolute darkness, Ye Shiyu, having triggered another Battle Defeat CG, clutched her chest while dripping with sweat.
In reality, not even a single second had passed.
anwhile, at the door, Ye Lan had just taken out the room card, preparing to step forward and open the door.
If she wanted to use hypnosis on her mother, this was her final chance. Once the door was open and her mother saw everything, hypnotizing her would require mory Correction, and the price exacted for that would be utterly incalculable.
But...
Even amidst such a violent internal struggle, trembling from head to toe, Ye Shiyu ultimately did not raise the blade of hypnosis.
"Beep."
The sound of the room card tapping the sensor rang out.
The instant that sound echoed, Ye Shiyu shot her head up, trembling violently.
"Rumble..."
The ending she had just witnessed crashed down upon her heart with the crushing weight of Mount Tai. In an instant, a layer of shadows practically materialized into physical substance, blanketing her surroundings.
That was...
The on of the Modifier erupting.
"Buzz!!"
At this very mont, every electronic device across Linn began to flicker wildly, drawing the attention of countless pedestrians who had no idea what was happening.
"Click."
"Got it..."
In the next second, following Ye Lan's voice, the door handle shifted slightly and turned downward.
"..."
Ye Shiyu's eyes lost their focus, like a condemned prisoner stepping onto the execution grounds.
But suddenly, right before her eyes, a young man sat bolt upright.
"Xiao—"
Seeing the young man sit up and look at her, Ye Shiyu's mind instantly went entirely blank.
'Shouldn't Xiao Huan...'
'Be asleep?'
But before she could react, Yan Huan suddenly reached out and clamped his hand down onto Ye Shiyu's shoulder.
"Thud!"
A massive force pulled her in, and Ye Shiyu was slamd down next to Yan Huan without the slightest resistance.
With a cold expression, Yan Huan flung the duvet open, completely covering Ye Shiyu beneath it once again.
"Sister Shiyu, hide in the covers, press closely against , and do not move!"
Yan Huan spoke in a flat tone, instantly snapping the dazed Ye Shiyu back to her senses.
She stared blankly at Yan Huan, who appeared as if he had only just woken up, and realized sothing:
'Xiao Huan already knows about my night raid.'
'And he also knows that Mama is right outside the door.'
"..."
Looking at the newly awakened Xiao Huan, who still wore a lingering trace of fear on his face, Ye Shiyu deeply felt the terror he must have experienced.
Indeed, waking up to find another person in your bed—who wouldn't be scared half to death?
But even so, Xiao Huan still...
'Is trying to cover up this scandalous act for ?'
"Clink."
A pleasant, crisp sound rang out, but Yan Huan didn't even have ti to listen to Myau-chan's excited cheering before his pupils shrank, forcefully shoving Ye Shiyu deeper into his duvet.
Imdiately after, he shut his eyes, planning to feign sleep.
"Yan—mph!"
Aruiya was just about to shout loudly when Ye Lan clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Shh, the lights are off. It seems Xiao Huan is resting..."
She peered through the slightly ajar door into the pitch-black room and subconsciously pulled the door back a bit, terrified of waking Xiao Huan.
Yet, precisely during that brief mont she pulled the door back, Ye Shiyu suddenly poked her head out from the duvet again.
"..."
Feeling her stick her head out, Yan Huan's face darkened, and he opened his eyes.
'Ye Shiyu!'
'Could you not throw yourself into hell when there are no gates?!'
'I'm helping you cross the sea under false pretenses just because the Modifier was about to explode, and you still insist on popping your head out?! Are you not afraid of getting caught?!'
However, the mont he opened his eyes, he saw Ye Shiyu covering her face, looking as if she had been severely startled, her cheeks flushed as red as cherry blossoms.
"Wu..."
The two exchanged a glance, but her refusal to speak left Yan Huan utterly confused.
Yan Huan glanced down under the duvet, only to finally realize:
'I'm not wearing any clothes!'
'Wasn't this the rule you set up yourself?!'
'Oh, you acted so incredibly intimidating, but the mont you slipped in, you got so embarrassed you popped right back out?!'
"..."
Yan Huan never expected Ye Shiyu's defenses to be this pitifully low. He was completely speechless.
At this mont, however, Ye Lan out in the corridor was still feeling uneasy.
Especially when she rembered Ye Shiyu's previous track record.
"Still... I should push it open and check."
"Creak."
Hearing Ye Lan's voice, he once again shoved Ye Shiyu down beneath the duvet.
At the sa ti, he rolled over to face the door and closed his eyes.
"Tap, tap."
The door opened. The light from the corridor filtered in through the widening gap, accompanied by the faint sound of footsteps.
Yan Huan instantly felt Ye Shiyu's body tense up. She reached out with both hands to hug him tightly, pressing herself seamlessly against his back.
Yan Huan could even feel her face pressed squarely against his spine...
"Rustle, rustle."
Yan Huan donned his Mask of Perfect Poise, then shut his eyes to continue feigning sleep.
In the dimness, Ye Lan swept her gaze across the room's furnishings.
At a glance, she spotted no flaws.
After all, the room was dark, and Yan Huan was tall and well-built. With him sleeping on his side and Ye Shiyu clinging to his back, the bulge under the covers looked about normal.
Then, what about elsewhere?
Out of the corner of her eye, Ye Lan thought she saw a clump of sothing black on the bathroom sink.
"Hmm?"
She turned her head in confusion to take a closer look, but there was absolutely nothing there.
'Was it a shadow?'
Ye Lan wondered.
anwhile, down by the floor, an invisible Myau-chan pantingly tossed the pair of black stockings onto the ground. He glanced up at Ye Lan's expression and, seeing that she no longer looked suspicious, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yan Huan..."
While Ye Lan was busy searching for evidence of her daughter's potential cris, Aruiya stared curiously at Yan Huan sleeping peacefully on the bed and whispered his na.
Seeing that he didn't wake up, Aruiya recalled the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty.
"Mhm."
So, she turned around to glance at Auntie Piggy.
Seeing that she had walked into the bathroom to inspect it, Aruiya sneakily leaned in and kissed Yan Huan on the lips.
"Smooch."
The kiss was light, gentle, and incredibly comfortable.
Yet, for so unknown reason, after kissing Yan Huan, Aruiya's golden hair suddenly glowed brighter, as if she had absorbed so kind of energy.
As for Yan Huan, although his eyes were closed, the hypnotic restriction placed on him had been secretly lifted.
With Aruiya contributing a sweet kiss, the Desire that hadn't been fully depleted back when he was dealing with Sakuramiya ignited into a roaring blaze once again.
"..."
He kept his eyes shut. His body stiffened slightly, but his sleeping expression remained absolutely flawless.
He showed no weaknesses, but Ye Shiyu—whose hands were wrapped around his lower abdon—suddenly recoiled as if she had touched a boiling kettle.
At this mont, beneath the covers, Ye Shiyu, pressing against Yan Huan's back, widened her eyes as she realized sothing.
In an instant, it was as if she were in a sauna; she felt an unbearable, sweltering heat.
But then another thought struck her, and a violet light instantly flared in her eyes.
"Rustle, rustle."
However, her movent caused the duvet to tremble slightly. Seeing this, Aruiya's expression imdiately changed.
'Oh no!!'
'Ye Shiyu, you pig teammate!!'
Aruiya looked vigilantly at the tightly drawn covers, inspecting them closely.
In the next second, a cartoonish Goshawk Feather flew out from the duvet right before her eyes.
"Huh?"
'A Goshawk Feather...'
Aruiya caught the translucent feather, involuntarily pausing in surprise.
Just as she was warily reaching out to pull back the covers and investigate, Ye Lan's hand rested on her shoulder from behind.
"Shh... Don't disturb Xiao Huan's sleep. He must be tired from work today, so he turned in early."
"Mhm... okay."
Aruiya originally wanted to show Ye Lan the Goshawk Feather she had found, but on second thought, Auntie Piggy wouldn't be able to see it. So, she changed the subject and asked,
"Auntie Piggy, where is Ye Shiyu?"
Yes, in Aruiya's eyes, Ye Shiyu's avatar was that of a goshawk.
Hearing this, Ye Lan smiled faintly and said,
"Don't worry, she's still out and hasn't returned yet."
As she spoke, she unlocked her phone and showed it to Aruiya.
On the screen was an ongoing video call.
"Darling Daughter, call in progress..."
"Has Xiao Huan fallen asleep, Mama?"
In the video feed, Ye Shiyu appeared to be sitting in a park, looking into her phone.
When she saw the footage of Xiao Huan sleeping on the screen, she expressionlessly tilted her head, seemingly moved.
"He has... What about you? When are you coming back?"
"I want to grab sothing to eat. Do you want
to hurry back right now, Mama?"
At this very mont, inside the Ye International building...
The Yezi AI backend suddenly lit up automatically. Every engine fired up to full capacity, seemingly rendering a highly complex image.
"Mhm... never mind. I just ca to see how you were settling in... I'll be at the company tomorrow. Let's et at the office."
"Alright, Mama."
In the video call, Ye Shiyu nodded, and then Ye Lan finally hung up.
"Phew."
After hanging up, Ye Lan breathed a sigh of relief.
'It seems that child has truly turned over a new leaf...'
'Thank goodness...'
Seeing this, however, Aruiya grew confused.
Because...
What she had seen in the video call wasn't a goshawk...
But an index finger.
"Alright, you've seen him. Now let's not disturb Xiao Huan's sleep any longer, shall we?"
"Okay."
Although Aruiya felt it was strange, she didn't know how to articulate it. She could only cast one last glance back at the soundly sleeping Yan Huan.
'Whatever, as long as Yan Huan is safe, that's all that matters!'
She could now report back to An Le and Sakuramiya Hitomi.
"Then let's go, Auntie Piggy..."
"I told you, call
Aunt Ye..."
"Alrighty, Auntie Piggy!"
"..."
"Click."
With the soft click of the door closing, Yan Huan's eyes snapped open in the darkness.
He imdiately sat up, turned around, and threw back the duvet.
However, the sight that greeted him...
Made him pause in surprise.
"Haa... haa... haa..."
Within the thrown-back covers, Ye Shiyu's body was completely limp. Her face was bright red, her eyes were blurry and dreamy, and her mouth hung slightly open as she panted softly.
She stared blankly at Yan Huan in front of her. When her gaze drifted downward and caught sight of sothing, she hurriedly averted her eyes slightly.
"Xiao... Xiao Huan."
At this mont, even her voice was heavily slurred, as if her tongue were glued down by saliva.
"..."
Yan Huan's gaze darkened for a brief mont, but in the next second, it was illuminated by sothing else.
"Buzz."
"It's a Fragnt! A Fragnt, ow! Yan Huan!!"
Yes, the mont the duvet was thrown open, a faintly glowing, spiderweb-like Fragnt appeared brilliantly before Yan Huan's eyes.
Simultaneously, the heavenly notification sound of the Modifier rang out by his ear:
[Congratulations! You have caused the Index Finger to drop another Fragnt. Battle Defeat CG trigger count
1.]
[Current remaining triggers: 1]
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