"Buzz..."
In a deserted corner of the bustling shopping street, the shadows felt like a thick, viscous swamp—walking through them with his own consciousness was unbearably difficult.
Yan Huan struggled to resist the tingling numbness spreading through his body, his gaze fixed on the black-haired girl ahead, the one gripping his wrist and pulling him forward.
So I still got caught in the end...
Ye Shiyu's Modifier had evolved without him noticing, catching him completely off guard.
But because of this, he discovered sothing different about her Modifier.
All the other Modifiers—whether Bai Yi’s, Spencer’s, or An Le’s—left their users unaware of their strength or effects when activated. They could only guess based on the reactions of those affected.
But Ye Shiyu’s was completely different.
Every ti he fell under its influence and his resistance eventually kicked in, an illusory voice would sound around her, announcing the precise strength, duration, and even variations of the effect.
It seed to be so kind of uncontrollable chanism...
Or perhaps, a weakness?
The transparency of Ye Shiyu’s Modifier was certainly an advantage, but in exchange, it ant she could activate it at any mont, without the slightest warning.
Zero-fra startup—how the hell was he supposed to react to that?!
He was already being as cautious as possible, yet who would have thought that just watching a random street-side TV would be enough to get hypnotized?!
Yan Huan sighed inwardly as Ye Shiyu led him toward an unknown fate, his mind desperately trying to co up with an escape plan.
But there was none!
Ye Shiyu’s Modifier was, without a doubt, the most restrictive among them all.
This kind of absurd, inescapable control—once he got caught, it really felt like he had to just take his hands off the keyboard and watch the defeat CG play out...
"Here... at least there's no one around."
Ye Shiyu glanced around the deep, silent alleyway. Then, she suddenly turned to face him.
Though her face remained expressionless, her eyes carried a dark, searing intensity that made Yan Huan shiver.
Wait, we’re not actually about to trigger a CG scene, right?
Co on, Shiyu-jie, have so rcy...
This is still school grounds—what the hell are you trying to do?!
Ye Shiyu studied the dazed young man before her, stepping closer while lifting the wrist she held.
"Just now... An Le touched you here, didn’t she?"
"Buzz~"
Yan Huan’s throat moved involuntarily as he blankly responded,
"Yes..."
Ye Shiyu stared at his wrist, finding the spot where An Le had touched him unbearably filthy.
In that mont, her expression finally cracked, emotions flooding through like a broken dam.
She frowned, reaching out with both hands to clasp Yan Huan’s right hand tightly.
Amidst the uncontrollable tingling, her touch stood out—cool, smooth, like silk.
"Xiao Huan, is An Le really your childhood friend?"
Holding his hand, her presence lood over him, pushing the dazed Yan Huan back step by step.
Until his back was completely pressed against the cold, rigid wall, her gaze, as frigid as midwinter ice water, lifted once more.
"Yes..."
This was one of the rare monts when Yan Huan could still exert so control—during "Truth or Dare," under hypnosis, Ye Shiyu assud his words were always true, which he could use to his advantage.
But if things reached the "Dare" stage, there was nothing he could do to resist.
Hearing his answer, Ye Shiyu’s eyes flickered slightly.
For so reason, it reminded her of that day at the aquarium entrance.
She had set her sights on a jellyfish keychain, already considering it hers.
But just as she reached out to take it, another hand shot forward, trying to snatch it away.
Not just one hand—many.
One person, empty-handed, looking the weakest, but perhaps they had been holding onto this plush toy since it first rolled off the production line.
Another, poised and elegant, seeming indifferent to competition, yet in their free hand, they discreetly pulled out a gun, ready to eliminate the other contenders.
And another, brimming with brute strength, appearing reckless and crude, yet possessing unimaginable wealth and power, prepared to crush the competition into submission.
Of course, she knew—Xiao Huan wasn’t an object.
He never belonged to her, nor could he simply be claid just because he had shown her kindness before.
To truly win soone’s heart, one had to give theirs in return.
That was what her mother had always told her, and she had genuinely tried to follow that advice.
But...
Her gaze unconsciously lifted, locking onto the confused young man before her.
In his eyes, which completely reflected her own image.
But, if she could simply bypass everyone and take control of him—
He would follow her will, without even the smallest resistance or displeasure like today, like before.
And she wasn’t a tyrant. It wasn’t like she would take away all his freedom.
"Bang!"
In the next second, that surging desire beca impossible to suppress.
A hazy shadow seed to cloak Ye Shiyu’s face, obscuring her expression.
Because the next mont—she suddenly pressed herself against him.
"!"
Yan Huan’s expression remained unchanged, but the sensations running through his body surged like ripples over numb skin, growing clearer and sharper.
"When Xiao Huan was little, he even stayed over at An Le’s house... She must have touched every inch of his body, hasn’t she?"
Ye Shiyu’s soft voice drifted over.
Her right hand held his, while her left began to move, inching upward.
"Here?"
His wrist.
"Here?"
His waist.
"Or... here?"
His back.
As her hand trailed higher, their actions seed confrontational, yet in reality, they ford an embrace.
Her body, soft beyond words, carried the chill of early spring, yearning for the warmth of Yan Huan’s heat.
The way she absorbed his warmth made his back tremble slightly, yet it wordlessly conveyed her presence.
Told him: Ye Shiyu was holding him.
"Hah..."
He took a deep breath, his nostrils filled with the floral scent of her long black hair.
Perhaps it was the hypnosis, but his hand instinctively lifted slightly, as if wanting to return the embrace.
"I really should carve my na into these places, Xiao Huan..."
Because Ye Shiyu was tall, she didn’t even need to tiptoe to lean in close to Yan Huan’s ear.
As she spoke, her cool voice sent a shiver down Yan Huan’s spine. The hand he had instinctively lifted just now dropped abruptly.
"That way, when others see my na, they’ll know—you belong to ... That’s how family should be. That’s how siblings should be..."
What kind of twisted logic is that?!
This is way too weird!
Yan Huan had no words to counter it, but before he could react, a sharp pain suddenly spread from the spot where his neck t his shoulder.
Hiss—!
Ye Shiyu had opened her mouth and, through his shirt, bit down on his shoulder.
"......"
For a mont, ti seed to freeze.
The shape of her teeth grazing his skin, her warm breath, the firm embrace—those were the only sensations he could perceive.
"This is... a mark, Xiao Huan... my mark... As long as you have this, no one can take you away from ..."
Yan Huan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and goosebumps prickled up his back.
Not because of the pain, but because he had caught sothing in the way she said "take you away."
There was a faint tremor in her voice.
It was as if she harbored a deep-rooted fear and disgust toward that very concept.
And to resist it, she had given birth to an extre, almost terrifying anger.
"!!"
The next mont, the pain in his shoulder suddenly intensified.
She was biting down harder.
But Yan Huan gritted his teeth and endured it.
The reason?
Of all places, she had chosen to bite right where his muscles were still sore from yesterday’s training.
It was already painful to begin with, and now—
A surge of amplified agony, enhanced by his curse, erupted like a volcanic explosion, making his muscles tense up involuntarily. He almost cried out.
Fortunately, his strong willpower and the effects of hypnosis kept him from losing composure.
Hiss...
Sunday’s Yan Huan was not today’s Yan Huan.
It was a pathetic attempt at self-consolation, but once again, he deeply regretted his decision to "tough it out" back then.
It hurts like hell!!!
Just monts ago, An Le’s Modifier had finally dulled the pain, but now, thanks to Ye Shiyu, it was flaring up all over again, spreading like wildfire through his body.
"I’m sorry... Xiao Huan... I’m sorry..."
Amidst the biting, her remorseful voice reached his ears, tinged with a sorrowful murmur.
Sohow, that apology made the pain slightly more bearable.
Shiyu-jie...
Don’t apologize while hurting
at the sa ti...
Why does this feel so familiar?
"Yan Huan, I’m here to save you, ow!!"
At that mont, a voice rang out in his mind—ow-chan!
"ow-chan?!"
Yan Huan was briefly stunned before joy surged through him.
Ever since he had discovered ow-chan could take form within a 15-ter radius, it had been like his personal lifesaver, pulling him out of danger ti and ti again.
This ti should be no different, right?
Just as that thought crossed his mind, a soft, adorable "ow~" echoed from the other side of the alley.
Still biting Yan Huan’s shoulder, Ye Shiyu’s black eyes flickered slightly as she turned her gaze toward the source of the sound.
There, at the alley entrance, stood a small black cat, tilting its head cutely as it approached with wide, innocent eyes.
"ow~"
"......"
Ye Shiyu slowly released Yan Huan’s shoulder and, without changing her expression, turned to look at ow-chan.
Then, she opened her mouth and said—
"Scram."
"ow?!"
ow-chan looked as if it had been struck by lightning, staring back in utter disbelief.
Did she just—
Did she just resist the divine power of my cuteness?!
Unwilling to accept defeat, ow-chan flicked its tail and fluttered its large eyes, attempting to charm Ye Shiyu once more.
But in response, Ye Shiyu simply lifted her foot.
"ow!"
Startled, ow-chan leapt back, its fur standing on end, before bolting away and vanishing into the alleyway.
"Sorry, I can’t save you, ow. You’re on your own."
Its resigned voice echoed in Yan Huan’s mind.
"Aren’t you even going to try?!"
"Nyaa... I’m just a manifestation of the Modifier, visible only within 15 ters. Even if I take form, my nature doesn’t change, ow..."
A translucent ow-chan reappeared on Yan Huan’s shoulder, sighing in resignation.
"If I get hurt, I’ll shatter into fragnts, ow. Since our Modifier isn’t linked to desire, breaking into fragnts ans losing levels..."
Yan Huan’s face darkened instantly.
At this mont, he really wanted to grab ow-chan’s chubby little face and squeeze it.
How was this cat so useless?!
But with Ye Shiyu still in front of him, he had to focus on surviving the next excruciatingly long twenty minutes first.
Ye Shiyu watched as ow-chan disappeared from the alley, her devil-like gaze finally retracting.
Due to their close embrace, Yan Huan couldn’t clearly see her expression, only the faint redness in her earlobes.
Her lips had been parted just now, and for so reason, the sight of them had sent a chill down ow-chan’s spine.
It had instantly fluffed up in alarm and vanished without a trace.
Yan Huan’s body tensed slightly as his mind raced.
Then, when Ye Shiyu leaned in and bit down again on the sa spot, he found himself unable to control his reaction.
His hand lifted slightly—
And softly embraced Ye Shiyu’s back.
"Mmph..."
Ye Shiyu froze at the sound of Yan Huan’s voice and the subtle movent on her back.
She turned to look at him, a hint of confusion in her expression.
But when she saw his still-dazed face and the stiffness in his posture, she asked,
"What’s wrong, Xiao Huan...?"
"That spot... really hurts."
"Hurts?"
She blinked, then asked,
"Why... does it hurt? Is it because I bit too hard?"
"Mhm..."
Yan Huan deliberately slowed his speech.
He hadn’t been counting the ti, and he had no idea how long twenty minutes really was.
So all he could do—
Was stall.
"I really should carve my na into these places, Xiao Huan..."
Because Ye Shiyu was tall, she didn’t even need to tiptoe to whisper directly into Yan Huan’s ear.
Her cool voice sent a chill down his spine, making the hand he had instinctively raised drop instantly.
"That way, when people see my na, they’ll know... you’re mine. That’s how it should be between family. That’s how it should be between siblings..."
What kind of family logic is that?!
That’s way too weird!!
Yan Huan was too exhausted to even retort. But before he could process anything, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his shoulder, right at the junction of his neck.
Hiss—!
Ye Shiyu had actually bitten down on his shoulder, right through his shirt.
"......"
Ti seed to freeze in that mont.
The shape of her teeth, the damp heat of her breath, the way her body pressed against his—it was all he could perceive.
"This is... a mark, Xiao Huan... my mark on you... As long as this mark is here, no one can take you away from ..."
Yan Huan’s pupils contracted slightly, a shiver running down his spine.
It wasn’t because of the pain—it was because of the way Ye Shiyu had trembled when she said "take away."
It was like she had an instinctive fear and loathing of that concept.
So much so that she fought against it by lashing out in uncontrollable rage.
"!!"
The next second, the pain on his shoulder intensified sharply.
She was biting even harder.
But Yan Huan gritted his teeth, trying his best to endure.
Because—of all places—she was biting directly on the muscles he had trained the day before.
That area was already sore.
And now, thanks to his curse, the pain was magnified several tis over, making his muscles tense up involuntarily. He almost cried out in pain.
Thank god for his sheer willpower and the control his hypnosis training had given him—otherwise, he’d have completely lost it.
Hiss...
Sunday’s Yan Huan was not today’s Yan Huan.
That was obviously just so nonsense he was telling himself, but once again, he deeply regretted his decision to "push through the pain for better results."
It hurts like hell!!
The soothing effect of An Le’s Modifier had just started to kick in, only for this agony to erupt like a volcanic explosion. His body instinctively tensed up, veins bulging slightly.
"I’m sorry... Xiao Huan... I’m so sorry..."
Between bites, Ye Shiyu’s voice ca through, filled with remorse, making the pain almost... bearable.
Shiyu-jie...
You can’t just apologize while hurting
at the sa ti...
Why does this feel so familiar?!
"Yan Huan, I’m here to save you, ow!!"
At that mont, ow-chan’s voice rang out in his mind.
"ow-chan?!"
Yan Huan was stunned for a second before feeling a surge of relief.
Ever since he learned that ow-chan could manifest within a 15-ter range, it had been like his personal backup, saving him from crises ti and ti again.
This ti, too—
Just then, from the other end of the alley, an adorable cat’s ow suddenly sounded.
"ow~"
Ye Shiyu, still biting his shoulder, glanced toward the alley entrance with her dark eyes.
There, a little black cat stood with its head tilted, gazing up at them cutely. It blinked and owed again.
"ow~"
"......"
Ye Shiyu released Yan Huan’s shoulder, turned her head expressionlessly, and said,
"Get lost."
"ow?!"
ow-chan looked like it had been struck by lightning.
Soone... actually resisted the divine power of my cuteness?!
Unwilling to give up, it flicked its tail, widened its big, round eyes, and took a few steps closer, trying once more to charm Ye Shiyu with its adorable feline appeal.
But what greeted it was—
Ye Shiyu lifting her foot.
"ow!!"
ow-chan leaped back in fright, scrambling away with its tail puffed up, disappearing at the alley entrance.
"Sorry, I can’t save you, ow. You’re on your own."
In his mind, ow-chan’s defeated voice echoed.
"You’re not even going to try?!"
"Sigh, I manifest as the embodint of the Modifier, aning normal people can’t see or touch . Even though I can make myself visible, my nature doesn’t change, ow..."
The phantom cat appeared on Yan Huan’s shoulder, explaining,
"If I got hurt, I’d be the one shattering into fragnts, ow. And since our Modifier isn’t tied to desire, breaking apart ans losing levels..."
Yan Huan’s expression darkened instantly.
Right now, all he wanted was to grab ow-chan’s fat little face and shake it.
How the hell could his backup be this useless?!
But first, he had to endure this seemingly never-ending twenty minutes.
Ye Shiyu watched ow-chan disappear into the distance, then slowly withdrew her gaze, her dark eyes once again locking onto Yan Huan.
Because of their close embrace, he couldn’t clearly see her expression—but he could see the faint pink tinge on her ears.
She opened her mouth slightly, and for so reason, just the sight of her soft, parted lips sent a chill down ow-chan’s spine.
The little cat’s fur bristled, and in an instant, it vanished completely.
Yan Huan’s muscles tensed further as his brain raced at full speed.
And then—when Ye Shiyu’s teeth sank down onto his marked shoulder once more—
His body moved on its own.
He lifted his arms slightly... and gently embraced her back.
"Mm..."
Hearing his voice and feeling his touch, Ye Shiyu hesitated for a mont.
She turned to look at him, her expression carrying a hint of confusion.
But when she saw his still-dazed expression and his stiffened body, she asked,
"What’s wrong, Xiao Huan..."
"It... really hurts."
"Hurts?"
Ye Shiyu blinked, then asked,
"Why does it hurt? Did I bite too hard?"
"Mm..."
Yan Huan deliberately slowed his speech.
He wasn’t keeping track of ti—he had no idea how much longer this twenty-minute ordeal would last.
All he could do was stall for ti.
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