Lin Cheng’s mind was a chaotic mess.
He had been extra careful when leaving Lu Xiaoxiao’s house, even instructing the driver to go slow. What if that vow really came true and he got hit by a car? It wouldn’t be worth it. Fortunately, the trip had been smooth, and now he sat in front of his computer, playing games to pass the time.
Until a faint, feminine fragrance wafted from behind him at some point.
He had always been sensitive to women’s scents. He turned his head.
It was Lu Lingling, still dressed in her black tight-fitting combat uniform. The only difference from last night was that her hair was down, her dark locks cascading smoothly. Lin Cheng turned back around and pretended not to see her.
“I’m playing a game. Don’t disturb me.”
“Go ahead and play.” Lu Lingling pulled up a chair and sat beside him, watching quietly as he played. Lin Cheng felt strangely awkward. She couldn’t even understand it. When the game ended, he swiveled his chair to face her. “Didn’t I tell you not to come looking for me? What do you want?”
“You slept with my daughter. As her mother, don’t I at least have the right to come see you?”
“She’s her, and you’re you. If she came, I wouldn’t mind.”
“It’s not like you haven’t slept with…”
Lu Lingling fell silent. Lin Cheng held a finger up to her lips. “If you keep going, I might not be polite anymore.”
Lu Lingling didn’t bring up what she had intended to say. Instead, she stood and casually opened his cabinet. She rummaged through it and found some small toys left behind by the previous female occupant of the room. She picked up a fluffy little tail, glanced at it, and tilted her head. “You play with stuff this kinky?”
Her eyes seemed to hold a hint of anticipation.
“…Put it back.”
As a space ability user, she could instantly sense everything in the room—including the clothes under the bed and the pile of medals that meant nothing more than scrap metal to Lin Cheng.
“Do you like my daughter?”
“Eh, sort of… I like her a little? Not particularly.” Lin Cheng answered as Lu Lingling sat back down, crossing her legs and twirling a strand of hair around her finger. “If she knew Si Ming was actually such a jerk, she might be pretty disappointed.”
“No helping it. I already told her—Si Ming’s just a person. Take off the mask, and he’s nothing special.”
“Could you put the mask on one more time? For me?”
“No way. That’s too embarrassing.”
“I want to see it.” Lu Lingling’s tone was earnest and sincere. “As payment, I can satisfy any… desire you have.”
“No thanks.” Lin Cheng shook his head.
“When are you going to do what you promised me?” Lu Lingling suddenly asked.
“I think I need to confirm if our ideas about this partnership are aligned.” Lin Cheng replied calmly. Lu Lingling looked at him seriously. “What do you think? Compared to me, do you have a better option? Hand the Alliance over to that guy who’s obsessed with playing god?”
“I could choose not to help either of you.”
“But he doesn’t see it that way.”
“I’m clearly retired… Why does he have to keep hounding me?” Lin Cheng looked helplessly at Lu Lingling. “I just want to live a normal life.”
“Would a normal person casually give a woman nearly a hundred million or two just to chase her dreams in showbiz?”
“You really know me inside and out.”
“You can’t go back.” Lu Lingling said gently. “Even if you’re truly just an ordinary person right now, all that awaits you is the fate of the hare hunted once the cunning fox dies and the hound is cooked. That’s the destiny you bear as Si Ming.”
“I really want to kill you all sometimes.”
Lu Lingling’s eyebrow twitched.
A moment later, Lin Cheng laughed helplessly. “Just kidding. Why so tense?”
“If there’s nothing else, don’t come see me anymore. Go home.” Lin Cheng glanced at her and issued his dismissal. Lu Lingling stood reluctantly. But after a few steps, she turned back. “What about my daughter, then?”
“Maybe we’ll cross paths again if it’s meant to be.”
“Isn’t my daughter pretty?”
“Whether someone’s pretty or not isn’t the standard for liking them.”
“I think her personality is pretty cute too.”
“What, now you’re hyping yourself up?”
“I haven’t even settled the score with you yet for daring to touch my daughter…”
“As if you really care. In this world, aside from the Abyss, has anything else ever truly mattered to you?”
“I care a lot about you.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it. Goodbye. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
Lin Cheng irritably turned back to his game. Behind him, Lu Lingling snapped her fingers and vanished into thin air moments later.
When Lu Lingling got home, Lu Xiaoxiao was lying on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Lu Lingling changed into a long house dress and sat at the living room table. She began infusing the Alliance Ring with spatial power to craft a Storage Ring. Lu Xiaoxiao remained still until Lu Lingling spoke. “Where’s Little Cheng?”
“He went home.”
“Do you like him?”
“He’s my boyfriend. Why wouldn’t I like him?”
“You think you can hide it from me?” Lu Lingling turned her head, gazing gently into Lu Xiaoxiao’s eyes. Lu Xiaoxiao froze, then slowly sat up. She wanted to argue but couldn’t muster a rebuttal. In the end, she lowered her head. “How did you know?”
“Your eyes.” Lu Lingling answered simply.
“My eyes?”
“Yeah. The way you look at him doesn’t seem like real affection, and the way he looks at you isn’t either. Maybe you’re flirting, but you’re definitely not a couple in love.”
Lu Xiaoxiao let out an “oh” and said nothing more.
Lu Lingling found it amusing instead. “Bad mood?”
“Nope.”
Lu Xiaoxiao didn’t know what to say. Her mind was a jumble, like she had been stepping into a trap ever since that day. But when she finally fell in, she realized it was her own choice to keep moving forward.
“Taking the initiative in a relationship is important.” Lu Lingling said offhandedly.
“He doesn’t seem… that interested in me…”
“Maybe it’s because you’re too eager?” Lu Lingling tilted her head. “Some men are like cheap dogs—the nicer and more proactive you are, the less they care. But if you act indifferent, it makes them uneasy, and they subconsciously try to please you.”
Lu Xiaoxiao spaced out for a while. She slowly lifted her head, suddenly recalling last night. Maybe her chaotic thoughts had made her crave company, so she’d been overly forward—which had left her passive and anxious now.
“You don’t mind me being with him?”
Lu Lingling looked at Lu Xiaoxiao. “You’re my daughter, but you’re not my life’s continuation or the vessel for my ideals. You’re an independent person. What you do is your choice. All I can do is offer advice, not dictate your real decisions. I suspended you before because, as the Alliance Vice Leader, it was a call I had to make. What Lin Cheng said last night made sense to me, but the Alliance’s current philosophy isn’t like that.”
“Factional infighting?”
“Something like that. No choice—my ideas differ from the real power holder’s, and he has way more votes among the councilors. He’s got too many cards up his sleeve.” Lu Lingling shrugged, her expression relaxed. “But I’ve got an ace.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll find out eventually. It’s not your concern right now.” Lu Lingling sat beside Lu Xiaoxiao and gently stroked her hair. “Cheer up first? He’s just a sensitive, confused boy. I believe Xiaoxiao can win him over.”
Evening.
Lin Cheng had to head out that night. Old Yang, the regular singer at the bar, had called in sick with a sore throat, so Lin Cheng was filling in. It had been ages since he’d had a gig—nice to have some fun. As he left, a light rain was falling outside. He grabbed the umbrella Xu Wanyue had given him and set off.
Half an hour later, he arrived at the bar. It was only eight-thirty, but the place was packed. Weird—today was Wednesday, yet business was booming.
Lin Cheng sat at the table, idly scrolling his phone, when he spotted the news. Jiang Lingxue, the superstar idol whose albums had taken the nation by storm, was doing a random pop-up performance tonight. She’d appear at a random live house in A City to sing two songs—new tracks from her album, actually tie-ins for the movie she was starring in. The film wouldn’t release for a couple more days, so this was promo.
No wonder the crowd. Everyone was hoping she’d show.
Jiang Lingxue had first blown up not for her singing, but her looks—slim, pale, tall, with an ice-queen persona. In a world of cute, bubbly idols, her vibe stood out, drawing fans of all genders. Later, someone wrote her a few hit songs and poured money into hype, turning her into a full-on idol.
Pfft, fame without the talent!
Lin Cheng wasn’t into idols or chasing stars, and he didn’t get the younger fans’ obsession. He glanced at the news and closed it. But his mind wandered again, replaying last night under the dim light: Lu Xiaoxiao hugging her knees, gazing at him intently.
He couldn’t quite make out her expression, but he vaguely remembered her toes curling tight. Lu Xiaoxiao’s tongue had been so slick, like a melting pudding. She smelled nice when he held her.
But then, as they slept, she’d said not to wake her if he left in the morning… Hmph, ruthless woman—use and discard.
He’d even planned to cook her noodles in the morning.
Lin Cheng took a big swig from a beer bottle. He still had a bit before his set. He grabbed the beer for another gulp when someone appeared in the empty seat across from him.
“Hm?” Lin Cheng tilted his head and grinned. “Fancy meeting you here.”
Lu Xiaoxiao picked up the beer from his table, popped it open with the opener, and took a big drink. “I’m here to try my luck with Jiang Lingxue.”
“Hm?”
“She already hit the previous bars. High chance she’ll come here tonight.”
“Oh…” Lin Cheng slid a set of dice across the table. “Wanna play?”
“No.” Lu Xiaoxiao pushed them back. “Don’t feel like drinking much tonight.”
“It’s just beer. Pretty weak stuff.”
Lu Xiaoxiao turned her gaze back to the crowd, ignoring him.
