Dixue’s voice trembled like a rain-soaked leaf. “Uh… I’m not running! I won’t run…”

She blinked, a spark flicking on like a lantern in dusk, then nodded fast. “Right, right! Xiaoyue, Xiaoyue! Hurry out and pick up Little Rose. By the timing, her change’s about to expire.”

“E-expire… huh? Does Little Rose have a blooming season?”

“Ah… I mean her transformation’s expiring!”

LittleSnow looked flustered, her usual crisp words smearing like ink in a drizzle. “A-after the change, Little Rose will revert, and her wounds will revert too. She won’t be able to move.”

“Mm… got it! Where can I find Little Rose?”

As cute as LittleSnow looked, cheeks flushed like cherry petals in wind, Yue Liuyi kept her focus like a blade in a sheath.

“If I’m not wrong, Little Rose should be… uh… mm… let’s send a text to confirm~!”

Dixue pulled out her phone and tapped a contact marked by a skull wreathed in roses, like thorn-vines hugging bone.

Before the silver-haired girl could hit send, Little Rose pinged first.

Little Rose: “Help! Help! I can’t move!”

Little Rose: “The ground’s so cold—please come help me! (；OдO)”

LittleSnow: “Eh? Σ(⊙▽⊙”a Don’t panic, Rangers Lodge Vice President Thousand Night Snow here! Where are you, Little Rose?”

Little Rose: “I’m on Yanming Road! Just walked out from the Flame Ruins Gang!”

LittleSnow: “Did you deal with those men in black?”

Little Rose: “Of course—I used physical means to make them forget! But on the way back, my body’s battery died.”

Little Rose: “I want a red bean bun. If you can, bring one on the way! ヽ(￣▽￣)ﾉ”

LittleSnow: “They don’t sell red bean buns here. I’m thinking.”

LittleSnow: “Wanna eat Xiaoyue? Wrapped in a little skirt, with black stockings and white panties.”

Little Rose: “Whoa! I want it, really want it! For my plant-type ability, the World Tree Maiden is a great tonic!”

LittleSnow: “Okay, I’ll dispatch Xiaoyue now… remember, don’t eat it all, leave me some…”

…

Watching LittleSnow still hammering out nonsense, Yue Liuyi tapped the silver-haired girl’s forehead, a quick knuckle like a pebble flicked at a pond.

“Ow! Xiaoyue, how can you hit your esteemed big sister!”

Dixue rubbed her head, then looked up at Yue Liuyi, eyes shining like dew on grass.

“This is the price of teasing me! Xiaoyue is a non-edible World Tree Maiden. If LittleSnow insists on eating, be ready to get smacked.”

“Ugh… no strength to push Xiaoyue down… darn it! A girl’s revenge can wait ten years like a buried seed! Xiaoyue, just you wait—once I recover, I’ll eat you!”

“Before that, I’ll eat LittleSnow first… huh?”

As soon as she said it, Yue Liuyi froze, her own true thought slipping out like a fish flashing from water.

And LittleSnow…

“X-Xiaoyue…”

“Ah—sorry! I’m heading out to get Little Rose!”

Before the silver girl’s face could go rose-red, Yue Liuyi dashed out, her stride a quick breeze down a shaded lane.

…

On the roads of the Winterwood District, fresh notices already barred traffic, paper signs like pale leaves pasted to steel.

Because of the terror attack, Yue Liuyi saw many staff in white coats, going door to door, testing toxin levels like gardeners checking sap.

To avoid panic, the council kept quiet; so to Winterwood residents, these workers looked like plant surveyors gauging green growth.

What eased Yue Liuyi was this: no toxins seemed to spread, and no innocents lay hurt; walking the street through PM2.5 haze like gray gauze, the blue-haired girl felt nothing that bit or burned.

“Mm… lucky we stumbled into it this time, or who knows what would’ve bloomed.”

They defused the attack today, but next time might not bend so easily; as Eastwood District grows, unlawful forces will press like brambles, so security must be rooted firm for the park to thrive.

“Mm… once Maria and Senior Dawn Goose arrive, these gang tricks won’t rattle us; but until then… right! Find Luyao!”

Thinking of Luyao’s battle strength, hope rose in her chest like a bright ember; if they could hire him as Winterwood’s bodyguard, its protection would have a solid shield for now.

“Little Rose probably handed those black-clad ones to Luyao, too. Good—use this chance to talk security for the park.”

Yue Liuyi nodded, resolve settling like a stone in clear water, and headed for Yanming Road.