Lin Ran covered Xu Zhi’s eyes.

None of Qin You’s guards dared move. Qin You, hair yanked back, had only suffered a scorched eyelid from the cigar. His screams tore through the silent nightclub. Silver Lady sat nearby, her silver backless gown shimmering faintly under the lights.

She lifted the cigar. A girl behind her swiftly offered cigar cutters. After trimming and relighting it, Silver Lady held it out to Lin Ran.

“Try it? Perfect humidity.”

“Honestly, it just poked an eyeball. Kinda gross,” Lin Ran shrugged.

“It’s been trimmed. Don’t look if it bothers you,” Silver Lady shot him a reproachful glance.

A faintly seductive smile played on her lips as she put the cigar between her own. Smoke curled from her mouth while she took the cutters from her maid. Qin You wailed, clutching his eye—ignored by all.

“Don’t move.”

Silver Lady seized Qin You’s right hand. The cutters clamped onto his pinky.

She pressed down hard.

Qin You’s shriek ripped through the club again.

Lin Ran turned away. *This’ll ruin my appetite.* Silver Lady gripped Qin You’s trembling hand, moving to the next finger.

Until Qin You’s entire right hand… was left completely bare, just smooth skin where fingers had been.

He hadn’t fainted.

But he’d lost the strength to scream.

“What’s happening?” Xu Zhi whispered, eyes still covered.

“The boss is cutting off Qin You’s fingers.”

“You… called the boss?”

“I couldn’t summon her. But Su Nisheng could. She said she’d ‘find someone’ earlier—probably called the boss. The boss owes Su Nisheng favors. I thought she’d send a maid, not come herself. Su Nisheng’s got serious pull.”

As Lin Ran spoke, Silver Lady merely smiled. She met his gaze, plucked the cigar from her lips, and offered it again. “Little brother, refusing me?”

Lin Ran glanced at it, took it, and took a drag.

The mouthpiece was slightly damp—her saliva. He almost refused. *Whatever.* He took another puff. The aroma was rich, deep.

Silver Lady released Qin You’s hand. His face had gone bloodless. She smiled faintly.

“He’s noisy,” Lin Ran said flatly.

Silver Lady held out a hand. Her maid hesitated, then passed her a needle and thread.

“Sew his mouth shut?” Silver Lady asked Lin Ran.

“Do what you want. I’m leaving.”

Lin Ran stood, pulling Xu Zhi up. He whispered in her ear, “Don’t open your eyes. You’ll have nightmares.”

Xu Zhi nodded obediently. Without a word, Lin Ran walked off, taking the cigar. He took one last drag and set it on a table.

No one noticed Silver Lady’s eyes flash with madness as she stared at the discarded cigar.

She snatched it up, jammed it between her lips, and inhaled deeply—so deeply the smoke filled her lungs. Dizziness washed over her, sweet as heaven.

She pinned Qin You’s neck to the table. All he saw were her slender, pale fingers threading the needle… then piercing his lower lip.

“I rarely do this myself. Consider it… an honor,” Silver Lady murmured, her smile venomous, her eyes ice-cold.

Stitch. Thread.

Stitch. Thread.

Her stitches were neat. If she opened a tailor shop, business would thrive.

……………………………………

The street was quiet. Xu Zhi finally opened her eyes. Light returned to her gaze, meeting Lin Ran’s smiling face.

“What happened to Qin You?”

“No idea. But… I’ve heard darkness-dwellers like Silver Lady play rough. Rumor says she enjoys torturing people. Hope Qin You survives.”

Xu Zhi paled. “Then…?”

“No revenge will come. No one dares. The Qin family isn’t stupid. Relax.”

Xu Zhi sighed, studying Lin Ran’s eyes. A flicker of confusion crossed her face. He still held her hand as they walked. After a few seconds, she murmured, “You don’t seem… scared at all.”

“I’ve never cared much about others. If I didn’t know Su Nisheng, Qin You would’ve drugged you tonight. They’d have chopped off my hands. So… what does it matter if he dies?” Lin Ran shrugged.

His words sounded cold. Xu Zhi kept staring. Then she smiled. “Then why are you nice to me?”

*This girl’s mind jumps everywhere.*

“You gave me a warm towel that day I got my nose bloodied. I was just a pretty puppy doing a dangerous job. Who knew you’d be this capable?”

“Capable how?”

“The people you know! Su Nisheng’s influence is huge.”

“Guess so,” Lin Ran shrugged. “So… heading home to sleep?”

“I’m hungry.”

“Haidilao? My treat.” He pinched her cheek.

“No way, it’s expensive… I’ll treat you to malatang.” Xu Zhi winked. Lin Ran nodded.

They sat at a roadside stall. Lin Ran picked skewers; Xu Zhi added a bowl of instant noodles to her spicy broth.

Stuffed full, Xu Zhi’s belly rounded slightly. She rubbed it, looking at Lin Ran. “So… tonight?”

“I’m going home.”

“Can I come too?”

“Nope.”

Xu Zhi pouted. “Then walk me home.”

“Okay.”

“Carry me.”

“Why suddenly?”

“I don’t care… Can you still carry me?”

“Probably.”

Xu Zhi hopped onto his back, arms looping around his neck. Lin Ran gripped her calves, hoisting her up, and strolled slowly.

“Am I heavier or my sister?”

“? Are you crazyyy?”

“You carried Xiao Mo home that day…” She bit his shoulder.

“She said she was tired. We were almost there. You jealous?”

“Not jealous. Just… envious.”

“Envious of your *sister*? She’s just a kid.”

“Xiao Mo’s not a kid! She turns eighteen in half a month!”

“…” Lin Ran sighed.

Moonlight spilled over them as he carried her. Her chest pressed against his back—*can she even breathe?* She’d blow playful puffs of air on his neck. He’d swat her perky backside; she’d blush and shrink back, only to nip his ear seconds later.

Lin Ran carried Xu Zhi for twenty minutes. At her building, he watched her climb the stairs. Suddenly, she darted back, grabbed his collar, and planted a quick kiss on his lips before vanishing upstairs.

Lin Ran wiped his mouth gently. His fingers came away with a faint red stain—cigar residue or her lipstick? *Doesn’t matter.* Time to go home. Tonight… he needed to plan his next move.

Since he’d quit the nightlife, he’d walk in the sun from now on.

*That’s the plan,* Lin Ran thought.

………………………………

Midnight.

Xu Weiyu burrowed under her quilt, binge-watching a web series. *Life without staying up is meaningless!* It was still early. This show was addictive—she’d watch till 6 a.m. Morning classes? Skip them. Who cared.

Then—

Something lightly tapped her quilt from outside.

Xu Weiyu froze. Instinctively, she threw the covers back.

*Did a gust of wind blow through the window?* That was her first thought. But as her vision cleared, she saw the masked figure sitting beside her bed.

“Y-y-y-you again?! What do you want?!”

Xu Weiyu hugged herself tightly, biting her lip, staring at Raven perched on her bed.

“Business.”

“My power’s gone!”

“I know. But you never used it right. Normally, one-tenth of your strength could heal any ordinary wound. Your energy control is just… terrible.”

Raven flipped on the light. His gaze swept over Xu Weiyu in her black gauze nightgown. The contrast of pale skin and dark fabric was blinding.

“I’m here to teach you how to use your power properly.”

“No! I won’t learn! Die!” Xu Weiyu kicked out. Raven caught her ankle effortlessly. She yanked—stuck. Then she remembered her short skirt.

Raven glanced once, then looked away as if blind. Xu Weiyu screamed. Even under his mask, his brows furrowed.

*So loud.*

“Scream again, and I’ll silence you forever,” Raven said coldly.

Xu Weiyu clamped her own mouth shut.

“You’ll do exactly as I say. Disobey…”

“What do you want?”

“Teach you to strengthen your power. You’ll need it in three months.” Raven released her ankle and turned away. “I’ll wait in the living room. Three minutes. Change and come out. Call for help…”

“I don’t want you dead. Or too many Alliance deaths. Too many corpses… chaos follows.”

Raven stood and walked out, closing her bedroom door behind him.