Lin Ran drove Su Nisheng’s car to a villa out in the sticks.

Only two people could open the fingerprint lock.

One was named Ink Orange Ice.

The other was Lin Ran.

Ink Orange Ice was a strange girl.

Strange as in strange to most people. If everyone else were herd creatures, she’d be another species. Quiet, almost without a heart.

Okay, she could talk. She played games too. But most of the time, at first glance, she cooled summer by a few degrees.

It wasn’t creepy. On the contrary, she was very beautiful.

Tall. Fine features. She sat on the couch in home pajamas, watching the latest variety show. Her face was blank. The show was fun, but she didn’t react. She looked spaced out, eyes unfocused.

Until she heard the door and turned.

“You’re here.” Ink Orange Ice’s voice was soft.

The moment she saw Lin Ran, a faint blush rose on her cheeks. It wasn’t psychological. Strictly speaking, it was physiological.

The lights in the villa were dim, only a little glow seeping in. She wore a black gauze nightdress. Black pantyhose hugged the skin under the hem. The outfit made her look like a sultry queen in the night, yet her eyes were clear as ice.

She was still in heels, calves pulled taut.

The vibe turned a little odd.

Like a caged canary dressed in the owner’s favorite outfit, waiting for favor.

“I’m here.”

Ink Orange Ice gazed at him, eyes deep. Even her voice trembled a little. “You finally came.”

“Shouldn’t I have?”

“Come here.”

She probably couldn’t stand him goofing around anymore. She snapped, a touch of scolding in it. Lin Ran walked over. She rose from the couch, turned, set her knees on the cushions, sinking in a little. Her hands gripped the backrest. She faced away from him. The couch height was just right.

“Hurry. Take that… out first.”

She frowned slightly. Lin Ran thought he heard a buzzing.

…

Fine. Lin Ran admitted Su Nisheng had guessed his relationship with Ink Orange Ice. She was right.

He and Ink Orange Ice weren’t lovers. They met four years ago. Back then, by chance, Lin Ran saved her life. They became good friends.

At sixteen, when she stepped into the wider world, she was curious about everything. But something was missing. Her awakened ability was ice. Strictly speaking, it didn’t even fit neat elemental categories.

She could create ice out of thin air. It should’ve counted as “ice,” yet her ice had much higher density. And she never focused on producing more ice or colder ice. Her focus was using that energy to temper her body.

She was strong. Stronger than Su Nisheng estimated. Stronger than all of The Alliance’s models. Her edge was her swordsmanship.

Yeah. In an age of guns and cannons, her edge was the sword.

That day she fought four ability users, she was in a state much like now. So she took light injuries. She’d recovered. But after she used her ability that day, the suppressed side effects flared up again.

When she was twelve, when her first period came, her ability awakened. The energy it brought made her number one of her generation in her old circle. But… her bizarre condition? To this day, no one could explain it except for Lin Ran’s half-baked theory.

She had a powerful sex addiction.

It wasn’t just that. According to Lin Ran, part of her emotions had always been missing. She hadn’t noticed. She thought she was cold by nature. After hearing Lin Ran, she seemed to understand a little.

As her ability rose, the missing emotions would slowly return. But the sex addiction that had hounded her nearly ten years never went away. Only Lin Ran knew this secret.

When she was eighteen, after a simple night of drinks and talk, Ink Orange Ice finally couldn’t hold back and pushed Lin Ran down.

Afterward, she tossed two thousand on the bed.

Lin Ran pocketed the money with a grin and explained, “Once you hit SS Rank, it’ll get much better. You don’t want romance? Lucky me, neither do I. So… why don’t we keep it like this?”

Ink Orange Ice, face like a glacier, agreed flatly.

So the two of them freeloaded off each other for four years.

Lin Ran could tell Su Nisheng with a straight face that he and Ink Orange Ice had no feelings. That was true. Ink Orange Ice had none, because her emotions were suppressed. She couldn’t feel “love.”

And Lin Ran didn’t, either. So they could keep this simple arrangement.

Six years ago, when Ink Orange Ice entered the world, she’d taken a mission to join The Alliance, keep the world stable, and raise the standing of the Mo Clan. But before she could join, she ran into Lin Ran.

Or rather, Raven.

Raven took her around The Alliance. Showed her the real state of ability users. Showed her verifiable files. Ink Orange Ice gave up the idea.

Then Lin Ran taught her to game.

Missing emotions, zero social skills—she received a villa from Mr. Lin and a top-end PC, and became an at-home, shut-in gamer girl.

Hungry? Takeout. Thirsty? Water. Bored? Games. When she wanted it, she could call him. And so Ink Orange Ice just… let herself go.

A top S Rank ability user from an ancient martial clan, with potential to step into SS Rank within five years—Ink Orange Ice became a shut-in gamer, grinding Diamond tier every day, losing and trying again, again and again.

The world’s funny like that.

“Your family’s been looking for you lately.”

Lin Ran watched the girl peel off her pantyhose and spoke softly.

Ink Orange Ice froze for a second and raised her face a little. “They can’t find me.”

…

Why did this feel like he’d abducted a runaway girl?

“Want me to handle it?”

“Who’s looking?”

“The new clan head, InkLight Year.”

“If he finds me, he’ll drag me back,” Ink Orange Ice murmured.

“Then I’ll negotiate. Tell him I tied you up and you’re mine now?”

She hesitated a second. “Okay.”

“Alright. I’ll meet him another day.”

“InkLight Year is strong.” Ink Orange Ice had rolled up the pantyhose and tossed them into the trash. They were dirty. Unwearable.

It was fine. She had plenty. Whatever she wanted, Lin Ran bought.

“You mean I should be careful?” Lin Ran lifted a brow.

“Don’t accidentally beat him to death. He’s okay to me.” That was her answer. Lin Ran made a small sound. “Then hurry and change. We’re heading out.”

“Don’t want to.”

“If you don’t go get some sun, you’ll grow mold. At this rate, when will you reach SS Rank?”

“It’s not important.”

“It is, dummy. Your ability limits your emotions. Break through SS Rank, and the emotions you’ve never felt will come back. You’ll see the world’s not what you thought.”

“How not?”

“You’ll feel love. It’s the most wondrous thing.”

“How wondrous?”

“You might gladly go mad for it. Give up everything.”

“Have you felt it?” Ink Orange Ice slipped her small white feet into silver heels and asked lightly.

“No.”

“Then how do you know.” She protested.

“…Oh, you learned to argue?”

“You were wrong.” She looked straight into his eyes.

“I don’t care. I’m right. Keep arguing and I won’t buy you new skins.” Lin Ran tilted his head at her.

“If you don’t buy, I’ll get a job.”

“Yeah, right. You’ve holed up at home for two, three years. A job? If you really plan to work, that’s great.” Lin Ran was already at her side. He grabbed her pale, slender calf. “You’re going out in this?”

“Looks good.” Ink Orange Ice’s voice was still cool.

“Looks good? Try walking in them. You can’t even stand in these when we do it, let alone walk.” Lin Ran took off her shoes, then went to the shoe cabinet for white sneakers. He put white knee-highs on her, then opened her wardrobe.

Ink Orange Ice had a lot of clothes.

He’d bought them all. It wasn’t bad before; she had no desire to consume. After he taught her online shopping, everything changed. Clothes, gaming gear, figures, perfume—the lot in her room added up to over six figures.

This girl had no concept of money. Luckily, neither did Lin Ran. He never carried cash. His money was with Silver Lady. Silver Lady was the little housekeeper. When Ink Orange Ice needed money, she skipped Lin Ran and went straight to Silver Lady.

So Silver Lady was always jealous of Ink Orange Ice. She felt Lin Ran played favorites. Why was she the one managing his money, hunting discounts, cleaning up for Su Nisheng, helping him run conventions, even making his clothes? She was turning into a grumbly little housewife.

Silver Lady’s past was far more complicated than Ink Orange Ice’s. So even when she complained, it was just simple grumbling, wanting some affection.

Lin Ran couldn’t take her love. So he kept a measured distance.

In the end, Lin Ran picked a white crop top and denim bodycon shorts. Ink Orange Ice sat there obediently, quietly getting dressed. She didn’t avoid him at all.

They’d seen it all. This wasn’t important anymore.

After changing, Ink Orange Ice curled up on the couch. “Can we go out at night?”

“I’m buying a camera, dummy. The flea market will be closed later.”

“You’re not short on money.”

“Then what do you want to do?”

“I want to watch the moon.”

“Fine, fine. You win. We’ll head out at seven. What now?”

“Do me.”

“Next time, pick another word. Don’t say that. And haven’t you had enough?”

“I’ll be fine after a short rest. You’ve been gone so long. I’m home alone. Even the game bullies me. Help me play. I’m back at promos.” Ink Orange Ice stood, took Lin Ran by the hand, and led him into her room.