Back then, we had dreams. We believed that no matter what, we could push through every obstacle, marching forward without pause.

Lin Ran felt he and Su Nisheng didn’t belong to that kind. Their eventual separation wasn’t due to clashing ideals—they’d always respected each other’s choices. That was why they parted, and why they could still barely call themselves friends afterward.

So Lin Ran never resented Su Nisheng. She’d asked for his opinion back then. He’d been the one to let go.

The taxi ride home cost about forty-five yuan. As Lin Ran helped Su Nisheng downstairs, raindrops began falling from the night sky, painting the world like it was on the brink of collapse—as if this downpour might drown everything.

“Run. Don’t get soaked,” Lin Ran grabbed Su Nisheng’s hand.

“No. I want to get wet… clear my head,” Su Nisheng muttered. Raindrops soaked her shirt and skirt, clinging tightly to her body. Her black stockings glistened with water, instantly making her look disheveled.

“You’re flashing. Black underwear.”

“Matching set too!” Su Nisheng chirped.

The rain poured relentlessly. No one was around. By dawn, thick fog would rise.

“Come on. I’ll take you home.”

Lin Ran gently took her hand, pulling her toward his apartment building. Up four flights of stairs, Su Nisheng’s steps were slow. Raindrops still fell from her hair, yet Lin Ran stayed almost completely dry.

From the moment they’d gotten out of the taxi, Su Nisheng had shielded him with her telekinesis—raindrops simply veered away from him.

Lin Ran handed her a towel. Su Nisheng unbuttoned her soaked shirt. Lin Ran watched quietly as her slender frame emerged, clad in tight black lingerie dotted with raindrops. Her collarbones were delicate, her neck long and graceful. He pressed the towel to her skin, delicately wiping away the droplets.

“Aren’t you taking off your skirt? Need me to help?”

“Go ahead.”

So Lin Ran removed her skirt. Beneath it lay white lace-trimmed safety shorts, then her black stockings, and finally her panties. He peeled off the shorts and stockings, crouching to wipe the water from her legs—thoroughly, carefully. Su Nisheng bit her lip, watching him.

Water streaked her face too, blurring any trace of tears.

“Go sleep. I’ll game for a bit.”

Lin Ran sat on the chair by the bed and booted up his computer.

“You still don’t want to touch me.”

Su Nisheng’s voice was small. She obediently burrowed under Lin Ran’s quilt. His room was messy, but the bedding was clean. She rested her head on his pillow, watching the faint glow of his screen, her bare ankles peeking out from the covers.

“Lin Ran.”

“Hm?”

“Are you even a man?”

“Of course I am.”

“Then come sleep with me.”

“Can’t. I’m a responsible man.”

“I don’t need you to be responsible.”

“And I don’t want your debt.” Lin Ran lit a cigarette, watching the cat in the corner—its fur bristling, eyes locked on Su Nisheng. The cat had witnessed every detail of him drying her off. Now it was plotting a lethal strike.

“Behave,” Lin Ran called to the cat. He cracked a window, listening to the rain, watching the smoke drift out.

“So… I’m really sleeping now?” Su Nisheng huffed.

“Yeah. Sleep well. Goodnight.”

Lin Ran queued for a match.

………………………………

Past midnight, Su Nisheng suddenly laughed.

Lin Ran turned. “What’s funny?”

“Laughing at what I was upset about earlier.”

“Huh?”

“I realized… there’s really nothing to be sad about. You’ve always been here, haven’t you?”

“Yeah. I’ve always been here.”

Satisfied, Su Nisheng closed her eyes.

……………………………………

Lin Ran gamed all night. Su Nisheng slept soundly, tugging at the quilt—a habit Lin Ran remembered from when they’d shared a bed before.

Yes, they’d shared a bed. But never gone all the way.

Back then, their love had been pure and simple. They’d traveled together once, staying in a cheap motel. Su Nisheng had curled against him, biting her lip, eyes glinting mischievously. “If you love me… don’t even think about touching me tonight.”

“How cruel.”

“If you can’t take it… pick a way. I’ll help. Don’t be shy.”

“…”

Lin Ran found he remembered it all too clearly.

He finished his cigarette pack over the night. Su Nisheng didn’t cry or fuss. When she woke, Lin Ran was still gaming, cigarette dangling, ashtray overflowing.

Su Nisheng sat up, grabbed a T-shirt and loose jeans from his closet, rolled the jeans at the ankles, then patted his shoulder. Her smile was bright.

“Can I use your toothbrush?”

“Go ahead. You’re the type who shares saliva during kisses anyway.”

Su Nisheng brushed her teeth in his bathroom, washed her face, then sat beside him. Her clothes hung drying on the balcony. She picked up her stockings, examining them closely. “Snagged.”

“Snagged?”

“Yeah. Unwearable now. Gotta toss them… kinda wasteful. Maybe one last use before I throw them away?” She winked at Lin Ran.

He met her gaze, saw the teasing glint in her eyes, reached out… and flicked her forehead.

“Nope.”

Su Nisheng had picked up that forehead-flick habit from him.

She leaned closer, plucked the cigarette from his fingers, took a deep drag, then pressed her lips to his. Her eyes held his, smoldering.

Lin Ran obediently leaned in.

She fed him the smoke.

“Sleeping now?” Su Nisheng asked as he ended the match and shut down his PC.

“What else?”

“Why didn’t you sleep with me last night?”

“You really think I’m not a man? You just lay there in your underwear.” Lin Ran rolled his eyes. Su Nisheng burst into laughter, a soft, pleased hum escaping her. “So you *do* want to.”

“Alright, alright. I’m sleeping. You should go.”

“Rushing me out? Am I some spirit sucking your life essence?”

“Aren’t you?”

“Hehehe.”

Su Nisheng leaned in, tracing the pink mark on his neck with her eyes, then turned away. “I’m leaving. I’ll pick up my clothes next time. Don’t throw them away.”

“Okay.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

Lin Ran watched her leave, shook his head, and collapsed onto his bed. The cat pounced onto his chest, curling into his arms—it hadn’t slept all night, perched on his gaming chair.

“No hissing every time a woman comes over. Keep it up, and I’ll give you away.” He pinched the cat’s tail. It meowed.

“Know anything about Thorn? Meow if you do.”

Silence.

“Fine. Rose’ll probably hit SS Rank in three months. Gotta spank that brat’s butt when I get time.” Lin Ran muttered, hugging the cat close.

“Alright. Bad woman’s gone. Time to sleep.”

He rested his chin on the cat’s head and closed his eyes.

……………………………………

Silver Lady stared at the dress before her, lost for a moment.

Tailoring had become her hobby these past years. Now, she was one of the world’s finest seamstresses. In just three days, she’d recreated the Ice Princess’s gown to ninety percent accuracy—based solely on that woman’s measurements, as her master requested.

She’d known Lin Ran longer than Ink Orange Ice had. Fifteen years ago, she’d first met him. She still remembered that day: flames devouring the sky, a masked boy humming as he walked toward her.

“Save me…” Her voice was barely a breath.

“Save you? What can you do?”

“I can… kill.”

The boy studied her silver eyes in silence.

The young girl closed her eyes. Flames licked her skin. The masked boy knelt, slit his wrist, and fed her two drops of blood.

“I can give you a new life. A new identity. Live well. Forget everything about Silver Wing.”

“I… don’t know where to go.”

“Then follow me for now. Find your path later.”

Seven years ago, the world’s largest esper assassin syndicate—Silver Wing—was wiped out in a single night.

Silver Wing had scoured the globe for espers, or forcibly taken awakened children, brainwashing them into killers from infancy. Children like her were perfect blades—endlessly replaceable. After that night, only one blade remained.

The Blade Master had been killed by Raven. The Corrupted had been killed by Raven. Every twisted blade had been killed by Raven.

A flicker of mercy. Raven brought Silver Lady to this city. She chose her path: becoming Silver Lady in the shadows, a blade belonging to one man alone.

His words echoed in her ears:

“We shouldn’t live for others. Find your own meaning, Silver Lady. Have you found yours?”

“Serving you is my only meaning.”

“That’s not what I want. I want you to choose your own path. Anything. Just… leave me.”

“Then kill me, Master.”

“Why must you be so stubborn?”

“Are you abandoning me?”

Silver claws hovered over her chest. Her blades tore through her dress, piercing skin. Blood bloomed like flowers.

Her face was stone. The blades inched toward her heart.

A sigh finally reached her ears. Then, gentle arms pulled her close.

………………

Silver Lady smiled. She dialed a number, pressing the phone to her ear. “Master, the dress is ready. When will you come get it?”

“Mail it.”

“No~ You haven’t rewarded Silver Lady… Without love, I’ll wither away.”

“What reward do you want?”

“Dessert after dinner.”

Her tongue traced her lips.

“I’ll come later. Still sleeping.” Lin Ran hung up.

Silver Lady set down her phone with a soft huff. Upbeat music filled her office. She stepped out in silver heels, descended to the basement, and stopped before a man whose bones had been shattered.

His arms were covered in crude sutures—stitches sealing skin that had been torn apart.

“You wanted my master’s hands?” Silver Lady lit a cigar, blowing smoke at him. “So tell me, Qin You… do you like *your* hands now?”

Qin You couldn’t speak; his mouth was already festering, threads still stitching his lips shut.

Silver Lady casually exhaled a puff of smoke, dropped the cigarette butt on the ground, and stomped it out. The next second, her pupils began to glow with a deep silver hue. Scale-like growths sprouted across her skin. A silver tail emerged from her back. Silver spines grew on her shoulders, collarbone, and arms, glinting with a cold, eerie light. Even though Qin You’s eyes were filled with despair, seeing this demon-like silver creature, he still widened his eyes in shock.

A low, human-like voice came from the demon’s mouth.

“Haven’t dismantled anything in a while.”

The demon advanced step by step.