Xu Weiyu suddenly burst into tears.

Raven hesitated for a moment. He slowly stepped forward, holding an umbrella in one hand and pulling the girl into his embrace with the other.

The rain poured heavily. Xu Weiyu buried her face in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Her cries were drowned out by the downpour, leaving only the sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella.

After a long while, Xu Weiyu lifted her head.

“Let’s go now.”

She bit her lip slightly, gazing into Raven’s eyes. He gave a gentle nod and pointed toward the cemetery entrance, where a motorcycle stood in the distance.

“You rode here?”

“Yeah. I bought flowers first.”

“Don’t you have instant teleportation?”

“My ability was nearly depleted after those fireworks,” Raven said with a smirk. “I used the last of it to teleport twice more and kill the Butcher. Honestly, my energy was gone by then.”

Xu Weiyu’s eyes widened. “Then… with all those people surrounding you, if they’d attacked… you’d have been finished?!”

“Yeah, but I gambled they wouldn’t dare. And they didn’t.”

“What if they had?”

“A little gamble now and then is thrilling.”

Raven led her to his motorcycle. Xu Weiyu got on, and this time, he handed her a white helmet. She put it on and tightly wrapped her arms around his waist.

This time, she didn’t resist. His back felt broad and sturdy. She pressed her head against it as the engine roared to life. Raven drove her to her apartment building, stopping five hundred meters away.

“Run back quickly. Surveillance is about to restore.”

He gently ruffled her hair.

“Don’t… mess up a girl’s hair like that.”

“You look cute.”

“Super cute!” Xu Weiyu handed back the helmet. Raven just smiled helplessly, stowed it, and gave a small wave. She ran a few steps, then stopped and called out loudly, “Thank you!”

“You’re welcome.”

Raven swung onto the motorcycle. With a roar, he vanished into the rainy night.

...

Lin Ran rode the motorcycle to Silver Lady’s building entrance. After that, he had to walk home. Spatial teleportation was a high-tier ability—even he couldn’t use it consecutively.

He wasn’t lying. His energy was completely depleted. The rain poured heavily as he gripped an umbrella, its canopy flapping in the wind. Trees thrashed wildly while he walked alone through the downpour, letting rain soak his hair.

Only five minutes remained before surveillance restored. He had to run home to avoid suspicion. In the final minutes, Lin Ran dropped his umbrella and sprinted through the storm.

Wind and rain created an apocalyptic scene. Distant lightning flashed, tearing through the night sky like claws ripping apart the darkness.

Five minutes later, Lin Ran reached his building. He climbed the stairs, clothes soaked through. Unlocking his door, he found the cat glaring at him resentfully from the corner.

Lin Ran began stripping off his wet clothes.

The cat meowed incessantly until he was bare. Then it covered its eyes with its paws, watching him wash in the bathroom, change into pajamas, and emerge. Only then did it leap onto his back.

His hair still damp, Lin Ran sat by the window. He cracked it open and lit a cigarette.

He sighed softly, staring blankly at the rain.

...

The cat sniffed a faint bloody scent from his right hand—a wound from punching a wall. With his energy gone, it hadn’t healed.

Her tongue gently licked the cut.

Lin Ran, lost in thought with a cigarette dangling, didn’t notice. When he snapped back, the cat had already cleaned the blood away. Startled, he reached for her, but she darted under the bed and refused to come out.

“Get out here!” he growled, cigarette in his mouth.

The cat meowed but stayed hidden.

After a standoff, Lin Ran gave up. “Fine. That blood won’t change you back anyway. Stay a cat until you figure things out.”

The cat meowed softly and crawled out.

Lin Ran grabbed her by the scruff. Seeing her cover her little bits with her tail again, he tapped her head helplessly. “Go to sleep properly.”

She protested with a meow.

Lin Ran ignored her, sitting by the window smoking in the cold breeze. He gazed quietly at the rain, a wave of melancholy washing over him.

Xu Weiyu had been alone all these years, yet she seemed lively and innocent. That was fine.

He’d been alone too. His sisters, brothers—all scattered after the Orphanage Haven fire. Everyone had built their own factions now. Lin Ran had always tracked them.

Catastrophe… could he still control that power? He might be on the edge of madness. One day, his sudden return would bring calamity.

That fool Rose—did she think blooming endless roses could escape her fate? She was nearing SS Rank breakthrough, but clearly losing control.

Sister Thorn… Lin Ran hadn’t seriously searched for her. She needed no worrying. If she appeared, it might not be good.

And the Sorceress.

Now she was in his arms—a little she-cat who only meowed and hid her little bits from him.

The headmistress… where was she? Was that woman watching from the shadows, smirking as they struggled, waiting for the final act?

Lin Ran lit another cigarette.

The cat lay still in his lap, then closed her eyes, tired. He watched the rain until deep night.

He felt a little lonely.

The phone rang suddenly in the silence. Lin Ran froze, then picked it up. Who called at this hour? He recognized the number.

Xu Weiyu’s.

He hesitated before answering. “What’s up?”

“Thunder outside… I can’t sleep. I just wondered if I could reach you.”

“You did.” Lin Ran smiled.

“Can you chat with me?”

“Sure. I’m not sleepy. What about?”

He heard rabbit-like timidity in her voice.

“How did you know… the Butcher never died? That The Alliance controlled him?”

“I’d collected data on all this city’s dark forces. I found his file. Later, when I saw you, I checked yours and connected the dots.”

“How did you know my ability?”

“I see the essence of abilities with one glance.”

Xu Weiyu fell silent for seconds. “So… you knew I’d join your organization, right? Mr. Raven.”

Lin Ran laughed softly. “You misunderstood. Whether you join doesn’t matter. I’ll always fight alone. I helped you not for your power.”

“Then why?”

“Because you have big breasts.”

He always derailed serious moments. Xu Weiyu was speechless, then giggled. “Want to see next time?”

“Admire from afar, but don’t touch.”

“Huh,” she muttered. “What’s the real reason?”

(Actually, because Su Nisheng told you to heal me that day.)

But Lin Ran couldn’t say that.

“Don’t overthink it. I won’t need anything from you.”

“Hey, Mr. Raven.”

“Hm?”

“My birthday’s in half a month. I’ll be eighteen… Will you come to my party?”

“You want me dead?”

“No! Only my friend Su Nisheng. You met her at Silver Lady’s fight, right?”

“No thanks.”

“Really not coming?” Her voice softened. “I won’t invite Su Nisheng. Will you come?”

“I can’t. I’m busy.”

“Okay…” she whispered. “Mr. Raven… are you Lin Ran?”

“Who’s Lin Ran?”

“Nothing. You just remind me of someone.”

“How?”

“You both tap people’s heads. Haha.”

“Oh.” Lin Ran’s reply was flat.

A thunderclap echoed on both ends. Xu Weiyu screamed, clutching the phone. “You won’t hang up, right?”

“Not yet.”

“Then… I’ll sleep. Don’t hang up, okay?”

“Sleep well. Good night.” Lin Ran set the phone by the window, watching the rain.

Soft, steady breathing came from the line. He waited until it deepened, then hung up. Carrying the cat to bed, he covered them with a blanket and slept.