The elevator arrived swiftly.

"I can’t do anything to you anyway," Xu Mo murmured, her voice thick with gloom.

Lin Ran stepped out beside her with a soft sigh. Their paths overlapped for a short stretch. "Your sister and I are just good friends. Once she finishes what she’s working on now… we probably won’t have much time to stay in touch."

Xu Mo froze mid-step.

Lin Ran’s smile held genuine weariness. "I’ve never taken advantage of her body or tricked her heart. We both have our own lives. Xu Zhi understands this perfectly. What you see… is your sister liking me while I string her along. But what would I gain from that? I treat her well because we’re friends. She’s beautiful—I have no reason to lead her on."

"It’s simply that I don’t like her. It’s harsh, but it’s the truth."

"She knows. She refuses to accept it, but she’s smart. You understand? All I can do is try not to hurt her. Of course… you can think whatever you want."

Xu Mo walked beside him, the gloom in her eyes slowly dissolving. Yet her voice brimmed with discontent. "You said yourself my sister’s beautiful. Why don’t you like her?"

"People like different things."

"Last time, you said you liked someone caring, kind, gentle… Which of those doesn’t my sister have?"

"Right. So it must be my fault," Lin Ran said, stretching lazily. He grinned at her. "I don’t even want a relationship. Carefree without love, you know?"

"Oh." Xu Mo nodded quietly at the bus stop, waiting in stillness.

Dressed in a white dress, a crossbody bag slung over her shoulder, her raven hair spilling over both shoulders, she radiated gentle obedience. Lin Ran hesitated, then asked, "How’s school been lately?"

"Good. After last time… no one bullies me anymore."

"Glad to hear it."

Lin Ran waited for his own bus—they weren’t heading the same way.

He and this underage girl truly had little to discuss. In her eyes, he was probably still… a scumbag. He sighed inwardly but offered no defense.

Everyone carried biases. By definition, bias meant rejecting anything that clashed with one’s own views. Explaining was pointless.

He didn’t feel like arguing. When Xu Mo’s bus arrived first, he gave a light wave.

She sat by the window. As the bus pulled away, she waved back, small and slow.

Lin Ran boarded the next bus, headphones in, sinking into the backseat for the ride home.

………………………………

Back in his tiny apartment.

Lin Ran settled into his gaming chair. At the door, the cat sat neatly on the floor, gazing up at him. He crouched, gently scratching her head.

Thankfully, after absorbing those two drops of blood yesterday, the energy inside her hadn’t been enough to turn her human again.

Lin Ran breathed easier. If she’d transformed now, he’d have no idea where to put her. This was fine. Since she’d refused to listen before, staying a cat was better.

Cats were cuter anyway.

But this time, the cat clawed at his pant leg, let out low, distressed moans, and rolled on the floor, rubbing her hindquarters frantically. Lin Ran frowned, puzzled.

*What’s wrong with her?*

She wouldn’t answer—just writhed and wailed until Lin Ran searched Baidu and found the answer.

She was in heat.

Lin Ran sighed. He couldn’t exactly take her to get spayed. Who knew how that would affect her human form later? He couldn’t keep her a cat forever.

"Should I… help you with a cotton swab?" He gently held her tail as she protested with a yowl. Overwhelmed by discomfort, she stilled as he worked.

Humiliated but obedient, she trembled slightly in his lap afterward, biting his finger lightly, tail flicking in shame and resentment.

Lin Ran let her bite. It didn’t hurt. He chuckled, amused.

Ordinary life had gained unexpected flavor. After calming her, he placed her on the bed and booted up his game.

This was what he’d loved for years—dominating virtual worlds while real-life desires left him cold.

Boring. Predictable.

Things easily within reach had long lost their appeal. Many ability users felt the same. When ordinary achievements came effortlessly, the rules set by those in power became heavy shackles.

The Alliance represented absolute order—a system built to protect the majority of ordinary people. Ability users were rare; the masses shaped the world’s rhythm.

Those who spread chaos—terrorists, dark organizations—were the opposite.

Ideas like "darkness needs light" or "yin and yang balance" were just fairy tales for children. Right and wrong weren’t inherent.

It all came down to human choices. When power made anything possible, greed for control became inevitable.

After all, for idealists, every place was a graveyard.

Some charged forward for their dreams, fearless of death. Lin Ran wasn’t one of them. He was practical. Even with the strength to make the Alliance utterly dominant, he wouldn’t bother. It meant nothing.

Better to keep gaming. His abilities were sealed for now anyway. In a few days, he’d visit the Alliance to find someone named InkLight Year.

He already had the traitor’s full dossier—appearance, history, everything.

………………………………

The Alliance.

For the second time in a year, its highest-level meeting convened.

The current leader, codenamed Phoenix, was twenty-four.

Yes—the highest authority in the Alliance was only twenty-four. After eight years of service, her brilliant achievements and sharp tactics had earned universal trust. The previous leader had handed her the entire organization.

Unthinkable. Jaw-dropping. Yet true.

Phoenix had ruled for two years. Every decision she made, initially met with doubt, silenced critics with flawless results. Now, no one dared question her. She commanded legions of loyal followers. Her orders were law. She was the Alliance’s backbone—a diamond among millennia.

One of the world’s ten strongest.

Yet today’s atmosphere weighed heavier than the meeting a year ago that planned the Sorceress’s downfall.

Phoenix sat at the head, draped in crimson Hanfu embroidered with golden phoenixes. An empress’s aura radiated from her. Her usual warmth vanished. Her gaze swept over the twelve officials before her, holding silence for ten full seconds.

Finally, she spoke.

"I’ve gathered you—the city’s ten finest district peacekeepers—because some likely guess my purpose."

"Raven holds the source code for the Alliance’s overhauled city surveillance system. He knows our internal structure intimately. He even knows the abilities of our top combat prodigy, Cat Gem. Someone leaked this information."

"This may sound harsh, but only those present had clearance for these secrets. I’ll question each of you privately. This isn’t disrespect. Finding the traitor quickly is vital. I trust you understand."

Phoenix held their files—personal histories before joining the Alliance, activity logs, every classified query. She’d prepared thoroughly. Her power had already sealed this room. Once the traitor was exposed, escape would be impossible.

"Cat Gem. You first?" Phoenix’s eyes locked onto the young woman at the front.

Cat Gem gave a small nod.

The moment Phoenix raised her hand, both vanished from the conference room.

…………………………

Cat Gem had heard rumors of the leader’s terrifying strength. But now… she stared, stunned.

They still stood in the conference room.

Yet everyone else had disappeared. "Where are we…?"

"A folded space."

Phoenix crossed her legs beneath her Hanfu skirt, the slit revealing smooth skin. She lounged opposite Cat Gem, who sat quietly. "Aren’t you an elemental user?"

"Space is an element too." Phoenix’s tone was flat. "Enough. I’ll ask questions. Answer truthfully."

"Understood."

"First question: What kind of man do you like best?"

Cat Gem’s eyes widened in shock.