For Ouyang, eating a normal meal now felt like choking down pills.

“I’m really not hungry. I can’t finish this... How about you help me out, Brother Long?”

She shot Brother Long a pained look. He instinctively got it, quickly smiled, and took her bowl. “Mine’s not really enough. Why not give me some?”

He took half her egg fried rice. The other half, it looked like she’d have to handle herself.

Her stomach hurt all night. Once they both fell asleep, Ouyang snuck to the bathroom and threw up everything she’d eaten.

She asked Brother Long to keep it secret from Little Qiu. She didn’t want her knowing she’d turned into a girl, afraid she’d be sad. There was another reason.

She only wanted to be by Little Qiu’s side as the boy Ouyang Qingdan. She didn’t want to be her older or younger sister. She hoped to stay in her heart as an older brother.

She took off her wig and bandages, lay comfortably on her familiar bed, and slowly relaxed. As she drifted into deep sleep, a terrible, awful dream seized her.

The young man found out she’d told Little Qiu and Brother Long the truth. She broke their deal and was dragged back to the Zero District overnight.

This time, she wasn’t locked in a hotel.

A soft black blindfold covered her eyes. Ouyang was taken somewhere more mysterious than any hotel room.

The air carried a strange, pleasant scent that somehow calmed her nervous, uneasy emotions.

Her hands were bound tight together and tied to the headboard with silky cords. Chains clasped her ankles. Even a small move made a crisp clink.

Even if the Blood Clan bit their tongue, it wouldn’t be fatal. Helpless, Ouyang could cry for help, but in the Zero District she had no family, no friends. Like a caged, lonely canary, she was at the mercy of the Bloodkin Prince.

Lying on something soft, Ouyang was deeply afraid, unsure what would be done to her.

The dream felt so real it warned her: break the rules, and this would be her fate. Back in the Zero District, she’d be a tool for the Bloodkin Prince to breed the next generation.

Breathing that scent for long made her head go woozy. The unusual fragrance set her body slowly aflame. She craved a giant freezer, an ice cellar, ice water—anything to cool down fast. Realizing it was actually toxic came too late to stop her body changing.

It was as if the room’s owner had waited for this moment. Footsteps outside drew nearer. Nervous, she couldn’t see the figure before her.

Her brows tightened. Uneasy and scared, Ouyang tried to stop them. “Don’t come any closer...”

The bed sank as something leaned in. Then several long, icicle-like objects brushed the base of her thigh, slid along the inner side, and she involuntarily made a strange sound.

Hearing her own soft, restrained moan, Ouyang couldn’t believe it was her.

Her body was like a furnace, desperate for something cool to ease it, aching to be filled head to toe. With only a fragile sliver of awareness left, she knew she couldn’t let this happen.

She resisted hard inside, but her body wouldn’t obey—worse, it matched their movements. Her faint, tense breaths swelled into heavy panting. She craved their touch, yet couldn’t let this person see her thoughts and longing.

Right then, Ouyang was like a pitiful, weak white rabbit, trapped in their palm, at their mercy.

She couldn’t even die if she wanted to. Despair and pain welled up, and two warm tear streaks ran down her cheeks. Helpless, she shook her head, let go of her last bit of pride, and begged:

“Don’t... please don’t... I was wrong. I’m begging you, let me go...”

“This is the price for disobedience.”

A cold breath ghosted by her right ear. The voice sounded just like the young man from the phone. Ouyang swallowed nervously.

Only one person would do this and punish her like this—the Bloodkin Prince.

The Blood Clan’s body temperature was many degrees lower than normal, like a low burn year-round, never feeling the cold.

“Your body, your soul—both are mine.”

A devil’s whisper filled her ear. Their quick breaths hovered at her soft neck. Warm air flowed—then a sudden sting made Ouyang jolt awake.

Beads of sweat clung to her brow. Drenched, Ouyang felt her heartbeat racing. She gulped air, trying to calm down.

Her scarlet eyes opened in terror. She stared at the familiar bedroom. No one else was there.

The nightmare felt so real she turned to the phone on the nightstand. No missed calls. She let out a cool breath and felt a trace of relief.

Ouyang didn’t dare sleep for the rest of the night. She stood on the balcony in a jacket and admired the night sky. Her silver hair drifted lightly in the cool breeze. Even here, she didn’t feel cold.

A sneeze sounded behind her. She turned on instinct and saw Brother Long there too, wearing a jacket.

“What’s this? Still up? Careful you don’t catch a cold.”

It was his first time seeing a Mosterian look so beautiful and captivating. Brother Long couldn’t help spacing out a little. Then he noticed Ouyang’s tired, frightened look—like she’d just snapped awake from a bad, scary dream.

After all, taking a human to the Zero District and sending them back as something non-human—anyone would struggle to accept that fast.

“Relax. You’ll be fine. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you.”

Hearing his concern, Ouyang’s lips lifted slightly. Her voice was soft and delighted, sweet with genuine gratitude.

“Thank you, Brother Long.”

“If you can’t be my little brother, worst case I’ll treat you as my own little sister.”

“I’d rather you keep treating me like a little brother.”

They both chuckled in sync. After a few seconds, Brother Long asked something that made her heart clench.

“Do you have the Zero District boss’s number? I want to tell him something.”

It felt like the dream was about to come true. Ouyang’s eyes wavered a little.

If she gave him the number, she’d break her deal with the young man on the phone, and last night’s scene would become real.

She had never lied to Brother Long since they met. Anxiety tightened in her chest.

Ouyang shook her head and answered calmly:

“I don’t have his number.”

“I see. Got it.”

His steady voice held a hint of displeasure. Ouyang’s brows pinched. She lowered her head in distress and apologized to him silently in her heart.

I’m sorry, Brother Long.