"Ahhh! Ahhhh!! Ahhhhh!!!"

With each cry, Xu Yingsnow excitedly slammed her palm on the table.

Yes! Yes! Yes! How could I not have thought of that!

Probably because she’d clashed with Nainai’s shut-in nature before, Xu Yingsnow had fixated entirely on getting Nainai out of the house. She’d completely overlooked the crucial point: getting her a job.

A job doesn’t require going out, right? Some work can be done from home just fine.

A flash of inspiration struck Xu Yingsnow. She recalled the hypnosis-themed Arcane Blade livestreams she often listened to before bed to unwind and sleep.

Livestreaming, for instance—couldn’t that be done at home? No need to step outside, and the entry barrier was low.

Moreover, Xu Yingsnow firmly believed that with Nainai’s assets, she’d instantly gather legions of die-hard fans if she agreed.

After all, Nainai was absurdly cute—an ultra-cute legal loli. She was like a nuclear weapon of cuteness.

Not to mention, Nainai’s lazy NEET essence online, paired with her breathtaking beauty, would be pure moe for viewers. A gap moe charm...

Anyway, as long as it didn’t bother them personally, no one would care much.

Her mind raced. In mere seconds, Xu Yingsnow had mapped out the entire plan to propose livestreaming to Nainai.

Sticking out her wet, pink little tongue, she licked her dry, cherry-red lips. Excitedly, she yanked open a desk drawer, grabbed a pen, and flipped open a nearby folder. She began scribbling furiously.

So focused was Xu Yingsnow that she subconsciously ignored Lady Nishang’s gentle calls over the phone.

"Hello? Yingsnow? Yingsnow? Yingsnow? Are you there, Yingsnow? Yingsnow? Hey..."

Her calls went unanswered. Lady Nishang sighed helplessly.

Hearing Xu Yingsnow’s rapid, excited breaths and the heavy scratching of her pen, Lady Nishang realized the headstrong girl had broken through her mental block. She’d had an epiphany.

Naturally, Lady Nishang was pleased. But this wasn’t the time to savor it. Moments ago, a junior staffer from the liaison department had called. Someone reported a non-violent Subhuman incident to the Subhuman Administration, seeking help.

An ordinary request wouldn’t disturb Lady Nishang at this hour. But the location was too sensitive.

East District...

Her elegant eyes flicked sideways, catching the pitch-black midnight sky through the window.

Heading to the East District now was far too dangerous.

Whatever the incident, Lady Nishang’s priority was her subordinate’s safety.

That area was already a filthy no-go zone at night. Worse, the East District now had serious cases even the Scavenger Squad found troublesome.

Lady Nishang had wanted to suppress this for Xu Yingsnow—delay it until dawn. But after careful thought, she decided to respect Xu Yingsnow’s judgment. In her view, Xu Yingsnow wasn’t one to flee from danger.

If she were, she’d never have taken the East District assignment—a hot potato universally loathed in Ashi City’s Subhuman Administration. Nor would she have volunteered for Nainai, one of the bureau’s toughest nuts to crack. And she wouldn’t have persisted after repeated rejections from Nainai.

None of this was Lady Nishang’s doing. She’d always understood the East District’s hardships. She’d even told past and present field agents they could request transfers—she wouldn’t hold it against them.

Before Xu Yingsnow, many "seniors" had transferred out under the pressure. But Xu Yingsnow endured. That’s why Lady Nishang adored her.

Withholding details would betray the girl’s dedication.

"Yingsnow? Yingsnow?"

Pursing her pink lips, Lady Nishang gripped her phone and called again, trying to snap Xu Yingsnow back to attention.

Still no response. Xu Yingsnow was utterly lost in her racing thoughts, oblivious to the world.

"Hmph..."

Being ignored made Lady Nishang slightly cross.

Her rosy cheeks puffed up adorably. This mature, peach-like beauty made a pouty face like a child whose toy was stolen.

In a huff, she cranked her phone’s mic sensitivity from 30% to 100%. She aimed the mic at her tail.

Then...

Splash!

The crisp slap of her supple mermaid tail hitting water amplified threefold. It nearly knocked Xu Yingsnow—clueless about the trick—unconscious over the phone.

"AHHHH—!!!!"

Bang—Slap—Thud—Puff puff puff...

Hearing the girl’s shrieks and crashing sounds, Lady Nishang wiped water droplets off her ultra-waterproof Federation-issue phone screen. A sly, fox-like smile curled on her gorgeous face.

"My phone! My phone! Ah!"

The buzzing in her ears didn’t matter. Xu Yingsnow knelt on the floor, wailing as she picked up her cracked phone. Long fissures split the screen top to bottom. Her eyes welled with tears, heartbroken.

"Yingsnow, that’s your punishment~"

Savoring Xu Yingsnow’s anguish, the usually gentle Lady Nishang—who hid a mischievous streak—hummed contentedly.

"Lady Nishang! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have ignored you! But my phone..."

Raking her hands through her silky light-brown hair, she turned it into a bird’s nest. With a pained expression, Xu Yingsnow tearfully apologized.

"Alright, alright. Though it was a small punishment, I broke your phone. I’ll cover the repairs... And tomorrow, I’ll treat you to ice cream."

Carrot after stick, Lady Nishang soothed her gently. Then her tone turned serious.

"Yingsnow, I just got word from liaison. There’s an urgent task in the East District. I need your opinion."

"Huh?"

Xu Yingsnow was stunned. She hadn’t expected Lady Nishang to deliver tasks personally. Usually, liaison called directly. But she didn’t hesitate.

"So late, and a task in the East District... Got it. I’ll head out now. But who’s the Subhuman? I’ll check their file first."

Just as expected—Xu Yingsnow accepted instantly. Lady Nishang sighed inwardly, murmuring too softly for anyone to hear:

"Sigh... It’s so dangerous there. I really don’t want to send you."

Clearing her throat, she relayed truthfully:

"Liaison didn’t get the Subhuman’s name—the caller didn’t know. But they sent a physical description."

"What is it? Subhuman traits are unique. I might recognize them."

"Oh, let me see... Hmm... Uh..."

Her calm tone suddenly turned hesitant and odd. Like a glitching radio, she gurgled and stammered, unable to continue.

"Lady Nishang?"

Xu Yingsnow’s brows furrowed. A nerve twitched. Lady Nishang’s reaction sparked a chilling premonition.

"Um... humanoid Subhuman... pink hair... uh... a girl around ten... small pink wings on her back... a pink tail... heart-shaped tip... uh... very pretty..."

Her words dripped with dread. Prompted by Xu Yingsnow, Lady Nishang reluctantly finished the report.

These features were all too familiar to Xu Yingsnow...

—Crap. That’s damn well Nainai!

The premonition crashed down. Blood surged to her head. Her eyes rolled back. Xu Yingsnow nearly fainted.

That lazy eternal loli! What trouble has she stirred up this late? Ah!