Mu Yue Ran strolled leisurely through the villa district’s courtyard after presenting her invitation, admiring the wealthy estates.

*[Stealing from your own sister? Shameless.]*

"Ugh, easy for you to say. How else was I supposed to get in? There weren’t even any walls to climb here."

Mu Yue Ran replied casually in her mind, feeling zero guilt over exploiting her little sister—she was almost smug about it.

*[Seriously though, won’t you talk to her more?]*

"Talk? Tell her—"

"*Your brother isn’t actually dead. He just turned into a girl. That’s me! Let’s get along, okay? Hehe~*"

Sticking out her tongue playfully, she tilted her head into a goofy pose as if chatting with Mu Shuanghua. But just as quickly, her expression flattened. She shrugged, voice calm: "Who’d believe that?"

"Better to keep things as they are than make her believe her brother magically became a girl."

"Grief only lasts a moment. We’ll both get busy with our own lives eventually."

Mu Yue Ran murmured, unaware she’d turned back toward the villa gates. Where the lights grew sparse, it almost seemed someone still called out a name long buried.

"Besides... she seems fine without me."

*[Sounds like an unneeded older brother’s self-pity.]*

The System teased, savoring the words. Mu Yue Ran just smiled faintly this time, offering no retort. She turned toward the villa’s entrance. Her drifting thoughts echoed in the moonlit puddles scattered across the empty courtyard.

*[Who knows. But if we meet a third time... I’ll talk to her. As myself this time.]*

..........

Inside the villa, the hall was unnaturally quiet—unlike the lively courtyard outside. Every guest sat rigid in their seat, holding their breath as if awaiting a sacred ritual. Golden light gilded every inch of the opulent hall, converging brightest on the stage facing the crowd. Like an unveiling ceremony for a priceless treasure, Mu Yue Ran saw raw desire etched on their faces.

A crimson carpet stretched from the corridor to the stage. Avoiding the main aisle, Mu Yue Ran slipped into an inconspicuous seat. Others followed—dressed in tailored suits and gowns, radiating authority. These weren’t the regular guests from the front hall. At minimum, they were decision-makers from corporations or noble Houses, each elder accompanied by a younger heir. Mostly sons.

As one of the few women among them, Mu Yue Ran quickly noticed another girl. Their eyes met. The girl’s face lit up with relief as she hurried over, skirts swishing.

"Phew! Thank goodness another girl’s here. I was about to die of awkwardness."

Piao Lele patted her chest dramatically. Mu Yue Ran studied her curiously—she recognized this girl. The silly, rich heiress who used to trail after Mu Shuanghua, showering her with gifts. *So Shuanghua got in because of her.*

Warming slightly, Mu Yue Ran offered a polite smile. Piao Lele beamed back.

Encouraged by the friendliness, Piao Lele scooted closer, whispering urgently: "Were your parents forcing you here too?"

She was furious. She’d planned a feast with Mu Shuanghua until her family tracked her down, shoved another invitation into her hands, and dumped her here.

She’d protested: "They’re picking a fiancé for their daughter! What’s a girl like me doing at this?"

Her father—a man whose open-mindedness bordered on radical—had declared solemnly: "What if the groom prefers girls? Don’t be rigid about gender."

Helpless, Piao Lele had tearfully abandoned the banquet, arranged care for Mu Shuanghua, and trudged into the villa.

Listening to Piao Lele’s passionate rant, Mu Yue Ran’s smile tightened. She stroked her chin thoughtfully, suddenly reconsidering her own androgynous beauty.

*Huh... not impossible, actually.*

*What if the target falls for me at first sight?*

*...Haha. Just kidding.*

Shaking off the playful thought, Mu Yue Ran chatted lightly while scanning the crowd for the scumbag she needed to handle.

Per the System’s intel: a talented commoner who’d charmed a wealthy widow with his looks and physique. After her sudden death, he’d somehow convinced her to leave him most of her fortune. He’d then built a commercial empire from it.

"*Talented*" needed quotes, but his power was undeniable.

His reason for being here was simple: he’d set his sights on this heiress’s family, ready to repeat his scheme.

"*Troublesome.*"

Mu Yue Ran rubbed her temples. She’d scanned the entire hall—no sign of him. Had the intel been wrong?

Just then, the lights dimmed. A single spotlight slashed across the grand entrance.

Every head turned. The doors creaked open slowly.

A petite figure emerged, draped in snow-white fabric. She stepped onto the red carpet like a feather drifting into a rose garden—delicate yet impossible to ignore. Her hair cascaded like a frozen waterfall down her back, veiling her in pure white. A maid followed closely, lifting the hem of her gown to shield it from dust.

Only when the girl seated herself onstage did the crowd see her face. It was sculpted like flawless marble—every curve precise, every line exquisite. Had her eyes not fluttered open, they might have mistaken her for a masterpiece.

The woman standing beside her beamed at the audience’s stunned silence. Her elaborate reveal had paid off. Eager to present her "creation," she nudged the girl’s arm impatiently.

The girl straightened mechanically. Her lips parted, voice light but hollow: "Hello. I am Yuchuge."

In the audience, Piao Lele’s eyes widened. "She’s... so adorable."

Mu Yue Ran studied Yuchuge quietly. The sorrow pooling in the girl’s eyes made her look away.

"Yes," she murmured. "Like a doll."