October in Moscow was nothing like home—nighttime temperatures hovered near freezing, the polar opposite of Jingjiang City where people practically lived in air-conditioned rooms year-round.

A chilly evening breeze swept in from nowhere. Even though Anna had already bundled Jiang Fan in winter clothes, he still shivered.

He tightened his scarf against the wind. His talk with Ning Qian hadn’t gone well. He’d seen the guilt in her eyes, but at this point, it meant nothing.

If he hadn’t been reincarnated, he might have demanded why she abandoned him just now.

But now…

Whatever.

The knot in his heart had finally unraveled. It wasn’t a perfect resolution, but the weight was gone. Still, Jiang Fan couldn’t help feeling a pang of regret—if he’d ruined things with his mother, his path to seek refuge with Anna seemed blocked. Would she still take him in? He suspected her bringing him here wasn’t just for a reunion. Those welcoming rituals earlier… they’d been pointless otherwise. With family harmony already fractured, he doubted anyone would bring home a walking source of conflict.

*Where to now…*

Jiang Fan trudged forward aimlessly, shoving his hands deep into his coat pockets for warmth.

"Done talking already?"

A cool voice cut through the silence beside him.

He turned. Mu Yuli leaned against a wall, eyes closed, resting. Over her black gown, she wore an oversized suit jacket—clearly borrowed from Ye Lan, who stood nearby in just a white shirt.

"Yeah. Had a lot to say, but none of it came out. Just small talk. You though—why skip the private room to freeze out here? Soul-searching?" Jiang Fan’s mood was sour. He didn’t have the energy to deal with Mu Yuli’s lingering resentment. He was just… tired.

"My life’s already mapped out. Unlike some who crumble at the first setback." Mu Yuli opened her eyes, catching the "don’t bother me" written all over his face. Her eyebrow arched. She straightened up, shrugged off the jacket, and tossed it back to Ye Lan. Her bare arms gleamed under the streetlights—Jiang Fan winced just looking at them.

"What’s this? Wearing *that* in this weather? Are you five?" he snapped.

Mu Yuli ignored him. She stepped forward, yanked down his coat zipper, and pressed herself against him before he could react.

"Much better." His body radiated heat like a furnace, melting the chill from her skin. She slipped her arms inside his coat, wrapped them around his waist, and nuzzled his chest. When a draft hit her back, she tilted her head up. "Hold tighter. Wind’s getting in."

"Wear proper clothes if you’re cold! You’re freezing like an ice block—" He grumbled, but obediently gathered the coat’s hem and pulled her closer.

Warmth flooded Mu Yuli. She melted against him like sinking into a cozy bed, a faint smile blooming on her lips.

"Smiling? Your top half’s warm, but what about your legs? This isn’t home—don’t you know cold starts from the feet?" Jiang Fan scolded like a fussy parent. Mu Yuli just glanced at him, then settled back with a cat-like contentment, silent.

*Something’s off.*

*Why’s she so docile today?*

Jiang Fan frowned. With Mu Yuli, compliance always meant an ulterior motive—never simple affection. Let your guard down, and she’d devour you whole. He stayed alert, scanning the shadows. Only Ye Lan watched them warmly; no one else lurked nearby.

*Paranoid?*

He didn’t think so.

Minutes passed. Then—a crisp *click*. High heels on pavement. Unmistakable.

He glanced down. Mu Yuli’s smile had widened.

*Anna was there just now…*

*Staking her claim right under Anna’s nose. Still as possessive as ever.*

*Killing with a smile.*

But why had Anna come out? To keep him? Or cut ties?

His heart sank. Honestly, he didn’t want to live with them. That woman—his mother—was still a stranger. He hated forced intimacy.

*Guess I can’t escape fate that easily.*

*Unless I tame Mu Yuli… I’ll never get the life I want.*

The thought lifted his spirits. *Huh. Actually happy about crawling back into a cage. How pathetic.*

"Hey. She’s gone. How long are you planning to cling on?"

…No reply.

He looked down. Mu Yuli had fallen asleep against his chest, breathing slow and even.

*She can sleep like this?*

Ye Lan moved to carry her to the car, but Jiang Fan shook his head. Careful not to wake her, he shrugged off his coat, wrapped it around Mu Yuli, and scooped her up.

…

*Might need to remind her to eat more meat later.*