"Hmm, hammer, screwdriver, utility knife... should I make pepper spray with chili sauce?"

"Forget it. Wasting food would disrespect the departed Niu Niu."

Hua Xin packed her trusty trio into her backpack, her eyes gleaming with triumph.

She felt...

She was going to win.

"Stabbing me in the back, huh? Spying on me for five whole years, huh?"

"Jianfu Yin Fu, get ready for my counterattack."

The girl recalled how Mu Feng had crumbled under her aura. Her flicker of fear melted into confidence, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes.

(Known: Mu Feng’s combat power: -4396. Xia Yan’s combat power: 87 million.)

She wasn’t the old Hua Xin anymore.

(Hua Xin’s combat power: 0.1)

Heh heh.

"Get ready to kneel before Lord Hua!"

Hua Xin grabbed a hair tie from a bulk pack bought for pennies. She swiftly tied her waist-length hair into a ponytail, revealing her pale neck.

She slipped off her clothes, then wrapped strips of old fabric tightly around her chest.

Uh...

Her proud curves flattened slowly.

That suffocating tightness returned. Cloth alone couldn’t hide her strength, so...

She pulled on an oversized black hoodie that swallowed her down to the thighs, sealing her figure perfectly.

That’s why Xia Yan never saw through her that night.

"Sigh..."

Hua Xin sighed softly. As Da Lei’s most devoted follower, she’d never spare a glance at anyone below C-rank strength.

But those moments were undeniably comfortable.

"A thousand cups of wine won’t make me drunk... let alone riding the wind and rain..."

She hummed happily, slipping on her new white sneakers at the doorway.

They weren’t as tough as black ones for scrapes and wear, but they were cute!

Of the 200 yuan Lao Shui sent, she’d spent only 30 on these plain shoes online. The rest went straight to her secret stash.

Hua Xin stomped her feet gleefully at the door, then spun in a full circle.

Ordinary shoes, plain white with no flair.

Yet her face glowed like she’d found treasure, eyes shimmering with joy.

"Good!"

"Full of spirit!"

Satisfied, she clipped on her mask, backpack slung, standing solemn before the door like a warrior.

"Don’t worry..."

"Prison Door."

"When I return today, you’ll see the prey in my hands."

"Today... I’ll treat everyone to real meat."

Her hand settled on the doorknob, gaze steady as she swung open the door to the world.

Today, she’d walk to school alone.

——————

"She drives her neighbor’s Toyota chasing sunsets, been to every ‘danger zone’ her parents warned about, tonight’s rapper’s her favorite, she strolls to the bar and orders a whisky sour first..."

Uncle Liu, fresh off a night shift, bobbed his head along to the tune. He took a swig of cola, watching the sunrise he’d seen for decades, then muttered:

"People nowadays just can’t wake up early..."

"What age sleeps all day?"

"Huh?"

He adjusted his reading glasses. A familiar figure caught his eye—a hoodie-clad teen with a backpack, head down, power-walking in the sweltering heat.

Uncle Liu frowned at the entrance. No motorcycle food courier today...

Had the kid recovered?

Good.

After all these years, time to step out of the shadows.

He leaned back in his chair, glasses off, a quiet warmth in his chest.

"Unreliable parents... sigh."

*Bang bang bang.*

"Uncle Liu! I’m here to relieve you. Go home—you’ve been up all night."

A property manager in uniform tapped the security room glass, smiling, then opened the door.

"Xiao Li, take this crayfish. My delivery order—still hot."

"Don’t drink."

"I’ll head out then."

"Got it, got it."

Uncle Liu peeled off his security vest, revealing a trendy tee underneath. He grabbed his foldable phone and stepped out.

His parking spot waited nearby.

He pulled out his Dami SU7 keys, slow and deliberate.

————————

(Aren’t people supposed to struggle waking up? Why’s it so crowded?)

(Don’t look at me, don’t look at me, don’t look at me...)

Hua Xin trudged forward, head down, eyes fixed on the sea of moving shoes. Her earlier bravado dissolved like mist.

With Xia Yan, she’d just zone out in the car and arrive. Not like this—slow, alone, every step heavy.

Wait!

No sharp sword? Fine. She still had sharp eyes!

She snapped her head up, locking onto a nearby stall. A rich, meaty aroma hit her nostrils.

Buns...

Baozi!!!

Her eyes lit up. The scent hooked her stomach like catnip—she’d only had one biscuit that morning.

Eat or not eat? Eat or not eat?

But it smelled so good...

Shouldn’t be too pricey. She swallowed hard, feet dragging her closer.

*Thud.*

"Blind? Watch where you’re going, loser!"

The man cursed under his breath, striding off without a glance back.

Hua Xin rubbed her throbbing shoulder.

So painful. (Tears welled up.)

She *had* been watching...

Forget it. Baozi first!

Lao Shui could cover it later.

"Hello, what’ll you have?"

"Pork, beef, lamb, Orleans-style, zucchini, egg, crayfish baozi..."

The auntie’s rapid-fire list dazed Hua Xin. She mustered courage, head ducked, voice trembling: "The... cheapest meat baozi? Which one..."

Then it hit her. A cold dread flooded her chest.

Oh no...

She hadn’t disguised her voice.

(No!!! Don’t take me away!!!)

The auntie paused at that soft, girlish tone. Her eyes flicked to Hua Xin’s worn clothes—a flash of pity—then she flipped the price sign face-down.

"Pork baozi. Only two yuan."

Huh?

Strangers wouldn’t recognize her. She could walk freely like this! No one knew her face.

Except for school, she didn’t need this disguise at all.

She crushed the thought instantly, whispering:

"One. Just one."

One minute later.

*Nom.*

Hua Xin ducked into a quiet corner, mask off, sinking her teeth into the steaming bun.

"So fragrant..."

She beamed at the juicy filling, chewing blissfully.

"Hm? This taste..." She took another bite.

Tears spilled down her cheeks.

"This... it’s her favorite beef baozi..."