"Dad... Dad."

"There's... someone."

"Just a scumbag... a bad guy."

Baiyi led Lian Ye to the end of the pitch-black, eerie corridor.

A black iron door blocked his path.

"I hope this one’s mouth isn’t too tough. Don’t wanna call anyone to torture her."

"Torture...?"

"Yeah. Spanking."

Lian Ye didn’t know what "torture" meant, so Baiyi called it spanking.

"Ouch... it hurts!"

At the word "spanking," Lian Ye unconsciously covered her tender little butt, remembering when Baiyi had disciplined her for being naughty.

"Alright... enough, dummy. Get down."

Baiyi pushed open the black door and stepped into a room flooded with white light.

Slam!

The heavy door slammed shut behind them. Lian Ye, curled tight in Baiyi’s arms, jumped down.

Only after Baiyi removed the blindfold from her eyes did she see light again.

"Where... is this?"

She stared at the small room’s stark white walls.

A magical light glowed brightly from the ceiling’s center.

In the room’s middle sat a white bed.

On it lay a beautiful girl with long white hair and a half-mask, perfectly still.

Lian Ye didn’t understand why Baiyi brought her here.

No food. No toys. No milk.

And she had to watch a pretty older sister sleep.

Lian Ye glanced back at Baiyi.

His attention had long left her. His dark eyes locked onto the girl on the bed, unblinking.

The gentle gaze he usually saved for her flickered with guilt as he looked at the girl’s face.

Seeing Baiyi so moved (as Lian Ye saw it), a scene flashed in her mind.

Scared, she ran to Baiyi, trying to push him away from this girl stealing her dad’s attention.

---- Lian Ye’s Imagination ----

"Dummy, she’ll be your mom now."

Baiyi looked at the girl beside him, his expression softer than when he looked at Lian Ye.

"Mom... mom?"

"Yeah. She’ll live with us. Say hello to your mom."

The girl looped her arm through Baiyi’s.

"Hello, Lian Ye. I’m your mom now."

She smiled warmly, stroking Lian Ye’s head.

"Let’s get along, okay?"

"Because... your dad isn’t yours alone anymore."

Not yours alone.

Not just for you.

Not anymore...

---- End of Imagination ----

"Waaah!"

Baiyi had been studying the white-haired girl, pondering her thoughts on silly Lian Ye and her resentment toward him.

Suddenly, Lian Ye’s deafening sobs erupted.

He nearly dropped his Curved Saber in fright.

"Damn it! What’re you doing, dummy? Why cry out of nowhere?"

Baiyi stared at Lian Ye clinging to his thigh, pressing against him, her face tear-streaked like a kitten’s.

His brain short-circuited. He had no clue what happened.

He’d just let her play by the bed while he thought.

Instead, she ran back sobbing and clinging.

"Dad... Dad."

"Lian... Ye. Don’t... want. Mom... mom."

"Wah... wah."

Huh?

Mom?

What the hell? I don’t get this dummy’s thoughts.

What mom?

Where’d this mom come from? It’s just a sleeping person. How’s she your mom?

What nonsense is in your head?

"No mom exists. Stop imagining things. Besides, why cry? You always wanted a mom before."

Baiyi recalled how Lian Ye used to rush at any busty woman, calling her "mom."

That desperate look—as if she’d die without milk.

"No... want!"

"Dad... Dad. Mine...!"

"Not... mom’s!"

No! No!

Don’t want it!

Mom steals Dad!

Dad won’t want Lian Ye!

So, mom = bad person!

Mom = other girl!

So, other girl = bad person!

"Yours, mine—whatever. Just stay put, dummy. Stop fussing."

Baiyi had no idea what filled Lian Ye’s head. He figured she was just mad from no toys or food.

Fine. He’d soothe her.

"Dad... Dad. Mine...!"

"Mine...!"

Lian Ye stood by his feet, tugging his pants.

Tears shimmered in her eyes, her expression dead serious.

Baiyi sighed helplessly, gently stroking her head to calm her.

"Alright, alright. I’m yours. All yours. Relax. Stop this."

Seriously, this dummy always acts up for no reason.