"Of course! I earned it myself!" Liang Sheng declared proudly, hands on her hips, chin tilted slightly upward.

Liang Wengao’s eyes welled with tears. "Boohoo… My daughter’s made us proud!"

Zhong Wen instantly snatched her phone, snapped a photo, and posted it online with a caption: "My sweet girl, you must’ve worked so hard—jumping from the bottom of the class to third place! Mom will always be proud of you!"

Liang Sheng covered her face with a sigh. *Embarrassing.* Third place in class caused this fuss? If she got third citywide, they’d probably set off crackling firecrackers, throw a three-day banquet, and invite the whole town.

"Hey, have they left yet?" Liang Sheng plopped onto the sofa, slumping into a lazy sprawl.

Zhong Wen sighed wearily, face creased with worry. Leaning close to Liang Sheng’s ear, she whispered, "Don’t even ask. They’ve stayed over a week—none mentioned leaving. How can *we* bring it up?"

*What?!* How shameless—treating this house like their own? Over ten of them… trying to eat the Liangs bankrupt before bouncing?

Just then, an uncle yawned his way out of the first-floor guest room. Spotting Liang Sheng, he grinned, yellow teeth flashing. "Oh, uh… you’re back?" (He was so distantly related—Liang Wengao’s aunt’s cousin’s cousin’s cousin—they barely shared blood. No one knew what to call him.)

"Mm. Back," Liang Sheng replied with a faint nod.

She reached for the test paper on the table, heading upstairs.

The uncle blocked her, snatching the paper. "Shengsheng, this score’s not great—only 66?"

Liang Sheng nearly choked on her rage.

"Uncle… you’re holding it upside down." She forced the words out, jaw tight with restraint.

"Oh… oh." He flipped it, squinted, then scoffed, "Ninety-nine’s still bad. My daughter scored over 110 on a 150-point math test!"

*Heh.* Liang Sheng was too drained to even be angry.

"Uncle… your daughter’s in *middle school*. And this isn’t Chinese—it’s *chemistry*! Out of 100!" She shot his yellow teeth a glare, snatched the paper, and stomped upstairs, floorboards thudding with each step.

The uncle watched her go, scowling. He muttered to Liang Wengao, "Rich girls get spoiled. You indulge her too much."

Liang Wengao’s eyes flashed. "She’s *my* daughter. I’m rich. I spoil her—so what? And you? You’re no model elder." The uncle fell silent. Freeloading under their roof left him no room to argue.

Upstairs, Liang Sheng hurled her backpack down, flopped onto the bed spread-eagle, cheeks puffed in fury.

"Ugh… if only Hua Nai were here! She’d teach them a lesson!" she yelled into the pillow.

Well. Heaven granted wishes fast.

"Ah~ Is Sheng-chan calling for me?" A figure popped through the window, half inside already. Face flushed, sweet smile glowing. Liang Sheng nearly tumbled off the bed, pale-faced, staring at the girl clinging to the sill—Hua Nai.

Trembling, she pointed. "Y-you… how?!"

"Ah!" Hua Nai shyly ducked her head. "I heard Sheng-chan’s loving call!"

"How did you *find* me?!" Pure terror gripped her.

"Hehe. Not telling."

"…"

"Sheng-chan, I’m coming in~" Hua Nai leaped lightly onto the bed, inhaled deeply, and flushed crimson. She buried her face in the sheets, sat up dizzy. "Ah~ So happy… surrounded by Sheng-chan’s scent… like your arms around me." She licked her lips suggestively.

Crawling toward the stunned Liang Sheng, she nestled against her chest, blissful smile blooming.

Only then did Liang Sheng notice the blue hospital gown. "You… got sent back to the psych ward?"

Hua Nai nodded pitifully. "I hate it there. No Sheng-chan’s scent. No warmth."

An internal war raged in Liang Sheng. *Say it or not?* She sighed, gently shook Hua Nai’s arm, face serious.

"Hua Nai, listen—"

Hua Nai beamed. "Okay! I’ll do anything Sheng-chan says! I love you most!"

"…After you return to the ward—"

"I won’t go back!" Hua Nai pouted, shaking her head fiercely. "No Sheng-chan there!"

"Shh… hear me out." Liang Sheng ruffled her hair softly.

"Okay~" Hua Nai blushed—but unlike Song An’an’s innocent flush, hers smoldered with hungry desire.

"At the ward, watch for a middle-aged couple who walk there nightly. Show them your bracelet. They’ll become your parents." Liang Sheng spoke in one breath.

Hua Nai tilted her head, eyes darting. "But… what’s in it for me?"

"You’ll have loving parents again," Liang Sheng answered without pause.

"Maa…" Hua Nai wrapped her arms around Liang Sheng’s neck, noses brushing. Voice dripping with longing: "I only need Sheng-chan. Everyone else can die." She pressed foreheads together.

*Oops. Totally trapped.* Liang Sheng’s heart sank.

"If no benefit, I won’t do it."

"There is!" Liang Sheng improvised desperately. "Do this… and you’ll attend my school. See me every day." *Selling my charm now…*

Hua Nai’s eyes lit up. "Really?!"

"Yes, yes!" Liang Sheng nodded like a pecking chick.

Hua Nai covered her burning face. "Ah~ Every day with Sheng-chan… surrounded by your scent…" A dark glint flickered. "And I’ll eliminate all trash near you."

After the fantasy, she agreed.

Standing, she gazed back wistfully. "To be your classmate soon… I’ll act now. Wait for me, Sheng-chan!"

"Okay, okay," Liang Sheng murmured, *Please leave—she’s terrifying. Feels like she’ll kill me out of love.*

But—

A flash. Liang Sheng grabbed her wrist. "Don’t go."

Hua Nai spun back, tackling her into a hug. "I *knew* Sheng-chan loves me! Can’t bear to lose me!" *No… not at all.*

Liang Sheng took a shaky breath, stroking Hua Nai’s twin tails. "Hua Nai… could you… do me a favor?"

*Regret. Asking a yandere for help? Am I begging for a woodcutter’s knife?*

"YES!" Hua Nai flushed, hand on her chest, half-kneeling on the bed. She licked her lips, fang peeking. "Please use me, Sheng-chan! Exploit me—I *love* being used by you!" She giggled behind her hand.

*Riding a yandere’s coattails feels dangerously good.*

Liang Sheng gripped Hua Nai’s wrist, whispering the plan into her ear.

———

Midnight. Liang Sheng crept downstairs with Hua Nai toward the guest room. A thunderous snore boomed from behind the door. *How do Mom and Dad sleep through this?*

"Hua Nai… just scare them. Light injury only. *Don’t kill them*," Liang Sheng whispered.

Hua Nai smiled. "Don’t worry, Sheng-chan. I won’t disappoint you." She slipped on the Killer Rabbit mask.

*Click.* Door eased open. Hua Nai vanished inside. Liang Sheng gripped the knob, peering through the crack.

Time to shine.

*Snap.* Switchblade flicked open. Hua Nai crept toward the snoring aunt and uncle.

A soft breath on the aunt’s neck. She grumbled, rolled over—straight into Hua Nai’s path. A hand clamped her throat. Gasping, thrashing, eyes bulging, limbs flailing.

Towel stuffed in her mouth. Trembling, slumped on the floor. Hands bound. A hissed threat: "Make a sound… and you die."

The aunt nodded frantically, sweat dripping.

*Creak.* Hua Nai knelt on the bed. The uncle stirred, grumbling, "Old hag, stop moving—"

His eyes flew open. Met bloodthirsty crimson. Mouth gaped for a scream.

Hand clamped over it. Blade kissed his neck. "Peep," Hua Nai whispered, "and I slit your throat."

He nodded, frozen.

"Hands on head. Squat."

He crouched in the corner like a scolded child.

Hua Nai lifted his chin with the blade. "I have a grudge with the Liangs. Leave tomorrow. Or regret it."

"B-but—"

"Hm?" A sideways glare, sharp as steel.

He crumpled. "Okay! I’ll leave tomorrow!" *Survival first. Freeloading later.*