The Citrus City police weren’t slackers—the city’s low crime rate wasn’t just ink on paper.

Though surveillance was sparse in the villa district where Lulu Lu lived, the surrounding main roads were well-monitored.

Reviewing that footage and screening everyone who entered or exited during the timeframe made it clear: Lily Liu never left the area.

Next, they narrowed the scope for a closer check.

In the end, only one place remained plausible—Lulu Lu’s own villa.

Per the Citrus City PD’s unwritten rule, a search warrant for the villa district required concrete evidence of crucial clues inside—guaranteeing results.

After all, the district housed many elites, including Lulu’s older sister Yanyan Lu, who held considerable influence in this otherworldly society.

A fruitless search here would carry severe consequences.

In the Baihe Republic, police existed not to serve the public like on Earth’s China, but to protect capital and capitalists. Even Citrus City—a model municipality with low crime and high clearance rates—couldn’t escape that truth.

So unless certainty was absolute or all other options exhausted, officers wouldn’t wield a search against villa residents.

That’s why Lulu enjoyed three peaceful days. The diligent officers hadn’t forgotten Lily’s disappearance—they were working around the clock, scouring footage.

Once every other possibility vanished, the warrant landed in Yanyan Lu’s hands.

Yanyan, whose research had been interrupted again, was visibly annoyed—but agreed. At noon, she yanked Lulu straight from school lunch and shoved her into the car. “You’re coming. Witness the search.”

She’d meant to teach her sister a lesson. Make her see the fallout of reckless acts.

But watching Lulu’s wide-eyed shock and trembling lips, Yanyan’s expression went unreadable.

“Hey, Lulu… have you been hiding something else from me?”

“…”

Lulu was truly cornered. Yanyan hadn’t found the basement during her own search—but the police would. No room for hope.

If even a warrant-backed search failed to find it, those cops deserved to quit.

Deny now, and Lily would be found. All her efforts—gone.

No more hiding.

In seconds, Lulu chose.

Better to gamble than wait for the reset.

Bet that her sister—*her own sister*—would still help her.

Even after outrageous crimes.

Lulu felt helpless. But Yanyan? Not powerless.

A faint glimmer remained. Slim odds beat none.

With no choice left, Lulu wielded a girl’s oldest weapon—tears. Her eyes reddened; tears pattered down.

“I’m sorry, Jiejie… I… I lied to you…”

Sobbing, she confessed everything: her deep love for Lily Liu, the planned kidnapping, the hidden basement.

Yanyan listened in silence. Sighed wearily.

Then—*slap*. A sharp, corrective strike.

*Slap!*

The crisp sound echoed. Yanyan had used full force. Stunned, tears streaming, Lulu clutched her stinging cheek, staring in confusion.

Yanyan had never hit her. Never.

“Why lie earlier?” Yanyan’s voice turned glacial. “This slap punishes your lies and recklessness. When this ends… further consequences await, Lulu.”

Lulu swallowed her fear. “Jiejie… will you tell the officers?”

Silence.

Yanyan fumbled an elegant cigarette case and vintage lighter from her purse. Lit up. Smoked, ignoring Lulu.

First time Lulu saw her sister smoke—*in front of her*.

Secondhand smoke in another world? She dared not cough… until she did.

Yanyan stubbed it out, composure restored.

“I’d love to report you. But you’re all the family I have left, you foolish girl.”

She tossed a handkerchief. “Wipe your face. Stop sniffling.”

“Mm…” Lulu obeyed.

Yanyan sighed again, exasperated. “I’ll clean your mess. Stand quietly. Say nothing. I answer unless they ask you directly—and you *know* how to answer.”

Lulu nodded. Became a silent nodding machine.

Yanyan dialed. Face hardened.

“Hello? … Yes, it’s me. … Just a favor. Urgent. Name your price. … Not making someone vanish—handle the cops. You know their chief. … *What?* Do you think I’d hide a secret lover at home? … Two million? Bold. Fine. … Stall them. Got it.”

She hung up. Lit another cigarette. Let it burn. Smoke thickened the sedan’s cabin until Lulu choked. Then stubbed it out.

“One call. Two million Baihe coins, Lulu. Price of your stunt—enough for three years at a Baihe pleasure parlor.”

Eyes fixed ahead, Yanyan started the car, voice calm.

“My dear sister… this time, you’ve truly overstepped.”

No anger. Just fact.

Yet Lulu trembled.

Her sixth sense screamed: the icy woman beside her was a powder keg, one spark from explosion.

*“When this ends… further consequences await, Lulu.”*

She swallowed hard.

A cold dread coiled deep.

When the time came… she’d pay dearly.