Chapter 8
Chapter 8
After Yu Huan, who in Yu Lingling’s eyes was softhearted and frail, finished watering the vegetables, a tiny, pendant-like sickle suddenly appeared in his palm. It was delicate and exquisite, yet it radiated an ominous air.
Yu Huan merely glanced at it before closing his hand. When he opened it again, his palm was empty.
Outside the courtyard, a cat with fur as black as ink and a pair of golden eyes stared at Yu Huan – or, more precisely, at the spot where he sat.
There was no trace of the gentle smile Yu Huan always wore around Yu Lingling. His face was expressionless, his gaze mocking.
The black cat arched its back, taking up a wary stance as if ready to attack.
Despite being in a wheelchair, Yu Huan showed no fear. If anything, his expression was openly provocative.
As man and cat faced off, a delighted voice rang out.
Kneeling on the bay window seat, Yu Lingling pushed the window open and poked her head outside. “Blackie!”
The air around Yu Huan instantly became gentle and peaceful again. “Be careful, Lingling.”
The black cat shot a disdainful glance at Yu Huan and his act, then sat down and licked its paw. It was just preparing to mock him properly when it saw Yu Lingling about to climb out the window. Its fur stood on end, and it spun around and bolted.
It had absolutely no desire to keep an energetic beagle named Yu Lingling company.
The black cat fled so frantically that it nearly ran headfirst into a tree.
Yu Lingling stopped halfway through climbing out. “Huh? Why did Blackie run away?”
Yu Huan laughed at the cat inwardly, but none of it showed on his face. He turned his wheelchair toward Yu Lingling. “You can’t go outside barefoot.”
Yu Lingling glanced down at her cat-ear socks. “I’m not barefoot,” she defended herself in a small voice before muttering, “Why did Blackie run so fast? I only wanted to tell him that the big, friendly dog in my dream last night felt a lot like him.”
Anyone else might have been puzzled by her words, but Yu Huan immediately understood. The dog Yu Lingling mentioned was one she had encountered in the Horror Game, and the black cat that had just fled had also come from the Horror Game.
Yu Huan had always protected Yu Lingling, unwilling to let her come into contact with the Horror Game too early. After all, there was no such thing as morals in the Horror Game, and betrayal lurked around every corner.
If Yu Lingling was exposed to it too soon, it might lead her astray.
In Yu Huan’s eyes, his little sister was a kind, well-behaved child who did well in school. Her childhood experiences had merely left her with a few minor psychological issues.
Not that she could be blamed. Who in modern society didn’t have a few issues? People without any were the true rarity.
Yu Lingling shared a special bond with the Horror Game. Until now, Yu Huan had used his abilities to block the connection between them.
He had thought he could keep it blocked for another few years, at least until Yu Lingling turned sixteen. He never expected it to happen this soon. His sister was only thirteen.
The Horror Game truly was a shameless thing.
At the thought, darkness filled Yu Huan’s eyes, and the killing intent around him became almost impossible to suppress.
“Brother,” Yu Lingling called.
The air around Yu Huan immediately calmed. “What is it, Lingling?”
Yu Lingling had settled back onto her knees on the window seat and was leaning obediently against the windowsill. “When we go see the doctor, can we buy some flowers on the way?”
Yu Huan’s expression softened. “Are they for Doctor Song?”
“Mm-hm, mm-hm,” Yu Lingling murmured.
She hated Doctor Song. Every time he looked at her, his gaze was appraising and probing, tinged with malicious anticipation.
Before her brother adopted her, Yu Lingling had seen that kind of look far too many times.
Unfortunately, Doctor Song had never actually made a move against her, so she couldn’t find an excuse to kill him. She could only settle for more subtle methods of revenge.
The last time Yu Lingling had visited, she’d seen allergy medication on Doctor Song’s desk, though she wasn’t sure what he was allergic to.
There had been fresh flowers on the windowsill at the time, while the air had smelled of fish-fragrant eggplant. The food probably hadn’t been Doctor Song’s. Someone as image-conscious as him wouldn’t eat anything that pungent in his office, where he might be caught at any moment.
This time, she would try roses, lilies, and wild roses. She could buy him some jasmine tea as well.
Yu Huan frowned slightly. His sister really was too kind and innocent. Doctor Song was a smiling fox, yet she still wanted to give him flowers. “Then we’ll have to leave a little earlier today.”
Yu Lingling agreed and happily went to change and get ready to go out.
Yu Huan maneuvered his wheelchair back into his room. He had to find an opportunity to warn Song Fox not to take advantage of Lingling just because she was innocent.
Hugging the flowers she’d carefully selected, Yu Lingling hummed a tune as she followed behind her brother.
Doctor Song was a refined, handsome young man. When he saw Yu Lingling, he arched a brow slightly.
Her eyes crinkling with a smile, Yu Lingling held out the carefully chosen flowers and jasmine tea. “Doctor Song, I’m here for my follow-up.”
Doctor Song accepted them naturally and gestured for Yu Lingling and Yu Huan to sit on the sofa. He arranged the flowers on his desk, then immediately brewed the jasmine tea Yu Lingling had brought him. “I really like these flowers. Thank you.”
The jasmine tea’s distinctive fragrance wafted through the room, relaxing everyone who breathed it in.
Yu Lingling observed Doctor Song closely. When he showed no reaction to the pollen from any of the flowers, she mentally crossed off roses, lilies, wild roses, and jasmine. It seemed Doctor Song’s allergen wasn’t an ordinary flower after all. Could it be fish-fragrant eggplant?
Instead of sitting behind his desk, Doctor Song joined them on the sofa. His consultation room wasn’t stern and clinical like those in other departments. It had been decorated to feel warm and inviting, with plenty of green plants around the room and fresh fruit and pastries on the coffee table.
“How have you been these past few days? Have you made any new friends?”
As he spoke, Doctor Song’s fingers twitched, and a transparent thread coiled around Yu Lingling’s wrist.
Yu Lingling held her jasmine tea in both hands as though she hadn’t noticed a thing. She knew Doctor Song was asking whether she had split off any new alternate personalities. “It’s winter break, so I’ve been staying at home. I haven’t gone out to make any friends.”
Those four were her dolls, not friends or alternate personalities, so she wasn’t lying.
Through his Exclusive Skill, Doctor Song could tell for certain that Yu Lingling had spoken the truth. “Have you met anyone interesting lately, then? Or experienced anything interesting?”
“Yes.” Yu Lingling took a sip of jasmine tea. She noticed that even when she lifted her hand, she couldn’t feel the thread tugging at all. “I met some adorable pets – a black kitty and a big doggy. I also met an incredibly close-knit group of people.”
An entire village had joined forces to commit evil. If that wasn’t solidarity, what was?
Doctor Song asked curiously, “This close-knit group – can you tell me more about them?”
Yu Lingling’s eyes curved into crescents. “They’re the kind where, no matter how many misunderstandings and hardships there are, everyone ends up together for a Dumpling-Wrapping Grand Reunion.”
Doctor Song tried to decipher what she meant. “Is that from a TV drama you’ve been watching?”
Yu Lingling looked at Doctor Song. “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.”
Doctor Song’s expression suddenly turned serious. “Yu Lingling, it’s not good to lie.”
Yu Lingling felt the thread quiver ever so slightly. So that was how Doctor Song could tell when she was lying! What a sneaky adult. Back then, she’d thought he’d seen through her because she was terrible at lying. It turned out Doctor Song had been cheating all along.