After hearing Lu Yunze’s self-deprecating words, Jiang Sui’s expression suddenly shifted.
“Little sir, what did you just say?”
“I said my abilities aren’t all that reliable. I’ve always depended on the help of others.”
“No, I mean—I’m talking about something else entirely.”
“…”
Lu Yunze noticed that her expression had become stiff, with a faint hint of jealousy and supplication.
“You said you’ve been helped by someone since you were a child. Does that mean, when you were young, there was a girl who helped you out a lot?”
So that’s what she was concerned about.
Since he’d never shared this little secret with anyone, Lu Yunze spent some time searching for the right words.
The first girl Lu Yunze ever met in his life was when he was still just a child. Back then, his family had not yet been destroyed by a certain accident, and he was still a young master living a carefree life.
Lu Yunze could still remember the scene where he met that girl. Even now, when he thought back on it, he felt a bit nervous.
At that time, he was far more mischievous than he was now—not only did he love to run outside and play, he also enjoyed trying out dangerous games.
Not far from the Lu Family residence, there was a Park with several Artificial Hills. Lu Yunze’s favorite pastime was climbing those hills.
At first, he always made it to the top smoothly and climbed back down. Then, as fate would have it, things eventually went awry.
That time, Lu Yunze had only climbed halfway up. Before he could steady his grip, the rock he’d been relying on as a foothold broke loose. He slid straight down the Artificial Hill, landing hard on his backside.
He couldn’t remember exactly how painful it was, but since there were no adults around, he could only sit there and cry by himself.
And then, that person appeared. Even after all these years, Lu Yunze could no longer recall her face clearly, but she was the only one willing to come over and comfort him at that moment.
That girl was gentle. Not only did she buy him a Band-Aid, she even bought him a Drink. In no time at all, she won Lu Yunze’s heart and quickly became his friend.
“So something like that happened…”
Jiang Sui propped her chin up and muttered softly.
“Does Young Master remember any more details about her?”
“You’re asking me? I really don’t know,” Lu Yunze scratched his head. “We barely met a few times back then. I was too busy playing and never even asked her name.”
Jiang Sui hadn’t expected Lu Yunze to have such a past, and felt like she suddenly had another invisible rival.
“The girl you mentioned… could she actually be someone from the Luo Family?”
“You think so too?” Lu Yunze paused. “But I can’t say for sure.”
“I see…”
Well, that’s fine. If it really was someone else, things could get a bit complicated.
But if it wasn’t Luo Yu, then did Lu Yunze’s White Moonlight not refer to just one person? How interesting.
“…”
Lu Yunze suddenly remembered something. “I gave you that Protective Amulet, right?”
“Ah… I lost it.” Jiang Sui stuck out her tongue, a little sheepish.
“…”
Lu Yunze’s eyes widened.
“I’m sorry, Young Master. Maybe it was because I left too quickly after I fell that time, so—”
Jiang Sui was still trying to explain when Lu Yunze sighed.
“It’s fine if you lost it. As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters. Maybe it sacrificed itself to save you.”
“That necklace couldn’t be…”
“It was given to me by that girl—as a sort of keepsake,” Lu Yunze rubbed his nose. “But so many years have passed without any news. She might have died a long time ago. I just hope she’s still alive somewhere out there.”
He thought that friendship would last a long time. But then his Ancestral Home suffered the Calamity of Lingluo, his family was destroyed, and he wandered the streets until he was taken in by the Luo Family. He never saw that girl again.
“Since I can’t see her anymore, there’s no point keeping the necklace.”
Lu Yunze’s words sounded like he’d moved on, but inside, his sorrow only deepened.
“Young Master, please accept my condolences.” Jiang Sui’s words of comfort were nearly overflowing.
They say only a dead White Moonlight is the best kind of White Moonlight. Jiang Sui finally understood the meaning behind those words.
But compared to a dead rival, she felt that a living, constant companion was far more important.
As for the necklace…
Jiang Sui subconsciously touched her collar, thinking she’d deal with this matter later—there were more pressing things at the moment.
The negative aura radiating from Lu Yunze was almost unprecedented. She had to do something.
“Young Master, did you forget something?”
“…Huh? Did I?”
Just as Lu Yunze lifted his head, he saw the little maid actively moving closer to him.
“Do you remember the agreement we made before?”
“Of course I remember. See? I’m still alive and well…”
Halfway through the sentence, Lu Yunze shut his mouth, finally catching on to what Jiang Sui meant.
Jiang Sui’s smile grew even brighter, as if she couldn’t stand his silly, chicken-like daze. She grabbed his wrist herself.
“So that’s it. I get it now.”
Lu Yunze exhaled a deep breath.
“Do you know the story of the great adventurer Bai Li Bai Si?”
“Uh…”
“It’s fine if you don’t. Let me tell you a story.”
The protagonist of this story is Bai Li Bai Si’s good friend: Lu Ke Polo.
Like Bai Li Bai Si, Lu Ke Polo was a great adventurer. Early on, he heard a certain rumor.
Sitting in a car traveling at sixty kilometers per hour, with his hand out the window, he felt a strange sensation.
As an adventurer, Lu Ke Polo took things seriously and personally experienced it himself.
Hmm… The feeling of wind blowing on his hand was indeed very pleasant.
But that wasn’t enough, because the wind would always slip between his fingers, bringing a sense of loss that couldn’t be grasped. And in that wind was always a hint of foreignness, as if something was always brushing against his hand.
That kind of experience never satisfied Lu Ke Polo’s curiosity and thirst for excitement.
After finishing the experiment that day, Lu Ke Polo noted the experience in his journal and set off on a new journey.
Both sweet and bitter, both joyful and regretful.
Story finished, Jiang Sui opened her eyes, her cheeks flushed as she relaxed. Lu Yunze quietly pulled his hand away.
“Riding in a car at sixty kilometers per hour, Young Master really is the type to be so poetic.” Even though she wasn’t really looking at him, her smile had already become a little strange, as if her previous reactions had all been an act.
“Um, well…” Lu Yunze still had some doubts. “But I still have a question.”
“Please, ask away, Young Master.”
“Your outfit today… Was it specially prepared for me?”
“Young Master is so clever! I did prepare it just for you. Do you like it?” Jiang Sui stuck out her tongue mischievously, like a child caught playing dress-up.
“You…” Lu Yunze didn’t even know what to say to her anymore. No wonder, in Lu Ke Polo’s story, there was always a sense of foreignness in the wind brushing against his hand.
After confirming this, as he thought back to what just happened, his mood improved even more.
“As long as Young Master is happy, it’s all worth it.”
Jiang Sui put her hands behind her back.
“If you ever feel sad again, Young Master, you can always come to me.”
“…”
“And whether you get a reward or not depends on your performance, Young Master!”
“So this is part of the game too, right?”
Jiang Sui just smiled, saying nothing, and walked off the balcony first.
As for Lu Yunze, after standing on the balcony for a while, he finally calmed down.
Still the same as always—she always did things that made his head hurt.
But he had to admit, it really worked. The gloom in Lu Yunze’s heart dissipated quite a bit.
After thinking it over carefully, he muttered to himself,
“If it weren’t for that smile, it really wouldn’t be so bad.”
Only when they’re big does it feel right.
In the entire Manor, only Jiang Sui was willing to indulge his unreasonable demands.
Regaining his confidence, Lu Yunze thought about the missing Weapon again.
“I wonder if that Heavy Sword really disappeared?”
He’d obtained that sword when fighting alongside the Hidden One. It had felt great in his hand. After returning to the Manor, he wanted to look for it, but could never find it.
He’d asked the Execution Division and the Police Station, but neither reported finding any Weapon at the scene.
“Did one of the followers take it away?”
If a companion had taken it, that would be fine—maybe it could be returned. But if it really vanished, Lu Yunze would be upset.
It was so hard to get his hands on a weapon that suited him, and he hadn’t enjoyed it nearly enough.
Lu Yunze raised his hand, trying to recreate the scene from that time.
If I remember right, it went like this…
The next moment, a beam of light burst forth from his palm, condensing into a familiar form.
Clang!
The sword blade stuck into the ground, embedding itself in the balcony floor.
Lu Yunze was stunned, then let out a shout.
It actually worked!
So, it seemed, the battle that nearly destroyed the Manor really did come with a generous reward.
He stood up and picked up the sword, holding it before him.
Feeling the weight in his hand, Lu Yunze’s expression grew serious.
The sense of helplessness at not being able to protect those around him gradually faded away.
At the same time, in another room of the Manor—
After returning, Jiang Sui lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling in a daze.
Thinking back to Lu Yunze’s expression just now, she couldn’t help but mutter,
“Wasn’t that beautiful!”
Lu Yunze only pulls himself together for my sake, and only loses control for me—those are things that only I can do for him.
How could I possibly let that go?!
The more outstanding someone is, the easier it is to want to control them.
Lu Yunze would definitely want to come back for more—after all, that was the reward I gave him.
He must want it, right?
Is it really that nice?
Once that question popped up in her mind, Jiang Sui’s thoughts rippled like water.
She seemed to see Lu Yunze kneeling before her, begging for a reward.
Just imagining it made Jiang Sui’s heart race.
Her cheeks were even redder than when she rewarded Lu Yunze earlier, and her breathing quickened.
So much anticipation—she wanted it so badly! When would it finally become reality?
Having the male lead under my control—how delightful!
“…Ah, this is just too much.”