Chapter 68: Help Me Wash the Dishes  

“…You’re not joking, are you?”  

“No, I’m dead serious.”  

Su Mu locked eyes with Ye Wanqing’s hazy crimson gaze for half a second before a relieved smile broke across her face.  

The moment this girl mentioned “good news,” I should’ve been on guard.  

“No rush, let’s play a few more rounds first, yeah?”  

“Uh, well, it’s getting pretty late, so…”  

Ye Wanqing sensed the sudden chill radiating from Su Mu’s side, and her heart sank with a twinge of dread.

She scrambled for an excuse to bolt, but Su Mu’s grip clamped onto her wrist, her voice dripping with a sinister edge:  

“The winner doesn’t get to run. Otherwise, I won’t sleep a wink tonight.”  

Ye Wanqing held her breath, tension coiling in her chest, and gave a reluctant nod.  

She knew Su Mu was going easy on her.

Despite Su Mu’s convincing act, Ye Wanqing was painfully aware of just how terrible she was at this game.  

The only reason she’d brought this game—her weakest one—tonight was to bait Su Mu with the promise of a key, to trick her into letting Ye Wanqing have her fun.  

Heh, it was pretty thrilling, but the tables were about to turn.  

In the next few rounds, Ye Wanqing barely moved a muscle.

Su Mu dominated her, grinding her into the virtual dust.

All she could do was drop the controller and stare blankly—first at the window, only to remember they were underground with no windows to speak of.

So, her gaze settled on the glaring “KO” icon flashing across the screen.  

This isn’t just defeat—it’s torture.  

“Pfft, how about a draw?”  

“No way in hell.”  

Little Mu, you’re not the gentle soul I once knew.  

“I could, you know, help tidy up the place. But about the rent…”  

“Nope. I still remember the disaster you made of my room last time.”  

Scattered potato chips, a folding bed drowning in soda cans, and clothes flung about with reckless abandon.  

You, a chaotic gremlin, doing housework?

I’d be lucky if you didn’t make things worse.  

“Honestly, I’m super reserved at the dorm. I’ve got a pristine image to uphold in front of others, so I’m actually really good at keeping things clean.”  

“Then at least treat me like one of those ‘others’…”  

“Does Little Mu not like this vibe?”  

Ye Wanqing’s sudden question froze the air around Su Mu’s exasperated heart.  

Come to think of it, I’ve almost forgotten how we got so close, so unguarded with each other.  

No boundaries, just the two of them, sprawled across the couch day after day, sinking into a comfortable rhythm of shared moments.  

Ye Wanqing was her first close friend, the first reader to nag her for updates, and perhaps the only person—man or woman—who’d ever boldly suggested they live together.  

“Hey, hold on, I need to think this over.”  

“Fine, but agree soon, okay? I’m about to get kicked out of my place.”  

Ye Wanqing’s voice carried a hint of disappointment.  

But at least Su Mu hadn’t flat-out refused.

The rent situation was looking up!  

It’s not that Ye Wanqing was broke—far from it.

She just had a knack for burning through money like it was kindling.  

And her appetite?

Let’s just say it fueled a rather… impressive figure.  

Su Mu’s lips twitched.

This girl’s dreaming big.  

Still, her own budget for rent was comfortably padded.

She could just toss the lease agreement to her dad and call it a day.  

No need to pinch pennies for him.  

But first, she’d let Ye Wanqing stew for a few days.  

***

“What’s with you these past few days? You’re acting weird.”  

Luo Jialan’s brows arched, one high, one low, as she studied Su Mu’s distracted expression.  

This little squirrel’s been sneaking glances at her all the time lately.  

“Nothing’s up.”  

Su Mu’s words were casual, but she was indeed keeping an eye on Luo Jialan.  

She hadn’t figured out how to bring up those fragmented memories about Luo Linglan.  

It wasn’t that they were unspeakable, just… scattered.

Bits and pieces, nothing substantial.  

At most, she could piece together the origin of that scar.

But useful information?

Luo Jialan wasn’t even around back then.  

Would she even care about that woman’s past?  

Dwelling on it would only stir up trouble.

Better to dig for more intel from Ning Ling instead.  

“No, you’re definitely hiding something…” Luo Jialan started, then caught herself.  

No, I can’t be like her.

Su Mu has her secrets.

She’ll share when she’s ready.  

Lately, possessive thoughts had been creeping into Luo Jialan’s mind, only to be swiftly smothered.  

Otherwise, she’d lose control again, like that time she inexplicably pinned Su Mu down.  

“I’m starving. Let’s hit the hotpot place.”  

The last of her orange soda was gone, and as her energy returned, Su Mu’s stomach growled in protest.  

Perfect chance to swing by Ning Ling’s place and see if she could pry out some answers.  

“Cool.”  

A moment later:  

“My boss isn’t here, so no freebies.”  

Ning Ling’s voice was calm, unyielding, not budging an inch.  

“Come on, at least give us a discount!”  

“No can do. This is already the lowest price. Any cheaper, and I won’t cover the rent.”  

A blatant lie.

Ning Ling’s prices were steep compared to the competition—her dishes were infused with a touch of magic, after all.  

You wouldn’t find that in a five-star restaurant.  

Su Mu’s lips curled into a wry smirk.

What a shady character.  

But according to Tang Nai, this one was hiding something big.  

The other test subjects were powered by Luo Linglan’s core, split into pieces.

So where was Ning Xi’s core?  

That question deserved some digging.  

The problem was, Ning Ling’s lips were sealed tighter than a vault.

Ask anything remotely related, and she’d play deaf.

Infuriating.  

“No way. I’m getting this meal for free today.”  

After some thought, Su Mu dialed Tang Nai’s number.  

The line buzzed with a busy tone, followed by a message:  

[“Playing a game. Don’t bug me. Want a hotpot? Pay for it yourself.”]  

How the hell does she know what I’m up to?  

A moment later, another message popped up:  

[“Try dropping the intel you just got. She might bite.”]  

Drop it?

How?  

Su Mu frowned, puzzled.

Mentioning Luo Linglan would only make Ning Ling clam up.  

“Just tell her Tang Nai’s theory. I’ll eavesdrop on her thoughts.”  

Irina’s voice cut in, unexpected as ever.  

You can eavesdrop on people’s thoughts?  

“When their emotions waver, I can catch a glimpse. If what you say rattles her, I’ll sense it.”  

Irina’s confidence gave Su Mu a spark of hope.

She cleared her throat.  

“Tang Nai told me that in some experiment, Luo Linglan’s core was split into six pieces, stuffed into subjects one through six. But Ning Xi’s core? No trace. Know anything about that?”  

Ning Ling froze for a split second, and even Luo Jialan blinked, caught off guard.  

Talk about a sudden pivot.  

Luo Jialan’s eyes narrowed, realization dawning.

Su Mu must’ve slipped into Ning Xi’s dream a few days ago—that’s why she’s been so off.

And she didn’t even tell me?

Luo Jialan crossed her arms, fuming.  

As expected, Ning Ling went silent.  

“She’s about to tell the truth!”  

Irina’s voice rang in Su Mu’s mind, snapping her to full alert.  

“You’re saying all this to get a free meal? Not happening—unless you help me wash the dishes.”