The other strategists had already returned; only Bai Xiaozhi and Wu Xiaomi stayed behind.
Late at night, after locking the gate to the Witch’s Courtyard, the two girls were in the garden.
Bai Xiaozhi opened Polopolo, her fingertips scrolling through the comment section, searching for messages from the so-called “parents.”
[Found anything?] Wu Xiaomi handed a slip of paper to Bai Xiaozhi.
“Found some, but…” Bai Xiaozhi’s expression was strange, “there’s quite a lot…”
“Recently, quite a few so-called ‘insiders’ have appeared, making videos about my past and origins and posting them on Polopolo. Thanks to them, everyone now knows I have no father or mother.”
“Your situation’s the same. You must have told Lulutina about your background, right? She leaked that you’re an orphan too…”
[So that means…]
“Poor people cause trouble and no one asks; rich people in the mountains have distant relatives. In outsiders’ eyes, we’re doing relatively well, so naturally, some get greedy and try to impersonate us.”
[O]
Such a downer.
[By the way, if you really found them, what would you do?]
What would I do?
Bai Xiaozhi was silent for a moment, then threw the question back: “What about you? What would you do? Forgive them?”
[No way.]
“Then why get so worked up when you hear about them?”
[Just want to know who’s so despicable. If they didn’t want to raise us, why bother having children?]
“Maybe there’s a hidden story.”
“You think so?”
“No, I just hope so.” Bai Xiaozhi tilted her head back and looked up at the stars, her white ponytail falling to her waist. “Otherwise, even if we find them, they’ll just be two more enemies.”
“That’s true.”
The topic of parents had once been taboo between them.
On sleepless nights, they had both fantasized about what the people who abandoned them looked like and why they had made such a choice.
How they would face them if reunited.
But such imaginations were like ordinary people daydreaming about winning the lottery and what they’d do with the money.
They knew it was just a fantasy.
And would always be just a fantasy.
[What if we really were abandoned?]
That question felt heavy.
But for Bai Xiaozhi, who had thought about it countless times, she already had her answer.
“I used to envy other kids, wishing for parents like theirs, living like princesses under their protection.”
“But fate is fate. The childhood I missed is gone. Even if they came back, I could never regain that love.”
“Since they chose to abandon me, they must pay the price. They don’t care about blood ties, and I won’t either.”
【Can you really do that?】
“Yes. Over the years, my brother has taken their place. I have no regrets and don’t hope to get anything from them anymore. Likewise, they won’t get anything from me.”
That was Xiaozhi’s attitude— just like she once believed…
Wu Xiaomi had thought the same, believing she could easily sever ties.
Until she heard news about Ah Fu.
Regret started to grow uncontrollably.
She kept fantasizing: what if there was more to the story? What if abandonment wasn’t their real intention? What if…
Only now did Wu Xiaomi realize it wasn’t so simple.
The desire to fill that void was engraved deep in the soul.
Those harsh words were just to convince themselves—to live a little more carefree.
[By the way.]
Wu Xiaomi remembered her vision.
[When I took the witch’s poison, I think I saw scenes from when I was a baby.]
“Baby scenes?”
“Yeah, I saw witches, and what seemed like your mother and my mother… several people.”
“What did they look like? Why were witches there too?”
“Don’t know, couldn’t see clearly. Also, before the Friendship Association, the witch said—our parents would watch the Friendship Association, would watch us.”
“……”
“Not sure if it’s true, but I think… if Xiaozhi can’t find them, we should just live well. When we find them, help me see what they’re like.”
“Don’t say silly things. If we’re looking, we’ll go together.”
“Okay~ together then!”
Bai Xiaozhi continued scrolling through the comments.
She followed all those claiming to be relatives, saving them for future investigation.
Then one by one, she read their comments aloud to Wu Xiaomi.
Listening to them desperately trying to prove themselves, Wu Xiaomi laughed so hard she trembled, resting her head on Bai Xiaozhi’s lap.
[I think this one looks quite like, very emotional writing, not bad.]
[This one’s fake, too obvious!]
[What is this?!]
There was even someone claiming to be an uncle living in Nerrifa, asking for money transfers?!
The internet really… is full of all kinds of monsters.
She shrugged helplessly.
Searching for relatives online was really unreliable.
Just wait for news from the witches.
…
The witch hadn’t come back all night, so the two girls simply took over her big bed.
Bang bang bang—
Early the next morning, the door was knocked.
Wu Xiaomi, sprawled in an utterly ungraceful sleeping position, turned over pretending not to hear.
Bai Xiaozhi moved the girl’s foot off her face and got out of bed to open the door.
“Huang Xiao?”
“Did you receive the mission?” Huang Xiao smiled bitterly. “It’s a special mission, a pre-event livestream for the Pineapple Pineapple Award Ceremony.”
Only then did Bai Xiaozhi notice a new message in the inbox.
Opening it revealed a strategy mission notification.
[Special Event: Temporary activity, please dress up and proceed to Feisi City – Wilson Manor to participate in the Polopolo livestream event.]
“Still at Wilson Manor…”
Yesterday, the strategists had just assassinated Wilson’s butler.
To kill the butler, they had also taken out several guards; maybe the bodies were still hidden in the bushes.
And now the mission was… to walk right into the trap?
“You sensed something strange too, right?” Huang Xiao sighed. “This mission doesn’t make sense. Yesterday we killed someone at Wilson Manor, and today we’re supposed to go there… for a livestream?!”
A livestream of what? Surrendering?
“Even though we’re forced to complete the mission, in Feisi City’s Enforcement Department’s eyes, what we did is murder!” Huang Xiao paced anxiously. “The news hasn’t spread yet, so no one knows we’re the killers. But many know about this mission… the news will leak eventually. Maybe during the livestream, we’ll be arrested as criminals!”
[Unless—]
Wu Xiaomi rubbed her eyes and got out of bed, writing clumsily.
“Hm?”
[Unless we’re acting as agents of justice.]
“Good thought, but the truth is, we don’t even know what terrible crimes the butler committed.”
[Zang Gu, they’re subordinates of Zang Gu. I heard it yesterday.]
As a shining light orb, Wu Xiaomi’s attention was mostly caught by the vision, but she still heard outside voices.
“Are you sure?” Huang Xiao asked anxiously.
“Sure.”
“Great! Looks like this mission won’t have us slaughtering innocents!”
Zang Gu, that unruly malevolent spirit, had long been classified by major city-states as a “dangerous creature.”
Most city-states strictly forbade gatherings aimed at “releasing or assisting Zang Gu,” and violators were executed on sight.
“When do we leave?”
“Wait, Xiaomi and I need to wash up first.” Bai Xiaozhi glanced at the girl by the bed.
Just woken up, wearing loose clothes, unknowingly flashing spring scenery — of course, she couldn’t go out like this.
“Can I come in? After what happened yesterday, I’m a little scared.” Huang Xiao smiled awkwardly. “If there’s an assassin, I’m no fighter.”
“Of course, come in. But this is someone else’s home, don’t mess with anything.”
Because she couldn’t dress herself properly, Wu Xiaomi let others take charge.
She had no idea how she looked now.
Hmm, she must look fierce, cool, and imposing — that’s how the girl imagined it.
“There’ll be an official livestream later, so dress up seriously.” Huang Xiao kept offering advice. “Where’s your Little Fox Hairclip? You should wear it, it’s cute.”
“…Have I really been reduced to just a hair accessory?” Xiao Luobo climbed onto Wu Xiaomi’s head, burrowing into her hair, complaining angrily, “Look clearly, I’m a hairclip!!”
Oh, so that’s it.
“Let’s go. The livestream pre-event starts at ten. We should meet the other bloggers first.”
The thought of meeting a bunch of strangers nearly triggered Wu Xiaomi’s social anxiety.
At times like this, she was secretly glad she couldn’t see or speak~
Perfectly avoiding social interaction~!
“Hold my hand tight so I don’t lose you.”
Ah hm~
Holding Bai Xiaozhi’s hand, letting her lead the way.
…
Feisi City had no shortage of wealthy people, but only Wilson was rich to such an extent.
His manor sat by the coast, with a castle and gardens to the north, and a private beach to the south.
Some small kingdoms’ palaces wouldn’t be much grander.
The last time Han Nuo snuck in to assassinate, he only reached a corner of the northern gardens; most of the manor remained unexplored.
“Welcome. I will take you to the lounge.”
Fortunately, the guards didn’t recognize the light orb’s identity.
Wu Xiaomi passed through smoothly~
Led by servants, the group crossed the garden and entered the castle area.
“You three may choose rooms to stay in here at the castle. For the next few days, you’ll be residing here, participating in a game.”
A game?
Hmm… this vibe feels like a suspense drama’s snowed-in mountain lodge.
Blind guess: someone’s getting stabbed tonight.
“Don’t worry, no one’s life will be at risk. Just some lighthearted, friendship-building mini-games.”
No danger? That’s a relief.
~
While walking, Huang Xiao started the livestream.
“Hello everyone, I’m now in Feisi City, at Wilson Manor. About to attend the Pineapple Pineapple Award Ceremony.”
A competent content creator never forgot to capture the hot topics.
“These two legendary figures next to me probably need no introduction… Would you like to say hi to everyone?”
“Hello.” Bai Xiaozhi nodded coolly.
[Hello everyone~] Wu Xiaomi nervously held up a slip of paper.
“That’s backwards, the camera’s over here.”
Oh…
Supported by Bai Xiaozhi, she turned 180 degrees to face the camera.
Even more nervous, her face blushed!
“As you all see, I’m honored to team up with these two legends to complete this special mission.” Huang Xiao smiled professionally at the camera. “The gentleman who just guided us said this mission is safe. We only need to participate in some simple mini-games… right?”
Huang Xiao pointed the camera at the servant.
“That’s right. Of course, this is an important Polopolo event.”
The servant smiled slightly.
By now, the group had arrived at the lounge door.
The servant lightly knocked.
Silence inside; no reply.
So he opened the door.
Huang Xiao’s camera pointed inside.
A knife sliced across a guest’s neck.
Blood sprayed high.