At five forty-five in the afternoon, the gathering clouds once again painted the sky an unnatural, dark red.
Inside the fortress, the training room dedicated to ability user adaptation training was brightly lit.
High-lumen energy-saving lights left no shadows, flooding the spacious room and reflecting off the silver-gray alloy walls and floor.
The air was thick with the smell of sweat and a woman’s fragrance.
In the center of the training room, two figures rapidly crossed, separated, and collided.
To be precise, one figure was attacking with ease, while the other was desperately parrying and dodging.
“Too slow! Your stance is weak! Are your legs just for decoration?”
Lin Mowei’s voice was stern, and her actions were equally unforgiving.
She wasn’t even using her own abilities. Relying solely on her physical prowess and combat experience far surpassing Mu Qingqing’s, she had this temporary section chief scrambling to keep up.
Thud!
Mu Qingqing raised her arms, barely blocking a tricky side kick. The impact numbed her arm, forcing her back several steps to dissipate the force.
She gasped for air, the bangs on her forehead soaked with sweat and plastered to her skin. Her training tank top was drenched, clinging tightly to her body.
“Se-section Chief… I… I really can’t go on…” Mu Qingqing wailed, feeling like her bones were about to fall apart.
Her mind was still a bit foggy, unable to comprehend how things had escalated to this point.
An hour ago, when Lin Mowei whispered those words in her ear, a chill shot from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head, her blood nearly freezing.
Just as she thought this former superior was going to “educate” her in some terrifying way, Lin Mowei instead continued with extreme gentleness, urging her to tell everything she knew.
Mu Qingqing had no choice. The other party was at her doorstep and had uttered the key phrase. Stubbornly refusing would have unimaginable consequences.
After listening to everything she said, Lin Mowei fell silent for a moment, then called her to the training room.
And so began Mu Qingqing’s one-sided ordeal.
Lin Mowei seemed to treat her like a human punching bag, using various basic yet highly effective close-quarters combat techniques to give her a comprehensive “tempering.”
With every collision, every time she was thrown to the ground, Mu Qingqing could see a flicker in those seemingly calm, placid eyes…
Well, probably the satisfaction of “settling a personal score under the guise of duty”?
“Get up,” Lin Mowei frowned slightly, speaking softly. “We’re just getting started. The main assault is imminent. As the field commander, is this all you’ve got?”
Mu Qingqing grimaced as she got up, rubbing her sore shoulder and muttering under her breath, “But we have the Hunter Squad… and you, Section Chief…”
“I’m not participating in the assault,” Lin Mowei stated flatly. “Regulations-wise, I’m currently suspended. It’s not appropriate for me to directly intervene in such an operation.”
Mu Qingqing was taken aback, looking up at her.
Under the lights, Lin Mowei’s beautiful face was flushed a lovely pink from the exercise, a few strands of hair stuck to her sweaty neck. Her gaze was clear and sharp.
“Section Chief… you’re… not coming back?” Hearing this, Mu Qingqing felt an emptiness in her heart.
Even though the training was brutal, she had to admit that with Lin Mowei around, the anxiety and unease about attacking the Black Tower truly lessened.
This former superior’s strength and reliability had been proven through countless bloody battles.
Lin Mowei didn’t answer immediately.
She walked to the wall, picked up a water bottle, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip, her Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.
Sweat trickled down her graceful neck and disappeared into her collar.
Huff… “It’s against regulations,” she put the bottle down, her voice devoid of inflection.
“…”
Mu Qingqing fell silent.
Regulations?
Since when was this former section chief someone who followed rules so meticulously?
If she truly adhered to “regulations” that much, then she wouldn’t have…
Thinking this, Mu Qingqing didn’t dare voice it aloud.
She vaguely felt that while the section chief said this, her coming here tonight specifically to “train” her might itself be a kind of statement.
She couldn’t let go of this place, couldn’t let go of the impending battle.
In truth, Lin Mowei’s thoughts were indeed complex at the moment.
Part of it was exactly what Mu Qingqing vaguely sensed—she couldn’t completely ignore the situation in Huanxing Town or the operation against the Black Tower.
Training Mu Qingqing and improving her subordinate’s strength did have that consideration.
But another part…
Well, watching Mu Qingqing collapse on the ground, grimacing in pain…
The anger in Lin Mowei’s heart had indeed dissipated quite a bit.
This girl, she can’t keep a secret! And for something this important, you knew and didn’t tell me! Are we still good sisters?
This was a kind of… alternative retaliation!
“Alright, that’s enough for today,” Lin Mowei checked the time and turned to look at her. “Go back and rest properly. Review your shortcomings from just now. Also…”
“Hmm?” Mu Qingqing blinked.
“The operational plan is quite good, very suitable for the current situation.”
Mu Qingqing’s eyes slowly widened, a smile unconsciously curving her lips. ‘Is the section chief… praising me?’
Being affirmed by someone she admired was a huge encouragement in itself. Mu Qingqing suddenly felt she could endure a bit more training.
Lin Mowei also showed a faint smile. “That’s it. I’m leaving.”
With that, she turned and left the training room.
—
By the time she returned to the resort, the sky had completely darkened.
Inside, lights were just coming on. In stark contrast to the cold, hard severity of the fortress area, it exuded a deliberately crafted atmosphere of relaxation.
Lin Mowei didn’t head straight to her own room. Instead, she went directly to the guest room where her brother was staying.
She was worried about her brother, and also about… that little girl who was always clinging to him, though in a different way.
Arriving at the door, she took a deep breath, steadying her slightly rapid breathing from the journey and the earlier training, and gently pushed the door.
It didn’t open. But this was no obstacle for her. As a powerful ability user, couldn’t she get a spare key?
Ridiculous…
Pushing the door open, the room was quiet, the lighting dim.
She lightened her footsteps and walked inside.
Then, she saw…
Under the dim bedside lamp, her brother Lin Yu lay flat on the bed, eyes closed.
And beside him, Xia Yanran was curled on her side, one arm wrapped around Lin Yu’s waist, her head nestled against the crook of his shoulder.
The girl was wearing extremely revealing denim shorts and a crop top. Her slender waist and thighs were particularly eye-catching in the hazy light, especially those legs encased in white stockings, intimately pressed against Lin Yu’s calves.
In an instant, Lin Mowei felt blood rush to her head, her temples throbbing, a buzzing sound filling her ears.
A violent, savage impulse surged in her chest, wanting to immediately rush over and throw that shameless, audacious little bitch off her brother!
‘I knew it! I just knew it!’
Her fingers clenched tightly, nails digging deep into her palms, sending a sharp sting of pain.
This pain forcibly pulled back a shred of her nearly失控的理智.
‘No… I can’t lose it here.’
‘It would scare Xiaoyu, and make things irreparable.’
She forced herself to stand still, her eyes fixed on the figures on the bed.
Taking several deep, long breaths, her chest heaving a few times, she barely managed to suppress the surging fury and bitterness, transforming it into another emotion.
“Ahem,” she cleared her throat softly.
The two on the bed weren’t deeply asleep and woke up.
Lin Yu woke first, opening his eyes blearily. Seeing his sister standing by the bed, he was clearly taken aback.
Xia Yanran also woke up, rubbing her eyes and sitting up. The moment she saw Lin Mowei, sleepiness on her face was instantly replaced by panic.
Especially noticing her current attire and Lin Mowei’s unreadable expression, her cheeks flushed bright red.
“L-Lin Sis…” She flusteredly tried to pull the blanket over herself, then thought better of it, freezing in place.
Lin Mowei’s gaze first swept over Lin Yu. Seeing his clothes were relatively intact and his expression normal, she relaxed slightly.
Her eyes turned to Xia Yanran. Her tone was calm, even gentle, yet carried a critical, almost parental note.
“Yanran, you’re up? Get ready, it’s time for dinner.”
Xia Yanran nodded hurriedly. “O-okay, Lin Sis.”
Then, Lin Mowei deliberately let her gaze linger on the girl’s overly revealing outfit, frowning slightly. She spoke in a tone that sounded like an offhand reminder, yet carried a hint of disapproval.
“Oh, and go change your clothes. That outfit… is fine for wearing at home, but we’re going out to eat soon. With people coming and going, it wouldn’t look good if others saw.”
“Ahem, it’s better for a girl to be more proper.” These words tasted different to different ears.
Lin Yu heard the icy displeasure in his sister’s tone,极力压抑 but still leaking through. He looked up at her.
He noticed that while she wore a smile, there was no warmth in the depths of her eyes, and the corners of her lips were drawn tight.
This made his heart sink. He knew his sister was angry, and very angry at that.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to smooth things over for Xia Yanran, but for a moment, he didn’t know where to start.
To Xia Yanran, who was already feeling guilty and shy, these words sounded like perfectly reasonable advice.
‘Ah! I was only thinking about wearing this for Lin Yu, completely forgetting we were going out to eat!’
‘This outfit really is… too revealing. Lin Sis is so thoughtful and considerate.’
Thinking this, she felt even more ashamed, her face burning hot. “Lin Sis is right! I-I’ll go change right now. This really isn’t suitable for going out.” With that, she immediately jumped off the bed, hastily smoothing her hair and clothes.
Not daring to look at Lin Yu or Lin Mowei again, she kept her head down, slipped past Lin Mowei, and ran out of the room.
The door closed softly.
Now, only the siblings remained in the room. The air instantly grew somewhat stifling.
The moment Xia Yanran left, the mask of gentleness Lin Mowei had maintained instantly crumbled.
She strode to the bedside and eagerly sat down in the spot Xia Yanran had just vacated, right next to Lin Yu.
“Xiaoyu,” she reached out, her movements carrying an urgent, inspecting quality. She touched his forehead, smoothed his hair, her fingers brushing over his slightly open collar, as if confirming something.
“Are you okay? She… she didn’t do anything to you, did she? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
Her voice held a trace of panic, speaking quickly, thick with worry, lingering fear, and a heavy dose of jealousy.
Lin Yu felt somewhat uncomfortable with her series of actions and questions, instinctively shifting back a little.
“Sis, I’m fine. Yanran just… just came over for a while. She didn’t do anything.”
“Came over for a while?” Lin Mowei’s pitch rose slightly. “Does ‘for a while’ require dressing like that? Does it require lying on the same bed? And… and holding you?”
The more she spoke, the angrier she got. Her fingers unconsciously grabbed a corner of Lin Yu’s clothes, twisting it tightly.
“Xiaoyu, listen. You’re a boy. When you’re out, you need to know how to protect yourself, to be more reserved! Just look at what you two were doing earlier! You’re not boyfriend and girlfriend yet, let alone married! If later… later you get married, are you going to… right in front of your sister too…”
She seemed to find this too shameful to continue and abruptly stopped.
But her cheeks were flushed an abnormal red from agitation and some indescribable emotion.
Let’s just say, she had seen such a scene before. It wasn’t something she had imagined out of thin air.
Lin Yu was left dumbfounded by her sharp words and bizarre logic, taking a moment to find his voice again.
He smiled somewhat helplessly. “Sis, what are you talking about? We really didn’t do anything. She was just feeling down, I comforted her a bit, and then we accidentally fell asleep.”
He tried to explain, but seeing his sister’s still tense expression and those eyes that seemed to want to see right through him, he knew the explanation was rather ineffective.
He changed the subject. “Sis, why are you back so late? Did you finish your business?”
Lin Mowei seemed to realize she had lost her composure a bit earlier.
She released the grip on Lin Yu’s clothes and instead gently straightened his collar. Her movements regained their usual gentleness, but the shadow in her eyes hadn’t completely dispersed.
“Mhm, had some things to take care of,” she replied vaguely, her gaze lingering on her brother’s face as if to confirm he was truly unharmed. “Hungry? Come on, Sis will take you to dinner.”
She stood up, pulling Lin Yu up from the bed with her.
In her heart, she was ten thousand times unwilling to share this dinner with anyone else, especially not wanting to see Xia Yanran, who had just gotten off her brother’s bed.
But they had already run into each other, and Qin Wuyue was here too. For the sake of courtesy and reason, not inviting the mother and daughter would instead make her seem problematic.
She could monopolize her brother, but she couldn’t be too obvious about it, especially in front of these “potential threats.”
This was the “disguise” and “restraint” she had slowly learned after her rebirth.
“Let’s invite Aunt Qin and Yanran along,” Lin Mowei tried to make her tone sound natural and casual. “After all, we’ve already run into them.”
Lin Yu glanced at his sister and nodded. “Okay.”
‘Could it be… was Sis really angry about that earlier?’
He couldn’t figure it out, but after thinking it over, it probably was just that…