episode_0039

A lot has happened these past few days.

It feels like a dream.

But overall, things are moving in a positive direction.

The yandere crisis with Su Qingya caused by the breakup was resolved, that guy Lin Ye was dealt with so he can’t pester Qingya for now, and the amusement park date also went smoothly despite some scares.

Xu Nian rode a shared bike back to the parking lot, where the sports car she had driven out was parked.

After paying the parking fee, she was about to leave.

Then she noticed someone suddenly collapse in front of her car.

“Damn it! A scammer.”

Anger flared in Xu Nian’s heart.

After honking a few times, she rolled the window down slightly.

“Hey, buddy, my car hasn’t even started yet. Can you at least make it look natural? If you’re gonna scam someone, put some effort into it. Let me remind you—this is the modern world. There are cameras everywhere. Get lost before I call the cops and have you arrested!”

“What? No justice in this world! You hit me and still have the nerve to talk like that? Agh, my back… my legs… I’m in pain all over. Must be broken bones. I won’t get up without at least a million!”

“Damn it! There are cameras here. Stop pretending. Even if I call the police, I can pull up the footage.”

“Heh, you think I didn’t prepare for that? I checked—the cameras are under maintenance today. Nothing’s being recorded here.”

“No cameras, and you’re still this bold?”

Xu Nian started the car, pretending she was about to run him over.

The man was startled—clearly not expecting her to actually go through with it—and scrambled to his feet before bolting.

Of course, Xu Nian was just bluffing. She wouldn’t actually hit him.

Even if the cameras were down, her car had its own recording system, which was solid evidence.

“Hahaha, joy, such joy!”

Just then, a deranged, mocking laugh came from the passenger seat beside her.

Xu Nian stiffened and turned her head—only to find a clown sitting right next to her.

She was startled.

She recognized this clown.

It was the one she had seen at the amusement park earlier.

Why was it here?

Xu Nian knew she stood no chance against a high-tier Emopath from the [Joy] path.

After all, higher-tier beings of the same path held absolute dominance over lower-tier ones.

She considered unbuckling her seatbelt and making a run for it.

Noticing her shock, the clown burst into laughter. “Your expression is priceless.”

“Don’t worry, miss. I mean no harm. I’m just here to confirm something—and it seems my guess was correct. Hahahaha!”

Xu Nian froze, her fingers pausing over the seatbelt release.

“What? What thing? Can you speak plainly? Stop with the riddles!”

Xu Nian hated riddles the most.

Did speaking in riddles make someone seem profound?

No.

It just made people want to punch you.

“No, because… I can’t say it. And if I can’t say it, then I can’t say it. It’s a restriction. Be careful—that’s the only warning I can give you, miss. Your believers will pray for you. May you overcome the trials ahead.”

“What trials?”

As far as Xu Nian knew, there were no crises waiting for her right now.

The clown didn’t answer. Instead, it pinched its red nose, plucked it off, and tossed it to Xu Nian.

“Why are you giving me this?”

She squeezed it—it felt like a sponge. But now that the clown had removed its nose, it truly had no nose left.

“I believe you should embrace more joy. If you decide to, please wear it.”

“Why would I wear this? To turn into a clown?”

Who knew if something given by an Emopath was safe?

Who would dare use it?

“Being a clown isn’t so bad, is it? Hahahaha~ At least there are no worries. All you need to do is keep smiling.”

With that, it vanished, leaving only its lingering laughter in the car.

Only by rolling down the window did the oppressive feeling ease.

“What the hell was that? So weird.”

Xu Nian thought about tossing the red nose out the window.

But for some reason, she ended up slipping it into her pouch instead.

Maybe it’d be useful someday?

With that thought, she started the car and drove home.

The moment she stepped inside, she saw her still-graceful, fox-woman mother waiting with a dark expression.

“Were you really studying at a friend’s house these past few days?”

“Of course, Mom.”

“Then how did your rank go up?”

“???” Xu Nian stared at her fox-mother in disbelief.

How could she describe this feeling?

It was like a dream.

Her parents asking about her rank was beyond absurd.

How had she even found out?

“What are you looking at? Can’t I try it out? I just wanted to experience what young people do for fun, and then I saw you online. So gaming is your idea of studying?”

“It’s just a way to relax. Don’t look at it like that.”

“Fine. Then tell me, what exactly did you learn these past few days?”

“I, uh… I…”

Xu Nian couldn’t answer.

Because she really hadn’t been studying.

She started to tense up, bracing for scolding.

“Whatever. Go wash up for dinner. Pack your things tonight—your sister is coming home tomorrow. After playing around for days, it’s time to get serious. Be on your best behavior tomorrow. No slip-ups.”

“O-okay.”

Xu Nian ducked her head and headed to the dining room.

Her tall, mature fox-mother served the food, her face still clouded with displeasure.

Xu Nian silently shoveled a few bites into her mouth.

She sat there like a quail with its head tucked in, restless and uneasy.

Is this how it starts?

It’s normal for attitudes to change after the real heiress returns, right?

It’s normal for her to resent me now, right?

“By the way, why did you reject my team invite?”

Just as Xu Nian was lost in thought, her beautiful fox-mother suddenly asked another question.

Her sharp fox eyes bore into Xu Nian, full of resentment.

“Team invite?”

Rejected a team invite?

The abrupt question derailed Xu Nian’s train of thought.

She froze, completely unprepared for the idea that this was why her mother was upset.

Today, only one person had sent her a team invite.

She didn’t recognize the name, and the constant invites annoyed her, so she blocked them.

“…‘Sweet Little Fox Girl’ is you?”

“Yeah? Is that hard to understand?”

“Mom! How could you use a username like that?!”

“What’s wrong with it? It sounds youthful.”

“Don’t you think it’s… weird?”

“Not really. Your dad’s name is ‘Cyclone Buff Dude,’ and I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

“????” Xu Nian’s mind short-circuited.

“That muscle-head profile pic that kept inviting me to play games… is Dad?!”

No wonder she had this person on her friends list—she’d searched everywhere but couldn’t figure out who it was.

She’d assumed it was some creep, so she ignored them.

Eventually, she got fed up and blocked them.

No wonder her dad had been hovering around her those days, sighing, “Ah, I’m old. Can’t fit into young people’s circles anymore.”

When she asked what he meant, he wouldn’t explain.

So that’s what it was?!

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Xu Nian felt her perception of her parents shift dramatically.

Weren’t they usually so serious?

“Wait, why would you two pick names like that?”

“Well, that goes back to when your dad was still young…” Her mother launched into a rambling story, going on and on.

But her tone and demeanor remained elegant.

As Xu Nian listened, her expression grew increasingly strange.

It was hard to reconcile this image of her refined mother with that username… and those past experiences.

The contrast was unreal!

“Ah, those were the days. Tonight, you have to play one game with me.”

Her mother’s tone suddenly shifted as she pursed her lips.