The Su Family Villa.
Living Room.
So what if I don’t see Qin Luo for just one day tomorrow? Am I going to feel like someone died?
Su Muwan lounged on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Alright, just a moment apart, and Su Muwan felt like she had turned into a lifeless corpse.
The TV was playing Detective Pug, Su Muwan's favorite show.
But...
Su Muwan still couldn’t find the energy to care.
Why did it feel like everything in the house had died the moment Qin Luo left?
Ring ring~!
The phone rang.
Su Muwan looked down and saw:
[Mom]
“Hey, Mom...”
Su Muwan picked up the call, her voice listless.
“Hello, hello! My dear daughter! I’ve heard! Did Qin Luo quit his job?”
“Yes... eh?!”
Su Muwan suddenly perked up. She grabbed the phone, looking left and right, then remembered Qin Luo wasn’t there.
She let out a sigh of relief and rolled her eyes. “What job quitting? He’s just on leave! Who’s spreading these rumors?”
“On leave? Did you maybe get him so angry that he fell ill?”
“Mom... do I even exist to you anymore?”
“Hehehe! Alright, alright. If it’s just leave, then that’s fine. Do you know why he’s on leave?”
Why on leave...
Su Muwan blinked.
Qin Luo had mentioned wanting to take her out over the weekend, so he needed to prepare beforehand.
But why did taking her out require preparing a day in advance?
Su Muwan frowned, thinking for half a second.
Sigh... My head hurts. I feel like I’m about to grow a brain.
Su Muwan rubbed her head and finally managed: “I don’t know.”
“Oh? Maybe he’s using the leave to chase after some other girl...”
“Mom! What are you talking about?!”
Su Muwan tightened her grip on the phone, taking a deep breath as she snapped, “Why don’t you keep an eye on Dad! I saw Second Aunt giving him flirty glances!”
“What? Is that true?”
“No... no...”
Click, the call ended.
Su Muwan thought about her father’s sudden, forceful denial in the background and silently mourned for him for a minute.
Dad, don’t blame me. You’ll understand when you’re my age.
But now, Su Muwan felt much better.
Feeling better made her crave snacks.
She picked up a bag, chewing on one piece, and her eyes lit up. “Qin Luo, this new flavor tastes great. You should try...”
As she spoke, she looked at the empty, spacious living room.
The smile slowly faded from her lips.
No one else was around, only the sound of the TV echoing in her ears.
Su Muwan stared, her expression faltering.
Loneliness crept back into her heart.
It felt just like when she was a child, all alone in this huge, empty villa.
Crunch.
She took another bite, but it didn’t taste as good anymore.
Su Muwan curled up in the corner of the sofa, gently biting her lip.
Alright, I’ll just have to wait one more day.
---
Elsewhere.
[Loyalty +1]
[Loyalty +1]
[Loyalty +1]
At the entrance of a certain power base, Qin Luo paused, then seemed to realize something.
He pressed a hand to his chest, shaking his head with a wry smile.
No idea why, but maybe it was because he’d been bound to Su Muwan for too long.
He could almost feel the mood behind these loyalty points.
And right now...
All these loyalty points... were filled with negative emotions.
Alright then, originally planning to spend tomorrow with a friendly attitude to wrap up the plan.
After all, the young lady had said not to cause trouble for her out there!
But now...
Just then.
“Hey, who are you? What are you doing at our ancient sword mountain villa?”
Two sword-wielding guards, standing at the entrance, eyed Qin Luo with suspicion.
They stared at him, noticing he’d appeared out of nowhere.
His aura was strange, his appearance... not someone to be trifled with.
But this was ancient sword mountain villa! The place with the most sword cultivators in the world!
Sword cultivators were far more fearsome than ordinary martial artists!
Especially their master, Li Xuanfeng! A late-stage peak-tier expert!
Though he was currently traveling, ancient sword mountain villa was not to be messed with!
Seeing Qin Luo remain silent.
The two guards exchanged a glance, then drew their swords, pointing them at him: “Kid!”
“No matter who you are, if you’re here to cause trouble, we’ll make sure you regret it!”
“Do you know who our master is?”
“Li Xuanfeng! The strongest sword cultivator alive!”
“If you don’t want to get crippled, you’d better...”
Smack!!
Before they could finish, Qin Luo flashed forward, slapping one of them hard.
He looked at the stunned, puzzled-faced man and smiled kindly. “Quiet.”
“Didn’t you see I was thinking?”
“Go get the highest-ranking person here. Tell them...”
Buzz—!
As he spoke, Qin Luo was enveloped in black mist. His eyes gleamed with an eerie light: “If they don’t want the whole place wiped out, they better hurry up.”
“Eek—!!”
The two guards, horror-struck, clung to each other.
What’s going on! Did the master make enemies out there!?
---
The next day.
Su Muwan groggily opened her eyes, getting up to brush her teeth and wash her face.
She hadn’t slept well last night, plagued by nightmares again.
“Glug glug~~”
“Pfft~”
Su Muwan looked at her haggard reflection in the mirror and felt her life was over.
Downstairs.
The kitchen was filled with smoke.
“M-Miss! Why is this fish still moving after I put it in the pot?!”
“Yikes! The eggs exploded in the microwave!”
“Sob sob... I’m sorry, Miss...”
Zhu Lan was in tears, trying to prepare breakfast but botching it every time.
Seeing the blackened mess on the table, Su Muwan sighed heavily.
The house without Qin Luo.
Was doomed.
Just then.
Ding dong~!
The doorbell rang.
Su Muwan paused, turning to look at the door.
Her eyes slowly shifted from confusion to delight.
She clutched her chest.
Her heart suddenly raced, and her mood inexplicably rose from low to exhilarated.
Even though she hadn’t opened the door yet... what was this feeling?
Could it be...
But he’s not supposed to come back today, right?
Yet this feeling in my heart...
Su Muwan held her chest, her eyes flickering, a surge of uncontrollable excitement bubbling up inside her.
She quickly adjusted her dress, hurrying to the door with light, urgent footsteps, like her heartbeat.
A few seconds later, she reached the door. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her thrilled heart.
But her hand still trembled slightly as she gently opened the door.
As the door swung open.
Su Muwan’s expectations reached their peak.
She kept muttering inwardly.
It’s him! It’s him!
Finally.
As the door fully opened.
“Good morning, Miss.”
Qin Luo stood at the entrance, holding three bowls of dumplings. He smiled warmly at Su Muwan: “I finished my business, so I came back.”
As he spoke, he glanced at the smoke-filled house and chuckled. “Looks like I’m just in time.”
“.........”
As the words fell.
Buzz—!
Like dark clouds clearing to reveal sunlight, Su Muwan’s lips couldn’t stop curling upward, and her eyes sparkled with color.
“Wait a moment.”
Clap clap clap!
Su Muwan ran to the living room, grabbed a bag of chips sealed with a clip, and hurried back.
She handed it to Qin Luo, looking up at him proudly, like she was sharing her most precious treasure. “It’s a new flavor. Try it.”
Qin Luo laughed, taking a piece.
Crunch.
The crisp sound of the chips helped Su Muwan calm down.
“Tasty, Miss.”
“Hmph hmph! Of course!”
Su Muwan pulled Qin Luo into the house. As the door closed, she turned back to look at him, calling out, “Slow down, slow down!”
Her eyes glimmered with a subtle light.
Turns out...
Ever since Qin Luo arrived... I haven’t felt that loneliness again.
She tugged at Qin Luo, her lips barely curving up.
This tiny Qin Luo... this tiny Qin Luo...
How did you...
Make me like you so much?
You’re making it impossible for me to leave you at all.
In the kitchen.
Zhu Lan peeked out, seeing Qin Luo like she’d seen a god.
Sob sob!! Thank goodness it’s Qin Luo!! We’re saved!!