"Since you can barely afford your own living expenses, why do you meddle in others' affairs?" Zonnie pushed her lunchbox toward Tian Youjun, whose bento box contained just a steamed bun and water. Her words hissed out between clenched teeth as she watched him prepare to eat.

"Heh, you bought my share again. Thanks!" Tian dug into the meal with relish without even saying please.

"Didn't you get paid yesterday? How could you be back to eating buns with plain water in a blink?" Zonnie's brows furrowed at this - she'd personally stuffed extra hundreds into his paycheck for six months of expenses, yet he'd already blown it through.

"I met a patient who couldn't afford medication. Lended him 1500 right away."

Zonnie had once witnessed the stranger Tian tried to pay her medical fees. Now she saw this wasn't an isolated incident. Since their acquaintance, she'd seen him donate blood, give money to strangers, and wait under the sun for wallet owners. This man was no ordinary good Samaritan. She pushed half of her rice into his bowl: "Even when helping others, you should be reasonable. Don't risk starving yourself over it!"

Tian's breakfast and dinner were just as meager as lunch. Now he devoured the meal like a hungry wolf, choking out "Full..." only after swallowing the last grain. His voice cracked as he added: "I know my flaw - can't help seeing someone in trouble. But I'm still a doctor. You know what they say about physicians..."

Zonnie said nothing more but slid 1000 yuan from her drawer toward him. "Advance on your salary. Eat first, then decide to be a hero."

"Perfect!" Tian snatched the money before she could change her mind. "This will cover Zhou's medication for another week." But his hand went empty as Zonnie yanked the cash back coldly. "Better keep it here. If I leave it with you, it'll vanish in hours."

"I just think there are people who need it more." Tian mumbled under her icy glare.

But Zonnie refused to relent, instead announcing he'd now be fed by her - straight out of his own salary.

The next day as Tian ate the lavish meal, he gazed at Zonnie with misty eyes: "Xiaomei, you're too kind. But really, simple food is enough..."

"Are you afraid I'll deduct more from your pay?"

"No! Well... Wait!" He dropped his chopsticks and grabbed her hand. "How could I forget? You're a wealthy woman! Xiaomei, could you..."

"Who's this wealthy woman now?" Zonnie pulled away sharply.

"You are the richest person among my friends!" Tian argued passionately. "This girl came in with kidney disease but couldn't even afford hospital deposits. She cried at the entrance not wanting to worry her parents... My eyes were red when I borrowed 2000 from classmates..."

"So you want me to fund this?"

"Please, just five thousand..."

"Seventy thousand!" Zonnie snapped him back into reason as he continued climbing the numbers. "Treatment is expensive - just medication costs a fortune."

She scribbled a check immediately but added with a smirk: "This will be deducted from your salary forever. Better get used to selling women's clothes here."

Soon, Tian Youjun became accompanied by an unofficial apprentice at the boutique. Zonnie tolerated this low-voiced girl who often had red eyes because she could handle tasks he couldn't - like calculating accounts. But she flatly rejected his suggestion of paying her wages: "I've already paid nearly 30k for medical bills (20k more through his fundraising). Why pay again?"

The girl was Yuan Jingjing, the very one Tian had begged help for. Though stabilized after treatment, she refused to return home, lingers at Zonnie's shop instead. The shopkeeper suspected this wasn't about medicine - maybe fear of being abandoned? Or worse...

"Jingjing! Move mannequins in. You two finish today's work." Zonnie ordered coldly.

"I'll move them," Tian volunteered eagerly, only to find Jingjing struggling with calculations later. "Let me do it!" He swooped in heroically again.

Zonnie left muttering about making them work for free if they forgot to lock the door.

After she was gone, Jingjing rushed into fitting rooms to try clothes - her new habit whenever Zonnie left. Though Tian disapproved, he let it slide thinking of her poverty and longing for beauty.

As Jingjing twirled in a pink dress at the mirror, her thoughts drifted: these days since diagnosis had been bliss compared to previous backbreaking work with uncertain pay. She wondered if he ever noticed how she tried clothes just to show him...

Tian peered from outside, warning through half-closed door: "Hurry up! Someone might catch you!"

You never look my way? Jingjing glared inwardly as she defiantly tried on more outfits.

"Stitched by a nail while trying it on? So that's all?" Zonnie held the torn 2000-yuan dress with a face of fury.

"I just wanted to try... It was so beautiful..." Jingjing's pitiful eyes pierced Tian but did nothing for Zonnie. "You mean to say 'sorry' and walk away after ruining expensive clothes?" she demanded. Pale-faced, Jingjing could only stammer excuses before fleeing in tears as Zonnie stopped Tian from pleading.

Back at store, Tian carried the 5000-yuan envelope out with a smile while Zonnie watched him go - knowing he'd probably do something equally reckless again next time.

After summer ended, Tian's status changed to part-time worker but his tasks became menial labor. He now spent days drinking tea and chatting with Zonnie, ignoring the angry glances of their new female colleague.

"By the way... Jingjing returned." Tian mentioned softly, "Her condition deteriorated again - only a transplant can help."

"Oh?"

"She was reduced to tears over impossible costs,"

"Oh."

Tian launched into Yuan's tragic tale: motherless childhood, cruel stepmother, escaping arranged marriage, black-hearted bosses, then kidney disease...

Zonnie listened in silence until Tian sighed hopelessly. She finally smirked: "So important is she to you?"

"Her fate..."

"Poor soul?" Zonnie chuckled mockingly.

"With no mother since young, her father dead, stepmother abused her... Left school at 17 for work but got uremia! Stabilized only to be locked up by parents for marriage during visit home..." Tian recited the tragedy.

Zonnie stopped him with a wave: "Abuse or coldness? Her stepmom funded her high school after father died. Disease happens to everyone - and I've already paid for treatment. Forced marriage... You think if someone loved me but treated me coldly, I'd be grateful too?"

When Tian remained silent, she softened slightly: "You said you don't like Jingjing. Indeed I don't. People who invent endless tragedies just to gain pity make my skin crawl."

"But she really..."

"If she's so unfortunate, what about me? At 7 parents divorced... No food or books... Got sick and he ran away with funds..." Zonnie spilled her own story suddenly.

Tian stared at her in tears but was pushed back: "Don't be sappy. I never asked for pity - people should stand on their own."

"But we should help each other!"

"That's self-sacrifice, not kindness." She poked his nose. Tian merely smiled sadly as he always did when overwhelmed by others' needs.

"You're hopeless," Zonnie muttered, then added sternly: "How will you afford another 600k? You have no family to call on."

"I know... But she begged me..."

"She knows your situation yet still demands the impossible?"

"But..."

Zonnie paused before delivering her final blow: "Humans become greedy. Like this clerk (the woman perked up), she should be happy getting 300 more than others, but resents you because your job's easier and pay higher. Jingjing knew I could help yet complains about me not doing enough. You owe no one anything - always act within means."

After Tian left, Zonnie sat alone in thought. The clerk worked diligently as if nothing happened.

As expected, Tian returned with a shocking plan: donating his kidney to Jingjing due to compatible blood type.

"Sixty thousand..." he gasped when she offered payment instead.

"It's nothing compared to your life!" she snapped impatiently.

He left after several attempts at protest.

When visiting Yuan in hospital, Zonnie found her reading calmly. Their exchange was abrupt:

"Where is he?"

"He's busy with exams."

"She didn't even come!"

"Shouldn't it be the other way around? Maybe you used your 'helplessness' to steal him away from me?"

"Don't be ridiculous..." Jingjing mumbled, but Zonnie cut her off: "You're using medical funds while trying to take my boyfriend. Do you think he'll appreciate that?"

"Because I have nothing left... Just him..." Tears welled up as she looked down shamefully.

Xiao Mei shook her head. "Pitiful acts won't work on me. You have parents and a home while I'm just an orphan. So what's the big deal about nothing? Actually..." Her heart clenched seeing Yijing's tear-streaked face. "Without me, you two would never get anywhere else. Otherwise you'd realize how incompatible his personality is with yours..."

"I don't need your pity!" Yijing screamed, flinging a pillow at her. "Get out! Get out!"

Xiao Mei shrugged, clearly annoyed by such petulance. When the hospital room door creaked open, Tian Youjun stepped outside. The stern expression on Yijing's face dissolved instantly as she turned away sobbing, "She paid for my treatment just to humiliate me? You don't know what she said earlier..."

"I do." Tian Youjun cut in. "I've been standing there for a while, planning to wait until you finished talking before coming in."

Xiao Mei's face flamed crimson. This man had eavesdropped on their private conversation! He was caught between two women fighting over him, and worse - did she really blurt out the word boyfriend? Confirming this from Tian Youjun's gaze, Xiao Mei swallowed all her words and hurriedly fled in embarrassment.

Tian Youjun started to follow but hesitated at Yijing's weeping form. After long hesitation he murmured, "What she said had some truth. My personality is something you'll truly dislike once you understand it."

"How could that be? How... Is it because I'm not as wealthy as her? Not as healthy?" She wiped tears with trembling hands. "But I'm younger and prettier than her! I can listen to everything you say, unlike her who's so bossy..."

"Ah," he sighed. "You still don't get it." His expression turned serious. "Would you be okay if your boyfriend gave away his money all day long until he became poor? Or worse - sometimes took on huge debts for strangers and worked half a year or more to repay them?" He stared directly into her eyes, "I do this almost every month. Can you accept that?"

Yijing's mouth formed an O-shape. "I know Master Tian is kindhearted," she whispered, voice fading as awareness dawned - without his peculiar personality, she'd never have received help in the first place. After all, to both Tian Youjun and Xiao Mei, she was just a stranger.

"I knew it," he said softly, "Only someone like her can tolerate me."

"Because she's rich too," Yijing persisted stubbornly.

"What's wrong with being rich?" His mindset diverged from normal people's regarding money. He even wished Xiao Mei had twice as much wealth so he could donate more freely. Yet to be honest, he couldn't estimate exactly how wealthy Xiao Mei was - her clothing store barely covered employees' salaries anyway.

After finding Xiao Mei, Tian Youjun kept chuckling to himself. The anxious woman finally snapped, "What are you snickering about?"

"Hehe..." He scratched his head, "...You said I'm your boyfriend in front of everyone just now... hehe..."

Xiao Mei's face turned beet red with both anger and embarrassment. "So what! It was because I wanted to..."

"Hehe..." His laughter became infectious. "So there's still hope for me, hehe..."

Frowning, Xiao Mei asked, "What does that mean?"

"My classmates all said I could never find a girlfriend since whenever I liked someone it would only result in donations." He giggled, "Do you see? You perfectly understood my feelings! That proves my belief - true love needs just an intuitive connection. Shouldn't we go to the nursing home together on weekends? Taking care of elderly while dating..." His thoughts were drowned out by Xiao Mei's furious glare.

"You insufferable idiot! I'm breaking up with you!"

Xiao Mei wasn't immune to appreciating handsome men, but if one kept popping up everywhere like a persistent shadow, she'd find it equally unbearable. She was well aware the neighborhood gossips had already created countless fictional versions of their story - probably as many variations as there were residents here.

Today required more baby wipes and formula again. Xiao Mei carefully observed through her balcony window four times using her husband's telescope before finally deeming the coast clear for this shopping trip. But just after stepping outside she saw "Mr. Handsome" waiting at the gate, grinning cheerfully like an old friend instead of a stalker.

Xiao Mei refused to acknowledge him as past experience taught her - showing even minimal attention would turn him into an unshakable leech. Sprinting Olympic-style through the supermarket with alarming speed, she finished shopping and dashed out before "Mr. Handsome" could utter another word about formula brands or package illustrations depicting improbably slim mothers.

"Miss, you don't have to be so cruel," he pleaded, "This must be fate from our past lives..."

Meng Shu took two steps forward while Huo flew ahead just as many. When Meng stopped moving, the phoenix immediately perched on nearby branches, watching him intently with head tilted. "Huo, I know Zhou Ying sent you to follow me," he chuckled wryly.

"Ying told me to monitor you!" Huo corrected sharply. Since Meng's recent outburst incident, their relationship had hit an icy low - the phoenix refused proper conversation but maintained strict surveillance fearing another sudden attack on Zhou Ying.

"I already apologized to both of you."

"Hmph."

"Twice!"

"Hmph."

Despite repeated attempts at reconciliation, Huo totally ignored his extended olive branch. Bored with just following Meng, he kept glancing around absentmindedly - wherever Meng went was fine by him as long as his surveillance duties were fulfilled.

After wandering the streets for a while, Meng suddenly stopped dead. Huo mid-flight thinking about something bumped straight into Meng's back.

Blocking Liu Di's path ahead, Meng watched the woman disappear before turning cold eyes on Liu. "How do you explain this?"

Liu shrugged casually. "Explain what? Need me to teach anything? You stay coiled up too long in your snake pit - sometimes you need to come out and learn things."

Pointing at where the woman vanished, Meng demanded, "You found her! Why didn't you give her back to me!"

Liu arched an eyebrow. "Your vision's deteriorating along with your judgment. Look at her now - how does she resemble a snake spirit?"

Meng sneered. "She must've used my artifact recklessly. With only basic cultivation, the backlash turned her into a human." This partial relief brought new worries: if transformed to human, could she no longer use that artifact? Would she forget its significance as an immortal being? Worse still - where was the artifact now? Did she discard it carelessly in Lixin City?

His narrowed eyes flicked between Liu and Huo. Who here had such power? Nan Yu could theoretically do so but she wouldn't bother since artifacts meant nothing to her cultivation style. Zhou Ying shared similar disinterest for lack of ambition. That left Liu - unpredictable and possibly scheming.

"Liu..." Meng's gaze grew piercing, "Give her back."

Liu shook his head. "She's human now. I can't harm her."

Meng smirked. "Then I'll make her a spirit again." He flexed his fingers ominously.

Still refusing, Liu said, "Maybe being human suits her better. If you insisted on finding things yourself, no one in Lixin could touch you. But since you came to me, clearly you want minimal disruption. So I'll handle it until the artifact reaches your hands - but I won't explain my methods."

Meng's suspicions deepened. "Liu," he warned coldly, "I'm being polite only because of our past encounter. Don't push further."

Liu remained undeterred. "Remember who came knocking for help in the first place? Now you want to cut me off after finding your target?"

"Bold demon!" Meng lunged suddenly. Liu dodged just in time as Meng's claws narrowly missed his chest.

The phoenix sang merrily away, happy to watch enemies fight - if Zhou Ying hadn't forbidden interference when Meng attacked, he'd stay for the show. But since no actual strike was delivered yet...

When noises ceased abruptly, Huo glanced back and spotted Liu sprawled on ground with one broken arm covered in blood. Meng's foot sent him crashing into hollyhocks.

"Should've stayed dead," Huo spat, but waited anxiously - had he really killed the dog?

Meng loomed over Liu. Killing him would be easy; this creature had always carried an annoying aura Meng despised. Unlike Zhou Ying or Nan Yu whose differences were acceptable, Liu's presence was increasingly intolerable.

"Are you going to kill him?" Huo perched above asking.

"Not your business."

"Are you sure?" Hearing the question, Huo jumped down and stomped on Liu's head while flames expanded dangerously close to Meng.

"I'm not losing control," Meng said coldly. "Even if you attack -"

"Hmph!" Huo flapped wings defiantly. "I'll burn ten thousand without hesitation! Come on then!"

Meng laughed mirthlessly at the phoenix's absurd threat. Yet unwilling to turn entire streets into charred remains, he turned away.

"Wait." Liu struggled up suddenly, "Don't look for her again!"

"Can you stop us?" Meng scoffed before Huo kicked Liu back down with a growl of indignation - how dare this dog not show gratitude after saving his life!

"I won't let you near her!" Liu gripped Huo's head to emphasize to Meng. "She believes she's human now. Why force yourself on her? I'll return your artifact eventually, but in exchange please leave her alone!"

A killing intent radiated from Meng that made even Huo shudder and intensify his flames.

After prolonged staring match, Huo blurted out confusedly, "Are you two fighting over the spirit who tricked the snake? Is she really the daughter he lost?"

Both nodded without breaking eye contact.

"Then stop stalling! Beat her up to get your artifact back then drive that long snake away!" He prepared to intervene eagerly.

"No!" Liu blocked him. "I'll return what's yours - neither of you disturb her!"

"Why are you so protective? Is she your new lover?" Huo mimicked the expression he'd seen other demons use when referring to Liu's romantic entanglements.

"Liu..." Both his and Meng's eyes widened simultaneously, "What did Zhou teach you about behaving like this!" They pointed at each other in unison.

"Don't compare me with you!" They shouted again together.

"Only I should say that!" Huo exploded. "Tell me! Is she actually Liu's daughter instead of Meng's?"

Liu sighed. "She could never be my daughter - she's older than me." His tone grew earnest. "I owe her something from the past. If she were still a spirit, I'd have no right to stop you, but now as human..."

Meng finally nodded in agreement.

Carrying wounded Liu back home, neither explained anything further. Through Huo's snippets of conversation, Lixin's demon society gradually invented wild rumors...

Demon A: "Hey! Did you hear? Liu got beaten up by Meng over a woman."

Demon B: "Heard that Liu seduced Meng's daughter and nearly died!"

Demon C: "Meng discovered his daughter is actually Liu's child - almost killed him!"

Demon D: "..."

(Word count: 1,267)

Nanyu was discussing the next treatment plan with a patient's family in the ward. The man lying on the hospital bed radiated an air of indifference to his own condition. Nanyu knew that for cases like his, any medical intervention could only delay the inevitable by mere moments - human efforts meant nothing when it came to saving lives except through miraculous interventions prayed for by families or inhuman methods she dared not employ. With a silent sigh, she gave the patient and family some final instructions before stepping out.

After years of working among humans as a doctor, the hardest part had always been controlling her urge to use magic to interfere with every life and death decision. Had all these years made her more human? Or simply hardened her heart? Nanyu wandered aimlessly through hospital halls when suddenly a commotion shattered her thoughts.

Several nurses ran past her shrieking, their panic barely audible over the chaos. Nanyu called out but no one stopped until she caught hold of one trembling nurse who stammered "there-there-someone was killed...killed..." before escaping like a startled rabbit.

A killing? This hospital had seen stranger things in the last three days than two. She couldn't arbitrarily use magic to save people, but at least she could ensure none of these patients faced threats beyond their medical treatment. With this resolve, Nanyu strode toward the disturbance.

The usually bustling lobby was now eerily silent except for a man waving a scalpel and making shrill demands. His other arm choked around Dr. Tian Youjun's neck as he bled from his eyes. Hospital security and young male doctors stood ready but hesitant to approach.

Frowning, Nanyu asked the shaking nurse hiding in the on-call room "What happened?"

"Something about a dispute between Dr. Chen and patient's family," the nurse whispered. "The man attacked Dr. Chen as he was leaving work today, accusing him of causing his wife's death through surgery."

"Dr. Chen?" Nanyu's frown deepened. "But I saw him holding onto Dr. Song..."

"Yes, Dr. Song approached..." The nurse babbled in circles until Nanyu let her go to safety. After interrogating two more people she pieced together: Dr. Chen Jiankang had performed a routine procedure that should have been straightforward for his skill level. Yet during the operation the patient suddenly hemorrhaged and died - likely due to some unspoken conflict over medical ethics.

The grieving husband's relentless accusations against the hospital went unanswered, until grief turned to madness and he took matters into his own hands with surgical tools. Just as Dr. Tian Youjun happened by, he volunteered to mediate with the knife-wielding man. As Dr. Tian carefully explained the medical situation while gesturing for Dr. Chen to retrieve patient records, the terrified surgeon suddenly pushed Dr. Tian away in panic and fled down the corridor.

This final betrayal sent the husband into full-blown rage. He seized Dr. Tian as hostage, pressing his scalpel against the doctor's carotid artery. As a physician Nanyu knew how deadly these instruments could be - the slightest pressure would sever vital arteries. She admired Dr. Tian's stubborn persistence but also found it maddening.

Nanyu slowly advanced toward the scene, her hands itching to use magic despite knowing it was forbidden within hospital walls.

"Bring Dr. Chen out or I'll kill him!" The man's voice cracked as distant sirens approached. His knife dipped dangerously low when Nanyu raised a hand to intervene - only to freeze mid-motion at an unexpected sight in the sky.

A woman wearing loose shirt and shorts with slippers on her feet arced down from the clouds into the lobby, landing directly between the kidnapper and Dr. Tian Youjun. With one swift flick of her wrist she knocked the man unconscious. The resulting chaos left everyone baffled by this sudden medical mystery - especially when Dr. Tian immediately began checking vitals without noticing his would-be executioner had just saved him.

Amidst the frantic chatter, Nanyu locked eyes with Qu Xiaomei who'd just finished confirming her husband was unharmed. After a tense stare they both recognized each other.

"This is all your fault," Qu snapped at herself, slapping her own head in frustration. "I should have known there was a zombie working here so I wouldn't have rushed over to save my husband and blown my cover." She waved Nanyu away "Tell Liu Di to bring that dead snake to me then."

While Qu hurried off to check on their son left alone at home, the oblivious Dr. Tian continued his frantic medical examination of the unconscious attacker while Nanyu stood frozen in place.

Back at home Qu Xiaomei was now rocking a wailing infant through the apartment singing "Meow meow meow..." as her husband and friends arrived. The six-month-old with dark eyes surveyed them all before suddenly quieting down.

"Come here, come here!" she urged, holding out the baby to greet their new audience. The child reached first for Liu Di who immediately ducked behind Zhou Ying. The infant then fixed a sweet smile on Nanyu whose long hair made her an instant target - until the tiny hand yanked hard enough to make Nanyu gasp in surprise.

Qu seized this opportunity to transfer the baby to Nanyu before turning to Meng Shu "You came looking for me? Let's talk." She then warned as the child attempted another tug "If he starts crying, just let him pull your hair."

"A-a!" The baby took advantage of Nanyu's momentary distraction and seized more strands. Just as Zhou Ying rushed in with a rescue attempt, Qu added another warning "Don't take things away suddenly or he'll cry harder." Nervous hesitation only made the infant's grip tighter until Liu Di slipped behind them.

Meng Shu finally demanded after sizing up Qu "Where is it?"

Qu folded her arms defiantly "You promised this would be amazing but you didn't even use it. A famous monster like you lying to me!"

Meng Shu narrowed his eyes "Lying? My 'daughter' why would I do that?"

"Fine, maybe I'm not your daughter," Qu admitted with no remorse, then leaned in and screamed into Meng Shu's ear "I'm your great-grand-niece's grandson's grand-aunt! Now you know what kind of scoundrel you are!" The other monsters present all mentally calculated this impossible relationship.

Meng Shu's brain short-circuited. He shook his head "So what if we're distantly related? That doesn't justify stealing my things!"

Qu scoffed "You didn't even ask who I was descended from! Typical cold-blooded creature." She paused at their confused looks before explaining "If you'd realized the truth, you might have hurt me out of confusion. But now you can be spared future guilt about harming your own kin."

All present monsters shook their heads in bewilderment.

Meng Shu massaged his temples - he had been ready to punish this thief and liar, but her logic left him defeated. Thinking back on his numerous broken relationships, maybe she was right to fear him. Guilt stirred when Nanyy and the others stared at him with that knowing look. With a resigned sigh he asked "Where is it? Just give it back."

The relief flooding Qu's face was barely concealed as she rushed into the inner room but returned empty-handed with an urgent cry "Sweetie, where did you throw your toy?"

The baby continued his assault on Liu Di's hair - every tug caused his head to shift between human and wolf form. "It looked like a Weeble-Wobble!" Qu explained while frantically searching through toys.

"You actually let him play with such an important artifact," Meng Shu seethed.

"Curious little thing needs stimulation," Qu defended herself, proud of her baby's creativity. "Who would have guessed it resembled a Wobbly?"

Meng Shu sneered as he watched the chaotic search.

After what felt like forever, Qu suddenly pulled something from the kitchen pot and waved it triumphantly "Found it! Take your precious thing!"

The artifact was indeed Weeble-like - with big eyes, small mouth and whiskers. Meng Shu snatched it back, revealing its true form as a sleek black gourd etched with elegant curves that radiated otherworldly power.

Qu shrugged "Had to modify it for baby-proofing."

Meng Shu examined it briefly, relieved it remained intact despite being used once in the human world. He glared at Qu "Explain why you used it."

"Thought it might help against a certain two-faced scoundrel," she gestured toward Liu Di who was now stuck with a dog's head.

"You'd do that to me?!" Liu Di yelped as he tried to escape the baby's grip. "I only broke one promise!"

Qu glared "You made hundreds of promises at once!"

Liu Di protested "That wasn't my fault! It was just..."

The baby's sudden wails caused both parents to rush in, but Qu finally realized her priorities had shifted.

"Spare us," she sighed "Since you protected me from that dead snake I'll count it as payment. We're even now."

Memories of their brief encounter with Liu Di surfaced - full of artificial charm yet strangely joyful. Was her anger at his betrayal or seeing Meng Shu's shadow in him? She would never know.

When Liu Di returned to his usual smug self, Qu merely sighed.

Meng Shu pressed "But you said it wasn't used on anyone..."

Looking down at the calmed baby resting in a tile, Qu met Meng Shu's gaze calmly. "I used it on myself."

The room collectively dropped their jaws as Nanyu whispered "You hated him that much?"

Meng Shu merely shook his head and patted Liu Di's shoulder.

Qu bristled "Who do you think I was punishing?!" But the baby in her arms shifted, reminding her to speak softly. "It didn't work anyway...by the time I realized I wasn't human but a monster it was already during my childbirth..."

They kept silent for a long while before Nan Yu finally asked with bold speculation but careful verification, "So what you're saying is that you meant to harm others, and in the end you harmed yourself."

"Trying to deal with him couldn't even be called harming anyone!" Xiu Mei still felt regretful about failing to get rid of Liu Di. She didn't see anything wrong with wanting to do something about Liu Di, obviously everyone else had the same mindset now—they all nodded in agreement. Checking her watch, Xiu Mei took the baby and coldly said, "Can you leave now?"

Meng Shu and the others started heading out, one foot over the threshold when he suddenly froze mid-step, his brows furrowing tightly as if caught up in deep thought. Unmoved by whatever Meng was contemplating, Xiu Mei kicked him right through the door with a sharp *clang* of the security gate slamming shut behind her victim. At that precise moment, Meng Shu seemed to have an epiphany, muttering under his breath, "It's her... It's you. Why didn't you tell me the truth..." He turned back and pounded on the door violently, "You're the one right? My precious Xiao Qin (Liu Di made gagging motions at this)," he demanded, "Are you really the one?"

No response came from inside.

"Open up! Why didn't you tell me the truth? Tell me—are we truly parents to a daughter?" Meng Shu kept slamming the door despite some inexplicable reluctance to either use magic or brute force to break in.

Xiu Mei remained unresponsive regardless of how Meng shouted, yet faint cries from her child could be heard through the silence.

Listening to Meng's outburst, Zhou Ying and others pieced together that something romantic had once existed between him and Xiu Mei. The grotesque term of endearment alone hinted at a past filled with passion, only to have ended for some reason (most likely Meng's betrayal). Later wandering through the human world, Xiu Mei must've developed poor judgment again when she encountered another fickle cad—Liu Di—and suffered yet another heartbreak.

Hardly recovering from her second broken engagement, Xiu Mei was once more confronted with her ex-lover at an unexpected location: inside Meng Shu's "playbox." Reuniting after so many years in such a setting seemed implausible enough, but what made it even stranger was that Meng hadn't recognized her at all. One can only imagine the anguish this must've caused her.

Possibly due to her deep familiarity with Meng Shu, Xiu Mei immediately understood his scheme upon arriving at "Shu State." Claiming she was his daughter just before memory erasure and puppet-making saved her life (thus making herself both mother and daughter to Meng Shu). Despite his madness, some paternal instincts remained—after hearing Xiu Mei recount their past affair with perfect detail (which was her actual experience), he naturally believed her. He doted on her with food and luxury for days while she seethed in silence until finally stealing away one of his most important treasures as revenge.

Now that the truth about Xiu Mei's identity had been revealed, Meng Shu couldn't ignore the daughter question anymore: was this child truly real? Where was she now? Was she being well cared for? Even a man like Meng Shu—infamously indifferent to parental duties—wanted answers. Yet his ex-lover remained stubbornly silent behind closed doors.

"Meng Shu, let's go," Nan Yu urged as he stepped forward. "Her husband has returned." Footsteps were already ascending the staircase at that moment.

Meng Shu still tried to knock when Liu Di and Zhou Ying both grabbed his arm simultaneously. As footsteps neared their floor, Meng looked between them, sighed deeply, and with one final glance, all four figures vanished from Xiu Mei's doorstep. Tian Youjun rubbed his eyes—hadn't he just seen people standing there? Was it the stress after that afternoon's incident messing with his mind? Shaking his head, he fumbled for his keys to unlock the apartment door.

"Honey I'm home! Did you know our hospital had a huge crisis this afternoon..." He'd decided not to tell her about the incident since she might worry, but something compelled him to share every detail of his day now. "This morning at work, one patient's relative suddenly tried to stab Dr. Chen—the very same doctor who came over with others last time and you said looked scheming—" As he spoke, his wife hadn't risen from the sofa as usual to take his bag or help him out of his coat but sat quietly staring into space instead. "Honey are you feeling unwell? Let me check your temperature..." Tian Youjun crouched beside Xiu Mei and gently pressed a hand to her forehead.

"I'm fine," she said with forced cheer, "The baby was just very fussy today." As if confirming this lie, the normally listless child suddenly flailed its arms, clutching rubber dummies in both hands. Tian Youjuned lifted him up for kisses. "Sweetie, did you misbehave today? Look how tired you've made your mother..."

The baby wiggled restlessly in his father's arms before suddenly spitting out unclear syllables: "Ba... ba..."

Tian Youjun gasped with joy. "Honey! Listen—the baby is calling for Daddy!"

Xiu Mei abruptly stood to check the child, who slapped Tian's face again and clearly articulated: "Da... da... Da..." Overjoyed, Xiu Mei snatched the baby away. "Our baby is so smart now—he knows how to call Dad! Come on, say Mama."

The child gasped with effort before croaking out a slurred: "Ah..."

Xiu Mei beamed. "...Mama?"

"Ah..."

"...Mama!"

"Da... da..."

"You heartless little thing—say Mama!"

*Giggle...*

As Xiu Mei coaxed her son through language lessons, Tian Youjun brought out dinner. She shook off the memories and began savoring his poorly cooked meal while listening to stories about that afternoon's harrowing hospital incident.