Compared to the lively tables around them, Zhang Mou's table was frighteningly quiet. Zhang Mou barely ate, having only a few leaves of vegetables before stopping.
Xiangyi, seated across from her, hadn't eaten at all. Knowing Shaoyao liked meat, she'd given it all to the carnivore first. Shaoyao didn't hold back, though she ate discreetly, since Zhang Mou wasn't as tolerant as Shuxuan.
"By the way, you haven't gone home since you got out, have you?" Zhang Mou began to get down to business, asking whether Xiangyi had been home recently.
"Yes." Xiangyi gave a brief reply.
She didn't know how Zhang Mou had behaved when she was with the previous Xiangyi, but she kept quiet in case she said too much and gave herself away.
"That's good. You're going to Heaven City in a few days, so you should go back and pack." Zhang Mou brought up Heaven City for the first time and handed Xiangyi a key as she spoke.
Xiangyi hummed and took it, then asked, "Is there anything else?"
Zhang Mou looked away a little before replying, "There is one more thing. The housekeeper threw out her back recently, and you know the maid went to look after the prince. So when you go back, clean the house."
Since Xiangyi lived in that small house and rarely went to the villa, Zhang Mou had decided to make up an excuse. From her tone, though, it sounded as if Xiangyi was often tricked into cleaning. Xiangyi hummed and said, "I have quite a lot of things. Could I bring a friend along to help? I'd also like to say a proper goodbye to her."
Xiangyi stated her real goal. Zhang Mou didn't seem to find anything strange about it and said, "You mean that fox spirit?"
"She has a name. Besides, Prince Qin was the one who pursued her. Auntie, watch your tone." Xiangyi warned her calmly. Shuxuan should have been Xiangyi's most important friend before, so it would have been strange if she didn't get a little upset.
"Fine, go ahead. Just give me the key once you're done." The villa was huge, and cleaning it, packing Xiangyi's things, and moving them would all take time. Suppressing her irritation, Zhang Mou agreed.
Of course, the valuables in the house were kept in a safe-deposit box at the bank. If Xiangyi did try to steal anything, Zhang Mou would be even happier. It would give her the perfect excuse to kick Xiangyi out of the Qin family for good.
"Understood." Xiangyi nodded and continued eating the meat in front of her.
Zhang Mou checked the time, then said, "I have other things to do, so I'll leave first. I'll pay the bill."
Xiangyi hummed. Zhang Mou stood up and left soon after.
Eating alone, Xiangyi looked rather lonely. She glanced outside and saw Zhang Mou still wandering around. After watching her for a while, she saw her go into the coffee shop. Though the distance was considerable, Xiangyi soon spotted a waiter bringing Zhang Mou a little cake.
She didn't seem to have liked the hot pot much, but she needed something to eat at lunchtime, so she'd chosen something as sweet and rich as cake.
Xiangyi realized she was coming to understand Zhang Mou better and better. Still, she had to admit that when Zhang Mou spoke with her after she took off her glasses, she was every bit the perfect woman.
Realizing her preferences were starting to veer in a strange direction, Xiangyi hurriedly turned away and banished the dreadful feelings taking root in her mind. As she turned, she saw Shaoyao across from her.
Shaoyao wore modern clothes, but her exquisite features were as lovely as ever. Her smooth black hair fell over her shoulders, making her look breathtakingly beautiful.
With Zhang Mou gone, Shaoyao had been eating with abandon. Xiangyi's exasperation was all the more obvious. She wanted to remind Shaoyao to be discreet, but when she turned around, she saw a waiter approaching with a receipt.
"Put down your chopsticks, quick... Otherwise people will think they're seeing a ghost again!" Xiangyi hurriedly lowered her voice. She was worried she might once again become famous in some bizarre way. Shaoyao hummed, but showed no sign of putting down her chopsticks. She picked another piece of lamb out of the pot and ate it with relish.
Xiangyi was a little angry and was just about to scold the troublesome Shaoyao when she turned and saw the waiter had already come over with the receipt.
"Hello, here's your bill." The waiter quickly glanced at Shaoyao and seemed to realize what was going on. "Miss, I'll get you some bowls and chopsticks right away."
With that, the waiter quickly left. The more Xiangyi looked, the more she felt something was off, and then she realized what it was.
"You showed yourself to the humans?" Xiangyi had gotten so used to seeing Shaoyao that she'd overlooked one thing.
If Shaoyao wore ordinary clothes in front of everyone, she'd look no different from a normal person. That was why Xiangyi had deliberately put her own clothes on Shaoyao, so she could pass herself off as an ordinary person.
"Of course. Did you think I liked these strange clothes? There's so little fabric." Shaoyao answered unhappily as she watched the waiter bring the bowls and chopsticks.
There were still two plates of beef and two of mutton on the table. The waiter must have mistaken Shaoyao for Xiangyi's friend, who'd come to help her finish the food.
On top of that, Shaoyao was a great beauty. The waiter was eager to please her just from looking at her face and couldn't help sneaking a few glances whenever he interacted with her.
"Enjoy your meal."
"Thank you." Shaoyao smiled back and continued copying Xiangyi's manner, putting the meat in the pot. Her movements made it seem as if she'd mastered the basics of modern life. But Shaoyao only ever looked that focused and engaged when it came to eating.
"What is it, Flower Master? Am I too pretty? Is that why you keep staring at me?" Shaoyao gave Xiangyi a sweet smile, looking rather pleased with herself as she noticed Xiangyi's gaze.
"Wipe your mouth. You've got sesame sauce on it." Xiangyi sighed and handed Shaoyao a napkin. Instead, Shaoyao leaned toward her a little, as if she wanted Xiangyi to wipe her mouth for her.
"I told you not to watch so many ridiculous dramas. Now you're imitating this weird stuff." Xiangyi sighed again, but still reached out to wipe Shaoyao's mouth. Though she couldn't help looking annoyed, she felt she'd grown much closer to the Flower People recently.
"It's nice, though. But it doesn't feel like those romantic dramas. Does it only work if the other person's a man?" Shaoyao blinked, deliberately trying to provoke Xiangyi.
"You could give it a try."
Xiangyi's answer made Shaoyao look a little happy, but then Xiangyi added, "Though I might not be able to stop myself from breaking your legs."
Shaoyao shrank her neck, finding Xiangyi a little frightening.
"Besides, you should know that Flower People can only serve the Flower Master." Xiangyi smiled and picked up another piece of meat for Shaoyao. Beneath that harmless smile lay nothing but coldness. Shaoyao shut up and obediently ate the meat, not daring to bring up men again.
Seeing that the food wouldn't go to waste, Xiangyi finished eating and fiddled with the key she'd received as she messaged Shuxuan, the person who mattered most to her right now.
WeChat — Xiangyi: What are you doing?
WeChat — Shuxuan: I'm watching TV with Grandma right now.
As she spoke, Shuxuan sent a photo. It showed the television in front of her, as if she were worried Xiangyi wouldn't believe her. But when Xiangyi looked at the details on the screen, she noticed the date was from a few days earlier. The photo was old.
WeChat — Xiangyi: You didn't have work today?
WeChat — Shuxuan: No, I quit because school's starting soon. What about you? Have you finished your summer homework?
Their conversation gradually became more natural. Shuxuan replied quickly, which showed just how bored she was.
WeChat — Xiangyi: Yeah, so I'm here to bother you. I was hoping to find someone to help me out, too.
WeChat — Shuxuan: ???
Xiangyi then told her about cleaning the house and moving. Of course, she left out the fact that she was going to Heaven City too.
WeChat — Xiangyi: So, will you help me? I'll treat you to a meal~
WeChat — Shuxuan: Hmph. One meal isn't enough to win me over.
WeChat — Xiangyi: Two?
Shuxuan sent a cute shaking-head emoji, apparently still planning to negotiate.
Xiangyi had no choice but to keep raising the stakes, until she finally threw in everything she had.
WeChat — Xiangyi: Four meals!
WeChat — Shuxuan: Deal! Where should we meet?
Shuxuan sent an OK emoji. Xiangyi couldn't help thinking that perhaps Prince Qin had only managed to trick Shuxuan because he'd tempted her with food.
WeChat — Xiangyi: I'll come get you, then we can go to the Qin house together.
WeChat — Shuxuan: Don't go to all that trouble. Just tell me where to meet you and I'll come.
WeChat — Xiangyi: No. I'm worried about you.
WeChat — Shuxuan: It'll be fine. This time I made sure it was you.
Shuxuan sent a sad emoji, realizing why Xiangyi was worried. She'd probably never met such a terrible person before, and the experience would haunt her for the rest of her life.
But Xiangyi still insisted. It wasn't just that she felt a little guilty; she also enjoyed spending time with Shuxuan. Every little detail could be the key to getting a second kiss from her.
WeChat — Xiangyi: I'll come get you.
Xiangyi repeated herself. Shuxuan could only agree, but told her not to come upstairs and to call when she arrived. Only then did Xiangyi realize why Shuxuan didn't want her to pick her up. These past few days, Xiangyi hadn't been the only one getting ready to move to Heaven City. Shuxuan's whole family was moving there too.
Shuxuan didn't want Xiangyi to see the state of her home, so she wanted them to meet at their destination instead.
WeChat — Xiangyi: Okay. I'll call you when I get there.
WeChat — Shuxuan: Mm-hmm, I'll wait for you~
After receiving Shuxuan's confirmation, Xiangyi put her phone in her pocket, only to find that Shaoyao still hadn't finished eating. She wanted to leave Shaoyao there to finish the meat, but time was short.
"Shaoyao, we should go."
"Almost done. The meat's nearly cooked."
Shaoyao looked miserable as she waited impatiently for the meat to cook. But the meat didn't seem to care about her pleas, making her even more restless. She really did seem to love eating. Xiangyi couldn't help wondering if Shaoyao had died from overeating back then.
"Shaoyao, I have a question."
"What is it, Flower Master?"
"Were you actually so full that you died back then?"
"Flower Master... What kind of joke is that?" Shaoyao looked angry, thinking Xiangyi's question was insulting. But then she seemed to remember something, and her answer became hesitant.
"Though... I suppose it was something like that."
Shaoyao's eyes began to grow unfocused, as if she'd remembered something that had left her unsettled. Her scent began to spread until it filled the hot-pot restaurant.
Seeing that something was wrong, Xiangyi hurriedly called for Hua Nu.
Xiangyi: Hua Nu, what's happening to Shaoyao?
Hua Nu: Didn't I tell the Flower Master about Shaoyao's past?
Xiangyi: You didn't, of course.
Hua Nu: No wonder. I thought you already knew, so I kept giving her meat.
Xiangyi: So what is it? Is she going to lose control?
Shaoyao fell into a deep silence, like the ominous calm before a storm. At Xiangyi's question, Hua Nu finally emerged from the Flower God Ring. She was still dressed in ancient-style clothing and didn't reveal herself to anyone else.
Chapter 87: Another Insane Setup?
Hua Nu glanced at Shaoyao, who was suppressing her emotions, then looked at Xiangyi and conveyed the message directly to her mind.
Hua Nu: Shaoyao was an assassin from Assassin Tower. Her master betrayed her, then killed everyone in the tower.
Xiangyi: I know that.
Hua Nu's lips curled up, her beautiful eyes shining with an unusual light. Then she moved closer to Xiangyi and, leaning in as near as she could, told her the rest.
Hua Nu: But Shaoyao found herself too lonely, so she cut up those people's bones and flesh and made them into bones to keep her company. But she was still lonely. Then, after discovering that human flesh tasted pretty good...
Xiangyi shuddered. She knew every Flower Person had a dark past, but she hadn't expected Shaoyao, the first Flower Person to appear, to be so dark.
Hua Nu: The story isn't over. Shaoyao soon realized the human flesh tasted so familiar. She remembered eating something like it when she was abandoned. So she slit her own throat.
And eating human flesh had probably given Shaoyao a mysterious skill: Gluttony. If she ate enough meat, she could instantly heal any physical injury.
The story was horrifying when she thought about it. Xiangyi broke out in goosebumps and suddenly wanted to get out of this world as fast as she could. Hua Nu knew she'd frightened Xiangyi, so she stroked her hair and gently breathed into her ear.
Hua Nu: Flower Master, would you like to hear my story too?
Xiangyi: No. I haven't recovered from Shaoyao's story yet.
Hua Nu smiled, hiding the truth and lies of the story in that smile. Then she took out a silver needle and handed it to Xiangyi.
Hua Nu: Just prick her with it later. That'll keep her from losing control.
Hua Nu made it sound so simple. Xiangyi was skeptical, thinking this setup seemed a little too convenient, but when she looked closely, she saw something on the needle.
It was a peculiar, addictive fragrance, and Xiangyi immediately recognized it as coming from Huangquan, the Flower God.
Xiangyi: What did you make this from? Something of Huangquan's?
Hua Nu: Flower Master, people who are too clever don't live long.
Hua Nu smiled mysteriously. Xiangyi knew this was another unanswered mystery. But she remembered giving Huangquan, the first female lead, ten different talents so everyone would adore her. Apart from being a little cold, she was so outstanding that she made everyone else feel inferior.
Whatever it was, Xiangyi agreed. She grabbed Shaoyao, who was acting strangely, and stuck the silver needle into her neck. Shaoyao's body went limp, and she slumped against Xiangyi.
The sight was so strange that Xiangyi felt a little less afraid. She put an arm around Shaoyao's waist and carefully began making her way to the door.
Seeing the two girls supporting each other as they walked, the waiter looked worried and couldn't help glancing at them. Xiangyi gave him a smile, and he stayed where he was, watching them from a distance.
Then she took Shaoyao to the nearest restroom, hoping to help her wash her face before putting her back in the Flower God Ring.
"Shaoyao, are you all right?"
Before you continue