This Hired Help Is a Bit of a Flirt / Don't Be So Impatient-I'm Not Going Anywhere.

In the end, Xiangyi still softened her wording, telling Zhang Mou that she was in a rather bad state at the moment.

Zhang Mou laughed as she listened, then continued, "Isn't that exactly why I invited you over? If your heart doesn't start racing, I'll lose face."

Zhang Mou kept pressing. Xiangyi seemed nervous from talking, so Zhang Mou lowered her voice and spoke in that same tone. "Relax. Give yourself to me."

Xiangyi's scalp prickled. She felt herself being led along. More importantly, she realized why so many things had gone wrong with her kiss with Muning earlier.

She was a woman, yet she didn't seem to understand women very well.

Zhang Mou was a woman, and she understood exactly what a woman needed.

The difference left Xiangyi at a disadvantage. She called for the flower people again, hoping they would start causing trouble if things began to get out of hand.

Xiangyi: Hua Nu, Shaoyao, if I can't hold out later, start haunting the place and wrecking things!

Hua Nu: Isn't this nice?

Shaoyao: Isn't this nice?

Hua Nu's voice held barely restrained laughter, while Shaoyao sounded angry. Flower people weren't parrots, but judging by their tone, neither of them seemed inclined to get involved.

Xiangyi could only call for Oleander, but quickly remembered that Oleander was higher-ranked than her. She couldn't summon her at all; Oleander had to choose to appear herself.

Oleander: Flower Master, this subordinate can't really interfere in something like this. You're on your own.

Oleander gave her answer in a stern tone, clearly unwilling to take part in Xiangyi's plan.

Xiangyi didn't even call for Huangquan. Everyone knew how cold the Flower God was. Xiangyi cursed inwardly, but then calmed down and thought of the one at the very bottom of the Flower God Ring—the only one she could bully: Little Grass.

Xiangyi: Little Grass, contact the butler and tell him to find a way to stop things from getting worse.

Little Grass: Why does it have to be me again?

Xiangyi: Hmm? Or maybe today...

Little Grass, who was soft-hearted, burst into tears. Dozens of voices sounded at once, turning her mind into a jumble. Xiangyi frowned slightly and hurriedly used her thoughts to block out everything in the Flower God Ring, but she could still feel those voices swirling around in her head.

When Zhang Mou returned with the drinks, she saw Xiangyi holding her head.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I've just been too tired lately."

Xiangyi forced a faint smile. Zhang Mou still seemed a little worried, so she checked on Xiangyi's condition again before finally relaxing.

"Good. I was afraid you'd run away halfway through." Zhang Mou joked, but the seriousness in her smiling eyes was unmistakable. Xiangyi forced another smile, suddenly feeling that she was in real danger.

"I won't... I came here, so why would I run away?" Taking advantage of the mood, Zhang Mou sat down beside her and tilted her head, looking at her with even more tenderness.

That tenderness made Xiangyi feel as if she might drown in it. Drawn in, she felt Zhang Mou's lips meet hers.

"We kissed again. How did it feel?"

Xiangyi's heart skipped, but the kiss had been too brief. She could only tell the truth about how she felt.

"I didn't feel anything."

"Hehe, looks like it'll have to last longer."

As she spoke, Zhang Mou kissed her again. Xiangyi instinctively hugged her, thinking they might finally kiss for a full minute and complete the flower-seed activation ritual. But this time, it ended after only a dozen seconds.

"How about this time?"

Zhang Mou seemed to be working through her routine, her voice, expression, and movements blending into a single, irresistible seduction.

"Still nothing." Xiangyi was a little exasperated. She pulled Zhang Mou close, impatient to get a one-minute kiss. Zhang Mou laughed and struggled, then held Xiangyi tight and whispered in her ear,

"Carry me to the bedroom."

It was a signal, but to Xiangyi it felt like a death sentence. But if she didn't, Zhang Mou didn't seem willing to continue. She hesitated, then silently repeated the words "tool person" to herself, clinging to her limits as Flower Master.

"Okay." That was what she told herself, but her mind had already agreed. She carried Zhang Mou upstairs at a brisk pace, while urging Little Grass to hurry up.

Just then, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Xiangyi was stunned. They hadn't even kissed yet, and the person who shouldn't have come had arrived.

Little Grass, the butler, panted as she came online in Xiangyi's mind and joined the conversation.

Little Grass: Flower Master, I got him to come over.

Xiangyi: Couldn't you have waited a few minutes?

Xiangyi screamed inwardly, suddenly remembering that Little Grass wasn't very bright. Even when possessing someone, Little Grass was still Little Grass. The only change possession made was to add loyalty as an option for the person being possessed.

Little Grass: Wuwu, but you just said I was too slow.

Little Grass started crying in grievance. Xiangyi was speechless, and noticed that Zhang Mou, in her arms, had reacted too.

"Put me down first. Someone seems to have arrived." Zhang Mou struggled, trying to get out of Xiangyi's arms. She was concerned about who the unexpected visitor was and what they wanted.

"No." Xiangyi refused at once. She wanted to catch Zhang Mou's lips and finish this act quickly, but Zhang Mou blocked her incoming kiss with her palm and said helplessly, "Be good. It might be an important guest."

As she spoke, Zhang Mou struggled harder. Xiangyi could only watch as Zhang Mou slipped out of her arms.

Zhang Mou was easy to fool, but clearly wasn't cooperating very well. Helpless, Xiangyi went downstairs too. Looking down, she saw the butler, with a key in hand, come in while clutching her back. She looked utterly bedraggled.

She was still wearing pajamas. It seemed Little Grass had put the butler through the wringer too.

Zhang Mou was surprised and instinctively straightened her clothes. "Uncle, what brings you here?"

The butler looked toward Xiangyi. "I suddenly remembered I left something behind, so I came back to get it. Madam, I hope I'm not interrupting."

Zhang Mou noticed her gaze and assumed the butler was curious about Xiangyi's identity, so she made something up. "No, this is Xiangyi's friend. She came over to visit."

It was an excuse even a blind person could see through. The butler didn't call her out, simply continuing to hold her back as she walked around the house. Zhang Mou was helpless too. Seeing Xiangyi looking unhappy, she took her hand and apologized.

"Don't rush. We still have the whole night."

She seemed to be soothing Xiangyi, and herself as well. Their hands were warm where they touched, but Zhang Mou thought Xiangyi's eventual outburst would feel even better.

Xiangyi nodded and continued urging Little Grass in her mind to get the butler to leave.

Little Grass had still been crying, but wiped her eyes and talked to the butler. The butler seemed to have genuinely forgotten something, though. When she left again, she took a box that looked like a mahjong case.

Xiangyi was astonished, but the door closed behind her. Zhang Mou had already locked it and turned off her phone, ready to get started.

This time, she leaped straight onto Xiangyi. Xiangyi lost her balance, sensing Zhang Mou's fervor.

System: Flower seed activating...

System: Countdown: 50 seconds...

The system had only just started counting down when the door suddenly rang again. Xiangyi was frantic. She was about to pin Zhang Mou down and kiss her through to the end, but the system displayed a new prompt.

System: Flower fairy has shown signs of refusal. Countdown reset. Host, please begin your performance again.

Xiangyi felt like a complete mess, but Zhang Mou had already pushed her away and said, "Look at how impatient you are. I'm not going anywhere."

After speaking, Zhang Mou patted Xiangyi's head and stood up. She also sounded a little displeased. "But honestly, what's with Uncle? How does he keep forgetting things?"

As she spoke, Zhang Mou went to unlock the door. She expected to see the butler again, but instead found someone completely unexpected.

"Hello, Mrs. Zhang."

It was a woman's voice, very gentle. Just hearing it gave the impression of having one's worries soothed away. But Xiangyi felt a chill when she heard it. She looked toward the doorway and, sure enough, saw Xia Shang again.

"Ah, Professor Xia, what brings you here?" Zhang Mou was surprised. She also realized what she was wearing and hurried to straighten her collar again, managing a slightly forced smile.

"I ran into your butler earlier. She told me you were home today, so I came by." Xia Shang smiled faintly as she explained, then let her gaze move naturally from Zhang Mou to Xiangyi, who stood not far away.

She had no proof, but Xiangyi felt that Xia Shang had come for her.

"Look at me, forgetting things. The haunting from a few days ago has already been dealt with." Zhang Mou was startled at first, then quickly remembered that she had been worried about Xiangyi and had mentioned the haunting to Xia Shang.

Xia Shang had said she would come by when she had time, but Zhang Mou hadn't expected that time to coincide with her date.

Zhang Mou was a little flustered. Xia Shang had already taken the initiative to explain, "Right, I shouldn't have come by so late, but I'm going back to Heaven City tomorrow. I thought I'd stop by and see if I could help."

Zhang Mou hesitated even more. Xia Shang's explanation made it harder to refuse. After thinking it over, she looked back at Xiangyi and gave her an apologetic look.

Xiangyi returned her smile, but she still felt uneasy. She even suspected that Xia Shang had used some special method to track her down, which was why she had arrived at Zhang Mou's home so quickly.

But it could also have been a coincidence. Xiangyi decided to stay calm and see how things developed.

Just as Xiangyi was preparing to observe from the sidelines, she suddenly heard a voice in her mind.

Oleander: She's strong.

Xiangyi jumped in surprise and saw Oleander appear, no bigger than her palm. She looked eager for a fight, as if she wanted to test herself against Xia Shang.

Shaoyao: Being strong won't help. You can't hit her right now anyway.

Looking again, Xiangyi saw Shaoyao appear alongside Hua Nu. Xia Shang's unexpected arrival seemed to have put all the flower people on guard.

Xiangyi: Wait! Don't tell me you all thought Zhang Mou was too weak and that I could handle this by myself, so you disappeared as a group earlier?

Hua Nu: Flower Master, you're overthinking it. We'd be delighted to have more flower people. Why would we look down on one?

Hua Nu smiled as she brushed off the subject, but Shaoyao's obvious reaction made it clear that the flower people weren't enthusiastic because the flower person Zhang Mou might awaken could be too weak.

Xiangyi was speechless, but she couldn't keep talking to the flower people because of what was happening in front of her. Xia Shang had already walked over and was asking who Xiangyi was.

"And this is...?"

"This is Xiangyi's friend. Professor Xia, just call her Little Flower."

After introducing Xiangyi, Zhang Mou introduced Xia Shang to her as well.

"Little Flower, this is Xia Shang, a psychology professor at Heaven University and a specially appointed consultant for the Chosen One Alliance."

"Hello."

"Hello."

Neither of them had really just met, of course, but neither mentioned that they had not only met before, but had even fought in a hotel. They exchanged smiles after Zhang Mou's introduction, but didn't say much else.

After the pleasantries, Xia Shang showed no sign of leaving. "It looks like Mrs. Zhang is entertaining a guest. In that case, we should get started with the test."

Zhang Mou still seemed a little hesitant, but considering Xia Shang's special status, she tugged on Xiangyi's hand and silently apologized with her eyes.

Xiangyi didn't respond. Xia Shang's sudden arrival had put her on edge. Besides, Xia Shang was highly intelligent. If Xiangyi wasn't careful, she might discover the traces left behind when Xiangyi had tried to scare Zhang Mou.

Hua Nu: Flower Master, she means trouble.

Xiangyi: I know. I'll be careful.

Xiangyi answered, then waited to see what would happen. No matter how bad things got, she didn't believe Xia Shang had any conclusive evidence.

"It was here. We were sitting in the living room when it happened..." Zhang Mou began recounting the haunting. Xia Shang recorded her account with a voice recorder, then opened the laptop she had brought with her.

The laptop had a metallic sheen. When she opened it, a red bar appeared.

"Please turn off the lights."

Zhang Mou did as she asked. The room went dark, leaving only the red glow and the light from the laptop. Xia Shang then plugged the recorder into the laptop. It automatically identified the words from the voiceprint, and a 3D projection appeared in the air.

The image showed the objects' paths through the room. Even Zhang Mou was startled by the high-tech gadget, and Xiangyi was too. Xia Shang seemed used to it. "A friend of mine invented this recorder. It was originally made for athletes to record their movements in combat and analyze their performance."

Xia Shang briefly explained what the device was for, then stood up and walked toward the 3D image.

"All right, now we'll reconstruct the objects' trajectories. Mrs. Zhang, you said the cup flew in from this direction, while the knife appeared from somewhere else." The 3D image covered the entire room. Xia Shang wore something like a headset, and as she spoke, two objects flew into view.

The image showed two objects in flight. Mrs. Zhang looked at them and nodded to confirm, still unable to resist asking, "But was this really done by a person?"

"Yes. People who can turn invisible are rare, but there are all kinds of similar abilities. Something like this happened in the library before. I investigated, and found a very interesting scent left behind." Xia Shang's analytical skills were exceptional, and she spoke with clear logic. The more composed she seemed, the more anxious Xiangyi became.