If One Could Die Among the Buds

"The Shenzhou family conflict... what's that about?" Elder Alpha asked expressionlessly.

"Well... according to recent news circulating in Shenzhou, the Chen Family and Zhou Family seem to have had a conflict of unknown nature. The Zhou Family's attitude towards the Chen Family has clearly cooled, and they've been frequently contacting other families... The Chen Family must be feeling a sense of crisis about this situation."

Elder Alpha slowly put down the document, appearing completely unconcerned about the family dispute about to erupt in the distant East. "Arrange an online interview for Chen Motong."

Seeing Frost still looking confused and stunned, Alpha explained:

"Bloodline heritage is the most important matter for a family. If Chen Motong is a satisfactory candidate, increasing the number of protectors isn't out of the question—provided that only Chen Motong is protected, not the Chen Family, and conflict with other families is avoided. You need to make this clear to your subordinates."

"Yes! We'll arrange it immediately!"

***

Chen Family Manor.

In a standard girl's bedroom, the pink-themed wall decorations, natural silk soft bed, solid wood desk, dressing table, and other furniture were neatly in their places.

The rose-colored curtains were tightly drawn, as if on high alert, to prevent outside light from entering. What should have been a bright, warm-toned bedroom was now trapped in a chilling, bone-piercing darkness.

"..."

Nono quietly wiped away her silently falling tears, quickly went to the dressing mirror, applied foundation, brushed on concealer and setting powder, then lightly traced a subtle eyeliner along her lashes with an eyeliner pencil, completely concealing the sorrowful appearance caused by her excessive crying moments ago.

It must be said that the Chen Family's memory cleansing regarding the test subjects was very successful. They did indeed make Nono forget the fact that she had been repeatedly interrogated...

However, Jiu De Mayi turned around and immediately sent the first-person video she had secretly recorded of the entire previous incident to the young girl.

And so, almost the same as before, the "Frigga Three" video nearly caused the Little Witch's Profiling to go wild.

Nono once again fell into a deep abyss of despair. She was sad, she was angry, she was heartbroken, and then she began to fiercely hate her woven fate and the enormous shadow cast by the giant Chen Family...

But to avoid being discovered by the surveillance and security forces arranged by the Chen Family, Nono could only hide under the covers, pretending to be unwell, and then quickly compose herself.

Today, Nono managed to maintain her composure, and once again, with practiced ease, she slipped out of the room, found a communicator, and contacted Jiu De Mayi.

The voice on the other end spoke first: "...Have you accepted the truth? You understand, right? You are essentially a clone... You are not your mother or father's child. Those family ties or hatred belong to the original Miss Chen Motong."

Nono's voice, still slightly muffled from crying, said, "I know."

"Then what are your thoughts now?"

"I still hate this family!... Although the very first prototype, and the later Friggas, have all lost their lives, but! But 'Chen Motong' is not dead yet... If I give up this hatred now, she will truly be dead!"

Nono pursed her lips tightly, her nose stinging. She held back her reddened eyes to avoid crying. In truth, if it weren't for Jiu De Mayi's interference, she could have remained completely ignorant of the truth, continuing to be an irresponsible, rebellious, and wild Little Witch...

But now that she knew all of this, how could she willingly be a timid ostrich burying her head in the sand! Having read the pain of the previous Frigga test subjects through Profiling, she had to personally participate in the revenge against the Chen Family!

Jiu De Mayi heard that Nono's words were no longer just a little girl's tantrum, but held a genuine, unwavering hatred. Her tone couldn't help but reveal a hint of helplessness. "Actually, this should be our last contact."

"What do you mean?" Nono was suddenly startled. "Are you going to start acting?"

"Whether we act or not, it won't be convenient to contact you anymore."

Jiu De Mayi's words were watertight in defense against Nono's probing.

"I'm saying this because the Gattuso people are coming soon, and the surveillance around you will at least double."

"Your 'father' is now having tea and dinner with a bunch of foreigners every day, seemingly just to urge them to send people from their homeland quickly. It seems your 'father' thinks interrogating you is useless, and maybe he's already sold you for a good price."

"..."

"Well, let me put it another way. Your current situation is a bit like 'escaping the wolf's den only to enter the tiger's mouth'."

"Not a puppet test subject of the Chen Family, but a puppet bride of the Gattuso Family?"

Nono murmured softly, as if she saw an unfathomably dark abyss waiting for her to leap into.

"It depends on your mindset, I guess. If the Gattuso Family really takes a liking to you, then a wealthy and peaceful life is still an option... Hey, hey, forget I said that. A purely rebellious girl like you would definitely not choose to tie her own hands and run away to be a cowardly wimp, right?"

Nono sighed softly, her face showing a hint of misery:

"Yes... Do you know Journey to the West? In Journey to the West, it writes about a foolish monkey waiting in the Water Curtain Cave, while Tang Monk is a handsome and dashing great master."

"If I truly didn't know all this truth, and was as foolish and innocent as the miserable foolish monkey waiting in the Water Curtain Cave in Journey to the West, gently abducted by the Tang Sanzang sent by the Gattuso Family, forgetting that I was once as clever as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, how regrettable, unwilling, and sad that scene would be!"

The other side was silent. During the silence, there seemed to be a faint sigh.

"...Then I'll ask you one last time, are you sure you want to personally participate in this battle? You could die."

Listening to the flat question through the receiver, Nono remembered the "Frigga" who had been executed countless times in the Profiling. The surging, distant tide of anger in her eyes swallowed the last trace of hesitation:

"I'm sure."

"Alright, come here again tonight to pick up something. Consider it a farewell gift to help you with your actions... Well, that's it. The call is over. Goodbye forever."

"Thank you... Goodbye forever."

Nono threw down the communicator and crushed it. As if finally relieved of a heavy burden, a bright, sunny smile bloomed on her gloomy face, and she left with a spring in her step, her dark red hair fluttering in the cold wind.

Like an imaginary little sprite, knowing life is fragile and precarious yet still singing and dancing lightly, she softly recited a poem:

If I can die in the bud, I won't have to endure the wilting after blooming.

***

Jiu De Mayi hung up the phone and looked at the tube of Ancient Dragon Serum she held in her other hand.

"Tsk, I admire this girl's determination, but I can't believe the boss actually gave away a gift like this."

She felt a bit confused about the boss, whether he disliked or favored this Nono.

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