Chapter 48: Simps

“Pfft!”

Watching Li Huayu’s face turn pale with fright as she immediately rushed over to try and carry Luo Tianyou on her back to escape, Luo Tianyou couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

She reached out and grabbed Li Huayu’s wrist, making the girl freeze in place.

“Okay, okay, I’m done teasing you.”

Luo Tianyou’s eyes curved into crescents.

“I’m fine, and that person isn’t some murderer.”

She waved her other hand.

Luo Tianyi, who was sitting on the sofa, blinked as her figure began to turn transparent, dissolving into specks of starlight before finally vanishing into the air and returning to Luo Tianyou’s body.

Li Huayu stared blankly at the scene, her lips trembling.

“That was…”

Luo Tianyou pulled her down to sit on the sofa. “You can think of it as a special Magic Avatar.”

She briefly explained a few things about the second body.

Of course, for one illiterate person to explain magic to another was a difficult task.

Li Huayu only half-understood, but she grasped one point: that mature and beautiful woman was essentially a part of Tianyou.

“So, Tianyou can turn into two people now?”

Li Huayu whispered, her expression still worried.

“Pretty much.”

Luo Tianyou felt a bit embarrassed.

“I’m sorry for scaring you just now.”

Li Huayu shook her head quickly.

“It’s okay. If it’s Tianyou, anything is okay, as long as… as long as Tianyou is real.”

Her voice grew softer as she lowered her head, lost in thought.

Luo Tianyou patted her back.

“It’s real. We’re safe now. Sister Chen and Chen Xiaoyu were taken by the Bureau for an inspection; they should recover soon. Someone will handle the aftermath of those matters. Qingluan and Hongying have been found as well, though their bodies need care. For the time being, we have to stay here.”

Li Huayu followed Luo Tianyou’s finger to look at the spacious, tidy living room, then looked out the window.

It was late at night, and the city lights were dazzling.

It was safe here.

And she was living with Tianyou.

This caused Li Huayu’s heart to race, followed by a deep sense of inferiority.

‘Am I worthy? Does a dirty person like me deserve to live with Tianyou?’

“Huayu? What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Do you need to rest more?”

Li Huayu shook her head hurriedly.

“No, I just feel like I’ve caused Tianyou so much trouble…”

“Yeah, it is a lot of trouble.”

Luo Tianyou replied casually without thinking much of it as she stretched.

“Are you hungry? I’ll see what’s in the fridge. You should go take a shower first.”

The fridge was well-stocked.

Luo Tianyou wasn’t great at cooking, but she could handle boiling some noodles.

By the time the steaming bowls of noodles were on the table, Li Huayu had finished washing up and changed into clean pajamas prepared by Lin Weiwei, her damp hair draped over her shoulders.

The two ate in a rare moment of peace.

Li Huayu suddenly spoke up.

“Tianyou, I… I want to turn myself in.”

Luo Tianyou was stunned.

“Turn yourself in?”

“Yes.”

Li Huayu put down her chopsticks.

“I’ve stolen many times. Even though it was only a little bit each time, it was wrong. I want to register with the Bureau and pay back all the money I stole, even if it takes a long, long time. I don’t want to live with this burden anymore.”

‘This child is really trying her best to improve.’

Luo Tianyou smiled with narrowed eyes.

“Alright.”

She nodded.

After finishing the noodles and cleaning up, the night had grown deep.

Luo Tianyou arranged for Li Huayu to sleep in the guest bedroom and returned to the master bedroom herself.

Lying in bed, she didn’t feel sleepy at all.

Too many things had happened over the past few days.

She rolled over and sat up.

‘I feel like something’s missing.’

After thinking for a moment, Luo Tianyou snapped her fingers to summon Luo Tianyi and then lay down comfortably on top of her.

‘My own body is definitely the most comfortable.’

*

Back at the previous hotel.

Tsukishita Ruri stood alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside, the city lights were brilliant and the neon signs flickered.

The city she had once protected was still prosperous and noisy.

But she felt empty inside.

An unfinished bottle of red wine sat on the coffee table, with crystal-like liquid remaining on the rim of the wine glass.

A few strands of hair left behind by Luo Tianyou were scattered on the carpet by the sofa.

Tsukishita Ruri leaned over and picked up the strands of hair.

She remembered the look Luo Tianyou had given her at the end — disappointment, anger, and a cold sense of detachment.

She had originally thought she wouldn’t care too much.

‘I just need to find Luo Tianyou. I already apologized, so she wouldn’t refuse to forgive me, right?’

But now, the apology she thought she gave and the forgiveness she expected turned out to be fake.

She had gained nothing.

Tsukishita Ruri walked to the sofa and sat down, gently placing the strands of hair on the coffee table.

She picked up her glass and took a sip of red wine.

The liquid was tart, but the aftertaste carried a sweetness that didn’t suit her palate.

Just like her relationship with Luo Tianyou.

“Loyal dog?”

Tsukishita Ruri curled her lips in self-mockery.

“Heh, now I’m worse than a dog.”

At least a dog wouldn’t be loathed and avoided by its owner like this.

Luo Tianyou had disappeared.

Xiaoyuan hadn’t helped her with anything, and she had no idea where Luo Tianyou had gone.

Tsukishita Ruri put down her wine glass irritably.

“Magic Symbiosis…”

She raised her right hand, palm up.

Deep within Tsukishita Ruri, the part of starry magic belonging to Luo Tianyou was flowing slowly, intertwining and merging with her own Moonlight Magic to form a subtle yet firm symbiotic cycle.

This connection was deeper than a Contract Mark.

For the time being, even Xiaoyuan couldn’t find a solution.

If Luo Tianyou wanted to transform, she needed Ruri’s magic and had to be physically close to her to fully transform.

“What if she truly hates me to the extreme? What if she’d rather never transform again than see my face?”

Tsukishita Ruri murmured to herself.

She took a palm-sized leather notebook from her bosom.

The deep blue cover was a bit worn, and the corners were curled.

This was what Flora had thrown at her ten years ago after forcibly imposing that ridiculous Child’s Dog Covenant.

“Little Ruri, as a dog, you might not be very smart. You need to watch carefully and learn diligently. You’ll need this in the future~”

Tsukishita Ruri had been so angry at the time she almost burned the notebook.

But somehow, she had kept it and even flipped through it occasionally.

Every time she did, she would be filled with rage and want to burn it, only for the matter to end there.

She sat on the edge of the bed and opened the notebook.

The last time she opened it was two years ago.

[Cautions for My Dog!]

[Rule One: Little Tianyou responds to kindness, not force. Don’t be mean to her. Be gentle. Do you understand what gentle means?]

[Rule Two: She likes strawberry-flavored things, but hates things that are too sweet. Slightly tart and sweet is best.]

[Rule Three: This child has a bit of an inferiority complex and always feels she isn’t good enough. You need to praise her more.]

[Rule Four: She’s afraid of being lonely. Although she won’t say it out loud, she’s actually very dependent. Once you’ve raised her well, she’ll jump into bed with just a beckon of your finger.]

…

Tsukishita Ruri read seriously for the first time, flipping through page after page.

The notebook was filled with Luo Tianyou’s likes, habits, and little temper tantrums…

Between the lines, there was nothing but a mother’s doting and understanding of her child.

Flora really was a child-obsessed woman.

Tsukishita Ruri’s gaze stopped on a certain page.

The title of this page was: [What to do if Little Tianyou gets angry?]

Below, Flora had written in bold red ink:

[Apologize! Immediately! Right now! Apologize sincerely!]

[Don’t make excuses, don’t explain, just say “I was wrong.”]

[Then buy her a strawberry cake and watch the starry sky with her.]

[If she’s still angry… then act cute! My little Tianyou can’t stand it when others act cute, even though she won’t admit it herself~ Anyway, you’re the dog, so just hug her and lick her little feet~~ She’ll forgive you.]

Tsukishita Ruri stared at those words, her expression complex.

Act cute… Act cute?

Will it work?

‘Flora… if this doesn’t work, you’re really a scumbag.’