Night had fallen, and dim yellow streetlights illuminated the area near the Moding Mountain Opera House in District A of Lilith Academy.
The Moding Mountain Opera House, situated on the banks of the Moria River, had been built before the Lilith Academy was established.
This avid opera lover, Mo Dingshan, constructed it after taking over Madam Lilith’s estate.
The Moria River flowed quietly in the night.
The banks were about twenty meters apart.
Where the dim streetlights couldn’t reach, willows gently swayed in the breeze from the water’s surface.
There were far fewer people than during the day.
Along the riverbank, under the weeping willows, on the long wooden benches, couples were cuddling and whispering sweet nothings.
Hu Xi had been walking for a long time.
The sky was almost completely dark, but Bamianfo was still walking ahead.
“Buddha Lord, where are you going?”
Wasn’t the purpose of this trip to go to the opera house?
Why had they circled around it so many times?
“Tired?”
Bamianfo slowed down.
“Do you really think it’s that easy to kidnap the daughter of a world-class billionaire?”
Bamianfo took off his hat and placed it over Hu Xi’s face, revealing a playful smile.
“This job will set us up for eight lifetimes.”
“Even Xiao Yu can’t figure out what you’re thinking all day.”
Hu Xi pouted and complained coquettishly.
“If you knew, you wouldn’t need to stay by my side.”
The fat on Bamianfo’s face piled up, his nasolabial folds like deep ravines.
He shook his flesh—that counted as a laugh.
Hu Xi’s chest calmed almost imperceptibly for a few seconds, then she showed an even more ambiguous smile.
“Buddha Lord, you always like to tease me.”
Hu Xi took Bamianfo’s hat off with both hands, stood on tiptoe to put it back on his head, and then straightened his collar and hem.
“Buddha Lord is Xiao Yu’s benefactor. Xiao Yu can’t even repay you enough—why would she ever want to leave you?”
Hu Xi gazed into Bamianfo’s eyes with deep affection, unable to help herself, and gave him a peck on the lips.
“If Buddha Lord says such things again… Xiao Yu… Xiao Yu will…”
Hu Xi choked up, leaning against Bamianfo’s wide, warm chest.
Her words were full of grievance.
“Your acting is getting better and better.”
Bamianfo embraced the delicate body in his arms, gently soothing her trembling frame.
“Buddha Lord,” Hu Xi sobbed.
“Xiao Yu has never lied to you, whether you believe it or not.”
Bamianfo’s large hand that was patting her back paused for a moment.
“Alright, alright, alright. Buddha Lord believes you.”
After calming Hu Xi down, Bamianfo walked side by side with her, their footsteps perfectly synchronized.
“Li Ruoxi is a big cake. If one person tries to eat it alone, they’ll choke. So we need to find a knife, prepare enough plates, and also people…”
At the entrance of the opera house, the magnificent golden door stood eighteen meters high, supported by two thick pillars that took four people to wrap their arms around.
Long steps led up to two landings, with twenty-two steps in total.
The landings extended on both sides, as if the golden gate were a giant embracing the entire opera house.
The top of the opera house was a round, cake-like dome.
“A knife, plates, and people to eat the cake.”
Bamianfo squinted, gazing at the opera house that looked like a dragon’s castle from a hero’s quest, its splendid golden door and long red-carpeted steps.
“Let’s go. The people I need are all here tonight.”
Bamianfo took the lead and walked up.
Hu Xi followed, curiously eyeing the door, wondering who among the people inside would cut and eat the cake.
Hu Xi took out two gold foil cards from somewhere on her person and hurried to keep up with the fast-moving Bamianfo.
—
“This is my sister…”
Li Ruoxi introduced Vivian, who was on her right.
“And this is… a senior I just met…”
At the same time, she introduced He Ranran to Vivian on the other side.
“Xiao Xi, your sister is just as pretty as you.”
At the white square dining table, He Ranran met Vivian for the first time.
“Hello, He Ranran.”
He Ranran generously extended her hand.
“Nice to meet you.”
The second hand on the wall ticked three times softly.
“Nice…”
When He Ranran tried to continue, Li Ruoxi reached out and took her hand, forcing an apologetic smile.
“Sorry, my sister is quite introverted. She’s always been this cold.”
“Is that so? Indeed, her personality is very similar to yours, Xiao Xi. Both are very introverted.”
He Ranran teased.
Looking at the exquisite six dishes on the table, almost every single one was unfamiliar to her.
“Xiao Xi, and… Xiao Xi’s sister, thank you for preparing dinner.”
He Ranran said somewhat formally.
Li Ruoxi glanced at Vivian, wondering why she hadn’t left yet so late, making things so awkward.
“It’s fine, my sister is usually like this—she doesn’t talk much.”
Li Ruoxi picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of white truffle that had been cooked to a golden brown and coated in a delicious-looking sauce from the plate in front of He Ranran, and placed it in her bowl.
“When did you two meet?”
Vivian’s characteristic cool and clear voice pronounced every word with precision.
She spoke expressionlessly.
“Xiao Xi and I only met today. Strangely enough, seeing Xiao Xi felt like meeting a long-lost sister.”
He Ranran said happily, nodding slightly to thank Li Ruoxi for the food.
She then picked up her own chopsticks, took a thin slice of raw fish, dipped it in the pale pink sauce in the small dish, and placed it in Li Ruoxi’s bowl.
When she was about to serve Vivian, Vivian refused: “No need, I’ll help myself.”
Still cold.
Vivian acted like a parent whose daughter had been stolen.
He Ranran was the one who had taken her cabbage.
“So, are you staying here tonight?”
Vivian pressed.
“You… aren’t you…”
Li Ruoxi’s courage only lasted for a few words.
“…Never mind. Ranran, I’ll see her home later.”
“Xiao Xi, no need. I can go back on my own. Besides, a bicycle is more convenient.”
He Ranran thought Li Ruoxi was sending a car to take her.
“It’s fine. Sending you off is very convenient.”
Vivian looked displeasedly at Li Ruoxi.
“The helicopter is next door. I’ll have someone take you back later.”
“Helicopter…” x2
Li Ruoxi hadn’t expected Vivian to come by helicopter!
He Ranran was so surprised she almost choked, thankfully taking small bites.
“Do you get airsick? There’s also a light rail underground.”
Vivian added.
Li Ruoxi was unhappy with Vivian’s attitude but couldn’t say anything.
Her own life was still in Vivian’s hands.
If Vivian got angry, He Ranran would also be in danger.
‘All for safety…’
Li Ruoxi prayed inwardly.
“It’s okay, Ranran. Let’s eat first. The food is getting cold…”
Li Ruoxi paused for less than half a second.
“…Sister, here, this is your favorite, isn’t it? Eat more. I specifically asked the auntie to prepare extra.”
“I really envy how close you sisters are.”
He Ranran blurted out.
“You eat too, Ranran.”
Li Ruoxi smiled faintly, taking it as a casual compliment.
“Mm.”
The food was delicious, but the table was filled with a heavy atmosphere.
Vivian silently picked up food and chewed from start to finish, making no sound at all.
The usually outgoing He Ranran, intimidated by Vivian, became very quiet.
Li Ruoxi maintained a polite smile throughout, serving both of them, asking He Ranran if it tasted good, sweetly calling Vivian “sister,” and acting as a caring and considerate younger sister.
Finally, the painful dinner ended.
After eating, He Ranran wiped her mouth and suddenly brought up the College Freshman Banquet.
“Are you two interested in coming with me to check it out?”
He Ranran was like a child encountering something new.
“I heard that this year’s freshman banquet is on a much higher scale than all previous ones.”
“Not interested.”
Vivian replied expressionlessly, then asked Li Ruoxi, “Where’s your necklace?”
“The necklace… It’s with Xue Jie. I forgot to bring it back.”
Li Ruoxi looked very nervous when asked.
“Go with her and bring the necklace back.”
At that moment, a noisy sound suddenly arose, like being at the mouth of a giant fan.
The wind outside suddenly picked up, and a fierce hot wind blew away the cold air from the indoor air conditioner.
“Go.”
Vivian wiped her mouth with a nearby towel, then got up and left the table to go upstairs.
“Heh… heh…”
He Ranran could only smile helplessly.
Xiao Xi’s sister was really strange.
No wonder Xiao Xi had hesitated when inviting her to dinner on the way.
“Come! With! Me! To! The! Theatre!”
He Ranran shouted loudly to Li Ruoxi.
The loud roar of the helicopter’s engine rumbled incessantly in their ears.
“Okay! Wait! For! Me!”
Li Ruoxi compressed her dantian and shouted loudly.
Amid the roar, He Ranran signaled yes.
Li Ruoxi quickly ran upstairs, following behind Vivian.
The second floor was pitch black with no lights.
Only Li Ruoxi could feel the vibration of her own footsteps on the stairs.
A figure stood silently at the end of the stairs.
“You…”
Li Ruoxi was going too fast to stop and crashed into the figure’s arms.
Vivian raised a hand, and a black ripple spread around them.
The deafening noise of the helicopter instantly disappeared.
Vivian’s face showed displeasure, her cold eyes suppressing icy anger.
“If there’s a next time, I will take action.”
‘Kill them.’
Vivian didn’t say the last part out loud.
Li Ruoxi felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
“You’re mine. No next time.”
“I… then…”
“Go and bring the necklace back. If you lose it again…”
Vivian’s gaze was ferocious, her fangs slightly protruding from her lips.
“I’ll keep you in bed for a whole year.”
She left behind a rather suggestive threat, at least that’s how Li Ruoxi felt.
After saying that, the deafening noise covered all other sounds again.
Vivian had already disappeared.
Li Ruoxi stood stunned for a moment, still shaken by fear.
“Xiao!! Xi!!!!”
He Ranran’s voice came faintly from downstairs.
The faint sound reached Li Ruoxi’s ears, snapping her back to reality.
Li Ruoxi didn’t reply.
Her heart was in turmoil as she ran downstairs.
She got on the helicopter with He Ranran to see her off and retrieve the necklace along the way.