“By the way, Doctor Wuming.”
After finishing breakfast, Crosti propped her chin and looked at Wuming, finally voicing the question she had been holding back all night.
“What’s your ability, exactly?”
Serena also immediately cast a curious glance.
She was very curious about what kind of ability Wuming had that would make him take such a huge risk to save her.
“Well…”
Wuming, focused on by two pairs of eyes, scratched his head uncomfortably, showing obvious hesitation, as if troubled about whether to tell them or not.
But…
It should be fine to tell these two, right?
Wuming thought to himself.
They were basically on his side now, and Crosti had already witnessed his ability firsthand; there seemed no point in hiding it anymore.
“…You have to promise to keep it absolutely secret.”
Wuming held up his index finger, his expression unusually serious.
Only after both nodded solemnly did he slowly speak.
“It’s not some particularly amazing ability, just… my blood can make inanimate objects ‘come alive.'”
As he spoke, he took out the figurine he had used to save Serena yesterday and placed it on the table.
Serena looked at that lifelike figurine, then at Wuming, her eyes suddenly widening, filled with incredulous wonder.
“Then… last time when you saved me during the surgery, you also…”
“That’s right.” Wuming nodded.
“The figurine helped complete that surgery. Plus some [settings] I gave them, which made the operation go smoothly.”
“It was the same principle for saving you this time.”
“Settings?”
Serena repeated, puzzled.
“Making things ‘come alive’ is just the first step, merely a vessel.”
Wuming continued to explain. “What really makes them effective is the ‘settings’ I bestow.”
“For example, ‘superb surgical skills’ or ‘100% accuracy.’ These settings grant them abilities, and they can complete the corresponding tasks.”
“Then…” Serena’s curiosity was fully piqued. “Can you demonstrate it now?”
But Wuming shook his head without any hesitation.
“This ability isn’t something I can use whenever I want; I normally never activate it.”
His tone carried a hint of reproach as his gaze turned to Serena. “It’s all because of you that I had to use my ability twice in a row.”
“Do you even realize that, Serena!”
“S-Sorry…”
Serena knew she was in the wrong, her voice growing smaller as she guiltily lowered her head.
“Then… that ‘transformation’ I saw at that time was…?”
It was Crosti’s turn to ask Wuming; that scene was deeply etched in her mind and wouldn’t go away.
Wuming had emerged from the body like some alien.
“Well…” Wuming seemed a bit at a loss for words. “Just think of it as part of my ability. Simply put, I can control the animated objects to act.”
“…”
Crosti noticed that Wuming’s gaze drifted toward Serena again, his eyes filled with obvious resentment.
“You also made me lose a precious figurine, Serena! I have to settle this account with you properly too!”
Crosti was a bit confused for a moment—was Wuming trying to take in Serena, or was he just a debt collector, waiting for her to repay the favor before letting her go?
“I… I’ll find a way to compensate…”
Serena’s voice carried helplessness, just like she had thought back in the unfinished building; what she owed Wuming was piling up more and more.
“Then… Miss Serena, what’s your ability?”
Crosti’s attention turned to her as well.
“To charge into the unfinished building alone and get a huge bounty from Scarlet… what special skill do you have exactly?”
The moment the word “Scarlet” came out, Serena’s pupils contracted sharply, her just-relaxed expression instantly vanishing, replaced by vigilance and tension, her gaze locking dead on Crosti.
“You… how do you know about ‘Scarlet’?!”
“I not only know, but I’ve seen their people in person.”
Crosti answered casually, completely unaware that her words added another layer to Serena’s fear.
“Alright, alright, Crosti, stop scaring Serena.”
Seeing Serena tense enough to almost make a move, Wuming helplessly mediated.
“Hurry and tell her what you know.”
He turned to Serena and explained. “The stuff about Scarlet was first told to me by Crosti.”
Serena’s gaze remained firmly locked on Crosti, unable to shift away.
“Mm,” Crosti nodded calmly. “Those guys even tried to recruit me before, but I refused them outright.”
“There are a few ‘black household’ regulars in my stream; if I want to inquire about them, I just ask those guys.”
“…”
Seeing the doubt in Serena’s eyes still hadn’t dissipated, she added. “Don’t worry, I’m on Doctor Wuming’s side.”
She even flashed Serena a brilliant smile. “He’s my lifesaver! I couldn’t repay him enough; I’d be happy to cover his food and lodging for life!”
“…” Serena was silent for a moment, her gaze slowly turning to Wuming.
“…Loli-con.”
Those three words came out of Serena’s mouth again.
“Can you not say things that make people’s imaginations run wild…”
Wuming weakly held his forehead, a feeling of exhaustion washing over him body and soul.
Clearly, the energizing effect of the energy drinks had completely worn off. He couldn’t help but yawn hugely, his shoulders even slumping a bit.
The intense drowsiness was truly hard to resist. Anyway, Serena was awake now, and her condition was stable; he could finally relax.
Other matters could wait until he woke up.
He supported himself on the table to stand, his steps a bit unsteady.
“Crosti, I won’t see you out; help yourself. I have to…” Before finishing, another yawn. “…go sleep for a bit first.”
Right now, his only thought was to get back to his room, flop onto the bed, and sink into dreamless sleep until he woke naturally.
“Oh, oh… then hurry and rest, Doctor Wuming.” Crosti quickly responded.
“Mm…”
Before heading to the bedroom, Wuming’s steps paused, his gaze falling back on Serena, filled with heavy drowsiness and a hint of imperceptible worry.
“This time… behave yourself.” His voice was a bit mumbled. “Don’t pull any more stunts… don’t let me wake up to you gone again, got it?”
“…Oh.” Serena responded softly.
Getting her reply, Wuming seemed to have completed his last concern, dragging his tired body into the bedroom and gently closing the door.
They clearly heard the click of the door locking from inside.
“…”
“…”
“Uh…”
Back in the room, Wuming was almost forcing himself to stay alert, staggering to the bed and sitting down, propping his forehead with one hand.
These past few days… I’ve used up way too much blood…
It had been a long time since he had used his blood in such large amounts.
Wuming thought to himself, taking a deep breath to try and relax.
However, the moment he let his guard down, a change occurred—his body began to slowly shrink, his black hair rapidly growing longer, the color gradually fading to pure silver-white.
Even more striking, two long, pointed ghost horns quietly grew from the top of his head.
In an instant, the original teenage boy Wuming had transformed into a petite ghost clan loli.
I don’t even have enough power to maintain my male form anymore…
Looking at his own hand, Wuming understood his current state.
“Mmm…”
A soft hum escaped her mouth, carrying a childish tone and a hint of weakness.
“I hope sleeping will improve it a bit…”
She muttered to herself, her gaze glancing at the palm of her other hand.
To make the figurine “come alive,” she hadn’t hesitated to cut her skin with a knife.
Now, that wound had long disappeared, the skin smooth as ever, showing no trace of injury.
In terms of self-healing ability, she was indeed quite similar to those blood clan members; it could heal completely in just a few minutes.
Wuming—or rather, the ghost clan girl at this moment—leaned back, completely collapsing onto the bed.
First, get some good rest…
***
With Wuming’s departure, the living room seemed a bit quiet.
Serena sat on the sofa, but her heart stirred slightly.
Home…
Wuming’s drowsy and worried reminder stirred a ripple in her heart for the first time—a strange yet warm feeling called “home.”
“Tsk tsk tsk…”
Crosti pouted, her face showing obvious jealousy. “It seems Doctor Wuming is quite fond of you.”
She deliberately drew out her tone. “Even when he’s that tired, he’s still worried you’ll sneak off. You can’t run around anymore, okay, Miss Serena?”
Even she couldn’t help but remind her like that; ultimately, she was afraid that if Serena suddenly left, Wuming would risk danger to search for her again.
“I know…”
This feeling of being repeatedly on someone’s mind… was probably a first for Serena.
At this point, the last bit of wariness toward Crosti in her heart quietly eased a little.
However, she hadn’t forgotten a single word of the information Crosti had revealed earlier.
“You said earlier… Scarlet’s people approached you,” Serena probed, her voice carrying a barely noticeable anticipation.
“Then do you… know where they specifically operate?”
The desire for revenge had never extinguished; Serena hoped to pry open a clue from here.
Upon hearing this, Crosti directly rolled her eyes hugely toward the ceiling.
“Ha? You just promised to stay put here, and now you’re trying to get their address from me?”
Crosti unceremoniously poked through it. “If I tell you, won’t you immediately charge over there?”
“Well… it’s not that extreme…”
Serena defended somewhat guiltily. Though she wouldn’t move out immediately, once her injuries healed… that thought was indeed swirling in her mind.
But by then, she would definitely explain it clearly to Wuming!
She secretly promised that in her heart.
But Crosti’s next words were like a bucket of ice water dumped over her head, instantly extinguishing her hopes.
“Save it, Miss Serena.”
Crosti shrugged.
“They came to me on their own; how could I possibly know where their lair is?”
“Then… at least their appearances…”
Serena refused to give up, her voice carrying a hint of urgency.
“All wearing masks, wrapped in black robes,” Crosti spread her hands. “Couldn’t even tell if they were male or female, tall or short, fat or thin.”
“So, Miss Serena, the path of finding clues from appearances is cut off too.”
Unable to get any useful clues, Serena’s shoulders completely slumped, her eyes dimming.
It seemed her revenge plan could only be shelved for now; no progress in the short term.
Crosti sat down next to Serena, trying to comfort her.
“You should just focus on recovering from your injuries, Miss Serena. If Wuming finds out you’re thinking about revenge again, he’ll definitely try every way to stop you.”
She knew Wuming’s personality too well; that guy was absolutely a believer in “better one less trouble than one more”—how could he agree to Serena taking risks?
Unless those guys really stepped right up to his doorstep.
“…”
The living room fell quiet for a moment. Serena watched as Crosti boredly turned on the TV, constantly changing channels on the screen.
“So—bo—ring—”
Crosti drew out her complaint, her body slumping into the sofa like she had no bones.
With Wuming gone, the two lolis stared at each other, the atmosphere truly a bit dull.
Crosti was even starting to think that since there was nothing to do, she might as well head back early and prepare for tonight’s stream.
“Sigh, I originally wanted a place to hide and relax… but in the end, I still have to rely on streaming to survive.”
Crosti muttered softly.
“…” Serena’s gaze swept over the table, landing on the game controller lying quietly there.
She had no sleepiness now; rather than just sitting here idly…
An idea quietly popped up.
She reached out and picked up a controller, then turned her head to look at the equally idle Crosti beside her.
“Miss Crosti…”
“Hm?”
Crosti, who was wrestling with the remote, turned her head at the sound, looking at Serena, who was about the same height as her.
“If… you don’t mind,” Serena’s voice wasn’t loud, carrying a bit of tentativeness.
“Do you want to… play some games with me?”
“Games, huh…”
Crosti wasn’t someone who didn’t play games; she was just used to teaming up online with netizens from all over, and opportunities to play games face-to-face were rare.
But at this moment, Serena’s invitation was like an olive branch extended.
“Sure!” Crosti’s eyes lit up, agreeing readily, her face immediately losing its earlier listlessness.
She grabbed the other controller, sitting up straight with enthusiasm. “Come on! Let you witness the prowess of ‘Princess White’!”
“…”