Chapter 74: That Silhouette

Lu Yunze had rarely dreamed about his mother. Yet this time, the entire scene inside the dream felt blurry, like faded ink.

In the dream, his mother wore a pure white lab coat, holding little Lu Yunze by the hand, guiding him past her workplace.

It was a long hallway.

On both sides stood cylindrical biological containers nearly two meters tall, filled with green liquid that bubbled quietly.

While his mother wasn’t paying attention, mischievous little Lu Yunze slipped out of her grasp and ran toward one of the containers, peering inside curiously.

He could not see clearly—the bubbles were too thick.

Lu Yunze narrowed his eyes, waiting patiently. Finally, when the bubbles thinned for a moment, he managed to see the thing floating inside.

It looked like a living organism. Its body curled up, as if it were asleep.

Just as young Lu Yunze was about to ask his mother what it was—

The creature inside the container suddenly opened its eyes.

And then—

Lu Yunze woke up.

Staring at the familiar bedroom ceiling, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“…It’s been a long time since I dreamt of Mother.”

Time flew, and his parents had been gone for ten years. Their faces in his memory had grown faint and indistinct.

His head injury from that old accident caused his childhood memories to become fuzzy; he could no longer recall what his parents specifically did for work.

Judging from the white lab coat in his dream, his mother should have been a doctor at some hospital…

Or perhaps the hospital director?

“…Strange. Why dream of her now?”

Lu Yunze froze.

“…Could it be because I was sleeping beside Xiao Sui?”

“Hm?”

He turned and saw the familiar little face beside him.

“I heard that when a man is at his most vulnerable, a woman’s maternal aura can calm his emotions,” Jiang Sui murmured.

She was dressed in a maid uniform, sleeves rolled up, exposing her pale forearms.

On the table sat a washbasin of warm water and a folded towel, plus several medical items. Paired with her calm smile, it was enough to make Lu Yunze feel uneasy.

“Explain. You didn’t do anything weird to me, right? And why am I shirtless?”

“Eh? Young Master, before you woke up, I’ve been tending to you the whole time,” Jiang Sui placed her hand over her cheek, looking wounded.

“You wake up and that’s the first thing you ask? It hurts my heart.”

“…Anyone would be suspicious! I woke up half-naked with a girl standing over me!”

“It’s just that you were sweating, so I wiped your body and changed your clothes,” Jiang Sui replied casually.

“That’s it?”

“Mm-hmm~ Besides…” Jiang Sui leaned forward and tapped his bare chest with a fingertip, voice lowering, “Young Master’s body is quite… impressive. Healthy and strong~”

Her fingertip slid lower, trailing along his abdominal muscles.

“And even like this, your body still reacts. Really makes it impossible not to notice, you know?”

“That’s just normal physiology!”

He bolted upright instantly and grabbed the nearest shirt.

Jiang Sui sat down elegantly, chin propped on hand, eyes filled with mirth as she watched him panic while dressing.

“I remember… I wasn’t at home.”

Once he calmed down, Lu Yunze began piecing events together.

“And then… we were attacked…”

“That moment scared me half to death.” Jiang Sui sighed.

“You went out to play, and we were all relaxed at home. Then suddenly you and Miss Luo were sent back in an ambulance.”

“…Only me and Luo Yao?”

A memory flickered—silver hair fluttering under moonlight—but he stayed silent.

“Thankfully you weren’t physically injured. You were poisoned, but after treatment, you’re fine now.”

“I see…”

Jiang Sui tilted her head, smiling sweetly as she examined his complexion.

“You’re recovering fast, Young Master. Miss Luo’s poisoning was lighter than yours, yet you woke up first.”

“…Not surprising. I’m strong.”

Jiang Sui giggled and leaned closer.

“Young Master, do you know why?”

“Why?”

She gave him a mischievous look.

“Because when you were unconscious, you kept moving. So I, being so very considerate, helped you relieve yourself with my hand~”

“WHAT?!”

Lu Yunze nearly jumped off the bed.

Before he could speak more, Jiang Sui held up the blanket with a calm smile.

“This new blanket was changed because you dirtied the last one. It feels nice, yes?”

“That is NOT funny.”

Just as Lu Yunze was about to scold her for such an inappropriate joke, the bedroom door swung open.

Luo Yao stepped in.

Her face was pale and clearly exhausted, but when she saw Lu Yunze awake, she smiled with relief.

“Lu-gege, you’re up.”

“Jiang Sui, leave for now. I’ll take care of him.”

“Yes, Miss Luo,” Jiang Sui replied obediently, emotionless. Not one unnecessary word—she simply left.

Lu Yunze waited until the door closed before looking toward Luo Yao.

“I thought it would take me several more days to recover… but I’m fine.”

“You’re stronger than me, Lu-gege,” Luo Yao forced a faint smile.

Her face was still sickly pale, voice weak—she looked like she could collapse any minute.

“As long as you’re alright, I’m relieved. Go rest, I still have medicine to finish.”

Lu Yunze didn’t press further and instead asked about the Ankang Town incident.

The investigation had already begun online—news articles called it a gas explosion or chemical leakage case.

Lu Yunze could only sigh at the level of information control enforced by the police and the Enforcer Division.

Who would’ve thought that little Ankang Town was actually the missing-person organization’s base?

Now that Hu Ming was dead and the mist had dispersed, countless criminals were arrested. For the first time, a breakthrough into the organization seemed possible.

“That’s good news.”

But Luo Yao’s expression darkened.

“More than fifty casualties.”

Lu Yunze fell silent.

“…They came for me, yet innocent people died because of that.”

Luo Yao frowned slightly, a hint of sadness in her smile.

“That’s why” Luo Yao stared at him coldly, “Lu-gege, next time you must listen to me. If not, even I won’t forgive you.”

“…Fine.”

After sending her off, Lu Yunze got out of bed and headed to the courtyard.

Every servant he encountered showed relieved expressions upon seeing him awake.

He stepped outside.

Before he even reached the flowerbeds, he saw a familiar figure working silently under the sun.

When he approached quietly, Jiang Sui instantly sensed him and turned, braid swinging behind her.

Sunlight poured down, reflecting off her sweat-soaked bangs and fair skin. The droplets on her body sparkled like gemstones. Her purple eyes gleamed like polished amethyst.

For a moment, she seemed to shine and Lu Yunze forgot what he wanted to say.

“…Did you come here while I was gone?”

“Mm. Everything Young Master teaches me, I engrave into my heart.” Jiang Sui tapped her head proudly with her dirt-covered fingertip.

“Well… if I died in Ankang Town, at least I know someone would take care of them.”

“Don’t speak nonsense.” Jiang Sui frowned.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Lu Yunze paused.

“…You secretly followed, didn’t you?”

“Nope~” she shook her head, braid swaying.

“But someone I know was there. I heard about everything from her.”

“Oh? I didn’t know. I want to meet her someday.”

“Young Master… are you treating women as collectibles?”

“That depends. Not everyone can be like you.”

Lu Yunze fell silent.

Before he fainted, he remembered something—

A silhouette.

Someone stood before him, shielding him.

Long hair. Female.

Desperately trying to protect him—

It wasn’t Luo Yao.

Jiang Sui wasn’t there.

So who?

His gaze drifted toward Jiang Sui and then shifted away.

No… she wasn’t lying.

Then the protector must be—

someone else.

Lu Yunze quietly lowered his eyes, slipping a four-leaf-clover green pendant back beneath his collar before Jiang Sui noticed.

The emerald shimmered under the sunlight.

Then he changed the topic and continued discussing gardening with her.