Chapter 18 – A Bold Idea
Inside the room.
Hua Mian: “What did you find out?”
Combining Chu Fufeng and Yan An’s information, they learned that Chi Rui was indeed being held in this inn at night—but only a few of Sophia’s beastman escorts knew the exact location.
And Shen Yan had announced that starting the day after tomorrow, he would sever one tendon in Chi Rui’s hands or feet every day. His reason: to maintain interstellar stability by severely punishing accomplices of thieves as a warning to all.
This was clearly meant to nail Shen Xueji and Yu Jin to the pillar of shame as thieves—and Chi Rui was being made the sacrificial chicken to frighten the monkeys.
Chi Rui’s condition had already been bad since yesterday, to the point that even struggling took effort.
Every piece of news was worse than the last.
Hua Mian: “Then I’ll tell you something that counts as slightly good news.”
She then repeated the description and comments from the shopkeeper’s nephew, along with her deductions.
Yan An, excited: “So if we keep watch on that clerk, we can find out where Chi Rui is being held?”
Hua Mian: “In theory, yes. But we must find Chi Rui before the day after tomorrow. In his current state, if his tendons are cut, he may not survive long.”
She propped up her chin, deep in thought.
So how could they make the clerk return to Chi Rui’s holding place sooner?
Chu Fufeng thought for a moment.
Chu Fufeng: “I’ll follow him.”
Hua Mian, snorting: “Can you guarantee you won’t be discovered at all?”
Yan An: “How about we capture him and force him to talk?”
Hua Mian: “Tsk, look at you, growing ruthless. And what if he doesn’t talk and the inn discovers it? Wouldn’t that alert the enemy?”
The room fell silent again.
Hua Mian: “Say, could we start with Sophia instead?”
Chu Fufeng & Yan An, instantly: “No.”
The two exchanged a look, and Yan An explained:
Yan An: “Sophia is a Soother. If anything happens, accomplices are imprisoned, but the mastermind—no matter who it is—is executed.”
Hua Mian mentally cursed: Seriously! Why couldn’t she have transmigrated into a Soother!
Hua Mian, muttering: “No wonder she dares strut around like she owns the place.”
Yan An copied her posture, chin propped up.
Yan An: “Sigh, if only I were Sophia. Soothers have way too many privileges.”
Hua Mian’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Hua Mian: “What did you just say?”
Yan An: “That Soothers have a lot of privileges?”
Hua Mian: “The sentence before that.”
Yan An, baffled: “If only I were Sophia?”
Hua Mian clapped her hands.
Hua Mian: “I have a bold idea.”
Chu Fufeng and Yan An listened with widening eyes.
When she finished—
Both: “No.”
Hua Mian: “Why not? I’m not harming anyone! Isn’t it allowed for a female to dress like a Soother just because she admires one?”
Yan An: “That—that’s twisting the argument!”
Hua Mian: “Wow! You even know what ‘twisting the argument’ means!”
Yan An: “Madam!”
Hua Mian: “Fine, fine, I’ll shut up.”
Chu Fufeng looked left and right, feeling completely unnecessary in the conversation.
Hua Mian, spreading her hands: “Then do you two have a better idea?”
Silence again.
At last Yan An gritted his teeth:
Yan An: “Madam, we’ll follow your plan!”
Hua Mian snapped her fingers.
Hua Mian: “See? Would’ve been easier if you said that earlier.”
She immediately sent Chu Fufeng out to gather the materials she needed.
Yan An: “Madam, what about me?”
Hua Mian leaned close, eyes smiling.
Hua Mian: “You… I have a very important mission for you. But I’m afraid your body might slow you down, so you’ll need… a soothing first.”
Yan An, swallowing nervously: “R-right now?”
Hua Mian: “Of course. I already asked Dr. Ye—he said your condition will only stabilize if you receive soothing frequently.”
She said it with a straight face, shifting all blame to Dr. Ye without a flicker of guilt.
Yan An, shyly lowering his head: “Thank you… Madam.”
Hua Mian teased: “What’s wrong? Weren’t you the one who used to ask me so proactively for soothing? Why are you embarrassed now?”
Yan An’s heart pounded like crazy; his mind felt like it was overheating.
Seeing him shy away, Hua Mian leaned forward and lightly kissed his lips.
Hua Mian: “Don’t be shy—let big sister comfort you, alright?”
Yan An trembled, eyes lifting, dark irises shining with an unknown gleam.
A pair of small, black rounded ears trembled and popped out on his head.
Yan An: “Madam… sister…”
He buried his face in her neck, kissing and clinging, coaxing so sweetly it made Hua Mian dizzy.
Hua Mian, breathy: “Yan An…”
The fragrance of roses slowly filled the whole room, and Yan An lost himself in that familiar sweetness…
Chu Fufeng rushed back with everything Hua Mian requested, only to freeze outside the door at the ambiguous sounds drifting from inside.
His hand, just touching the door handle, snapped back as if burned.
Of course he understood exactly what was happening. He turned to leave—but the soft, seductive cries of the female stopped him mid-step.
A wave of bitterness spread through his chest. Even the blood from his bitten tongue tasted only of bitterness.
So Hua Mian had sent him out to gather supplies not because she needed his ability—but because she thought he was in the way.
His grip on the bag tightened, eyes swirling with resentment and unwillingness, before finally sinking into a surface calm.
Inside, Hua Mian watched the time and lightly bit Yan An’s ear. His body stiffened, and with a shudder, everything came to an end.
Hua Mian, voice husky and lazy without realizing: “Good boy, Yan An. Get up and tidy the room.”
Yan An: “Okay.”
His bangs were slightly damp, his eyes bright and innocent—pure and beautiful.
Hua Mian watched him clean the messy room with such care and thought—
This is beyond virtuous.
Hua Mian: “Yan An, when we go back, make me something delicious to eat, alright?”
Yan An, imitating her coaxing tone: “Of course. Whatever Madam wants to eat.”
Her heart felt sweet all over. No wonder men in her past life were desperate to marry good-looking, capable wives—turns out the life really was great.
Not long after Yan An finished cleaning, Chu Fufeng returned with the bag.
The moment he entered, he smelled a strong rose scent—Hua Mian’s natural fragrance.
He had smelled it once before, after Hua Mian soothed Shen Xueji. At the time, he thought someone spilled perfume.
Later, on a whim, he even bought every rose-scented perfume sold on the market.
None smelled like hers. All were sharp and artificial.
Only later did he realize—this scent was unique to Madam.
Hua Mian didn’t notice his silence. She took the bag, opened it, and inside—
Golden beast fur.
The color was slightly darker than Sophia’s hair, but barely noticeable.
Hua Mian stared at it.
So in another world, she was also… a wig maker.
End of Chapter 18
