Lin Ran

"Welcome home. Whoa, what happened to you? You look like you're in a bad mood. Did something happen?"

Lin Ran watched the girl change her shoes in the foyer, her face slumped in dejection.

"Don't even get me started."

It would be a miracle if Xu Xiaoyou's mood was any good.

First, she got caught in a chain of overtime traps at the company, then she wasted a bullet on three idiots who didn't know better, and finally, she was being targeted by an investigator who seemed a bit yandere.

She collapsed onto the sofa, physically and mentally exhausted. The hum of the air conditioning helped soothe her heart, giving her a sense of being home.

The sound of the television drifted over. Anya was sitting in front of the TV, wearing small pajamas. She seemed to have just showered; the grime on her body had been washed away, making her look a shade fairer. Seeing Xu Xiaoyou return, she stood up and pitter-pattered over to the girl's side, tugging on her hand.

"Wa, wa, wa..."

"Anya, I'm too tired. I don't have the energy to play with you," Xu Xiaoyou said.

Anya tilted her head and stood still for a moment, then pitter-pattered away again.

"Gosh, you can understand what she's saying?" Lin Ran asked in surprise. "I've been working so hard to communicate with her! Taking care of kids is such a hassle."

"No, I'm just guessing."

Xu Xiaoyou sat up, her attention drawn to the screen.

Super Baby was roughly about an infant born with superpowers who could fly and burrow through the earth. His mother possessed an Innate Calamity Physique, meaning bad luck followed her wherever she went. On her way to work during the day, things would either fall from the sky or cars would suddenly swerve at her while crossing the street. After a long day of work, she’d even run into muggers on her way home.

The baby had a high IQ and could already speak. He was clever and capable, acting like a good little boy in front of his mother while sucking on a pacifier during the day, but going out to punish evil in the city when the night was still.

Overall, it looked like a healing, slice-of-life show about a family and a cute baby. The ratings on the website were quite high, with tens of thousands of people giving it rave reviews, calling it the best family drama of the year.

Xu Xiaoyou really wanted to criticize it. The heroine of the show was way too much of a silly-sweet trope; an entire heavy truck was flipped over by that Super Baby right in front of her, yet she just clutched her chest with a look of, "Oh my, what happened? I have no idea!"

"You like watching this stuff?" Xu Xiaoyou asked.

"No way! Do I look like I have that much free time?" Lin Ran said. "Anya wanted to watch it."

Just then, Anya ran back and handed over a glass of water.

"Tired... drink water..."

Taking the glass, Xu Xiaoyou took a sip. The temperature was just right, a comfortable warmth.

Seemingly sleepy, Anya went to turn off the TV after delivering the water and returned to her own room.

"She's actually quite well-behaved in front of you," Lin Ran said, watching the little girl's receding figure. "When I was helping her bathe, I saw... her back is covered in whip-like scars, and there are rings of burn marks on her arms..."

"Her previous mistress did that. What kind of person do you take me for?"

"Hmm..." Lin Ran lowered her eyes, looking like she had something on her mind.

After a bit of internal struggle, Lin Ran mustered the courage to speak. "Chen Xinyi... she..."

"Dead," Xu Xiaoyou said.

She hadn't forgotten about that. After having dinner at the company, she had gone to ask Glos, and she still remembered the other woman's surprised and curious expression.

The exact response was: "Her? She died a few days ago. They found her in the employee apartments. I heard she was stabbed to death; it was terrifying."

Xu Xiaoyou repeated the words to Lin Ran.

After hearing this, Lin Ran's expression turned complex, appearing somewhat lonely.

"So, what was your relationship with her?" Xu Xiaoyou asked.

"What else could it be? It was... you know, that kind of relationship..." Lin Ran stammered.

Xu Xiaoyou gave her a knowing look.

"She used to say that no matter what happened, we'd be together. She really played me..." Lin Ran's face didn't look good, as if she were recalling an unpleasant experience. "I hate her."

"She kept talking about our future and all that. For her sake, I worked overtime every day at the company. I bought her bags, jewelry, and gave her money to open a small shop. She used my money for everything—food, drinks, rent. So many things..."

"And after all that! She was still fooling around with another woman. When I found out and she broke up with me, I was so angry I nearly cried! But she acted like it didn't matter at all while the whole company laughed at me."

As she spoke, Lin Ran’s tears were on the verge of falling. She rubbed her reddened eyes.

"Don't you think she's hateful? A total tramp like that—I hate her so much!"

"I just couldn't take it anymore, so I... I committed suicide."

Xu Xiaoyou patted Lin Ran's shoulder sympathetically.

"Simps never have a happy ending, especially love-blinded ones. Living conditions in this hive city are already this shitty, and you were thinking about romance?"

Lin Ran nodded with red eyes. "I was too young and naive. My head was completely filled with romance back then. I’d grin like a moron just thinking about the future. And in the end, we only ever held hands..."

"Seriously, even though she was like that, I still felt a bit sad hearing she was dead."

The more Lin Ran spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. It took a while of Xu Xiaoyou comforting her before she finally calmed down.

After a long time, she spoke up.

"I feel like my resentment has vanished. I'm not trapped in this small room anymore. If I want to go out, I should be able to."

"It's a vague feeling, but I think I could just disappear if I wanted to."

"So, are you leaving?" Xu Xiaoyou asked.

"I don't know..." Confusion flashed in Lin Ran's eyes. "Leaving the world like this feels too pathetic."

"Now I can go wherever I want, and I'm not held hostage by some miserable future. Everything has just begun," Lin Ran said.

Finally, the girl seemed to make up her mind, pumping her fist.

"I've decided! I'm going to make a huge travel plan. I'm going to travel the whole world! I won't be confined to this hive city!"

Xu Xiaoyou nodded, then added:

"I hate to break it to you, but an urban eldritch creature wandering around like you? Any random grade 1 fixer could come along and farm you for experience."

Lin Ran thought about that scenario. At the thought of those bloodthirsty, insane fixers, her face went pale, and she felt sick.

"That's—that's why I need to make a travel plan! Until then, I guess I'll reluctantly stay here. That kid Anya looks pretty pitiful too..."

"Didn't you say taking care of kids was a hassle?"

"Why does it sound like I'm begging you to let me stay!" Lin Ran put her hands on her hips, her voice gaining confidence.

"From now on, I won't beg anyone for anything! I'm staying here, so what?"

Xu Xiaoyou was amused by the girl's cheerful personality.

"What are you laughing at? Give me your phone!" Lin Ran reached out demandingly.

"What for? To report me?"

"I'm going to say goodbye to the past once and for all!"