After spending two comfortable days in the hospital, Su Yin received a call from the Minors Protection Association.
The representative said: "Oh dear, in your situation, you really can't live alone. You need a guardian; otherwise, it doesn't comply with the law."
Su Yin frowned. She had previously studied Diguo law, which indeed had strict protections for minors. Otherwise, she wouldn't have staged that livestream to completely break away from the Su family and focus on recovering her health.
She was only six months away from adulthood.
But the representative's attitude was firm.
Understanding Su Yin's hesitation, the representative persuaded her: "We've already found a suitable guardian for you—an old acquaintance of your biological mother. She once stayed at your grandmother's house for a while. Her name is Zhou Xianghan."
"Ms. Zhou Xianghan is a well-known scholar. After learning about your situation, she expressed great sympathy and offered to adopt you. She also assured that she wouldn't interfere with your decisions or life in the future."
What the association didn't mention was that Zhou Xianghan was not only a professor in the art department of the Imperial Capital University but also the younger sister of the queen, sharing the same mother.
With this status, it provided an extra layer of security.
With the system at her disposal, Su Yin naturally confirmed Ms. Zhou Xianghan's information.
Zhou Xianghan was of noble status, had once been kidnapped, and had received kindness from Su Yin's maternal grandmother, the original host's grandmother.
Su Yin's appearance closely resembled that of Aunt Lin in Zhou Xianghan's memory, which led to her recognition. After learning about Su Yin's circumstances, Zhou Xianghan decided to take her in.
After some thought, Su Yin agreed. Zhou Xianghan likely meant her no harm.
She had no other choice. Her wounds had healed for several days now, and she couldn't stay in the hospital any longer…
The next day arrived in the blink of an eye. Su Yin met Ms. Zhou, who appeared gentle and intellectual, around forty or fifty years old.
Su Yin followed Zhou Xianghan in a hovercar to the Zhou residence. For the convenience of Zhou Xianghan's teaching, her home was located in a villa area near the Imperial Capital University.
After receiving the news yesterday, Zhou Xianghan had prepared a room for Su Yin. She gave Su Yin a brief tour of the house and then led her to the dining room for a meal.
She thought Su Yin was far too thin.
Zhou Xianghan was genuinely delighted, constantly busy serving Su Yin food.
With a loving expression, she said, "Xiao Yin, from now on, just call me Aunt Xianghan. Don't address me as Ms. Zhou anymore; it feels too distant. I feel a special connection with you. I also have a son in the military who rarely gets to visit me. Having you here with me now truly makes me happy."
Zhou Xianghan paused here, murmuring somewhat sadly, "I still remember the meals Aunt Lin made for me back then. She saved me during my most destitute time and gave me hope to live on. I also met your mother once… It's a pity we gradually lost contact later."
Suddenly remembering that Su Yin's mother had long passed away, she felt a bit awkward: "Ah! Why am I bringing this up! Auntie didn't mean to. Eat more; you're too thin!"
"Mm, it's okay, Aunt Xianghan. I can feel your kindness toward me…" Su Yin said, lowering her head slightly with a hint of shyness.
Zhou Xianghan looked at Su Yin's soft, fluffy hair whorl and couldn't resist touching it. She was immediately struck by its softness and gently stroked it a couple more times, her heart melting with tenderness…
Su Yin: […]
Just then, the butler robot approached: "Madam, Young Master Xingcun is here."
Zhou Xianghan's face lit up with delight as she watched the tall figure stride in. "Xingcun, what brings you here? You should have called ahead—I could have prepared more of your favorite dishes!"
Before Su Yin could react, the system's excited voice chimed in: 【Master! It's a fragment of the Main God!】
【What fragment of the Main God?】 Su Yin was taken aback.
【This person is a fragment carrier! The Main God fragment is a hidden quest. If we can obtain it, our mission progress will leap forward!】
Su Yin raised an eyebrow: 【How much of a leap are we talking about?】
The system: 【About one percent.】
Su Yin: 【…Just one percent? What a lousy hidden quest.】
The system sighed: 【Master, do you know how much progress you make from completing a single mission? It's 0.01%… And it doesn't hurt to try—there's no penalty for failing anyway.】
Su Yin: …
【A quest like this is our duty to undertake!】
【So how do we do it? Kill this guy, slice him up, and find the Main God fragment?】
Su Yin was joking, of course—she wouldn't harm anyone without reason. If that were really the case, she'd rather skip the quest altogether.
The system was horrified: 【! Ugh! Even as a joke, you shouldn't say such things! You'll get punished for it someday! It probably requires the fragment carrier to willingly give it to you, but no one has ever succeeded, so no one knows the exact method.】
As expected, it was a lousy quest.
Su Yin looked up at the newcomer.
He was an exceptionally tall man, standing at least 190 centimeters, with an upright posture and an imposing presence.
He was likely a Level 5 Nenglizhe. Before Su Yin could get a clear look at his face, she felt her breath catch.
She lowered her head, suppressing the strange sensation, and complained to the system: 【Does this world have some kind of bloodline suppression or something?】
【This man is Level 5! The third son of the Diguo's king and queen, named Lu Xingcun. Level 5 is a top-tier powerhouse capable of tearing apart starships with their bare hands. His prototype is a tiger, so it's quite intimidating for a little rabbit like you.】
Su Yin didn't argue with the system's explanation and looked up again to study the man.
His features were handsome and chiseled, with sharp, blade-like eyebrows, giving him a cold, steel-like demeanor.
"Aunt, my mother received a batch of specialty gemstones from White Comet the other day and asked me to bring some to you. I thought I'd drop by to see you as well," the man's deep voice resonated as he approached and handed the gift to Zhou Xianghan.
Zhou Xianghan happily pulled him to sit in an empty seat beside her. "Wonderful, wonderful! Come, sit here. You haven't had dinner yet, have you? Join us for a bite."
She then pointed at Su Yin and introduced her: "This is Su Yin, my niece. She'll be like a sister to you from now on, so make sure to look out for her."
Lu Xingcun glanced at Su Yin indifferently, nodded solemnly, and replied in a slightly stiff tone: "Naturally."
Su Yin immediately put on a gentle and delicate demeanor, sweetly calling out: "Brother, hello, I'm Su Yin."
The system paused, then whispered: 【Target character's favorability -10.】
Su Yin: …
Damn!
No way! This guy isn't buying it. Is he even a man?