Yu Huan was curious about almost everything. Whenever she came across something new and interesting online, she always wanted to try it herself.
But she was also extremely delicate and couldn’t handle being frightened at all.
Even something only slightly scary could give her nightmares and leave her listless for several days, like a wilted little flower.
Yet Yu Huan was extraordinarily talented when it came to ordering people around.
With her sweet, delicate voice calling their name and those round, sparkling eyes staring straight at them, even the most cold-hearted person couldn’t bring themselves to refuse her.
And so, whenever the pampered young lady encountered something she wanted to try but was too scared to do herself, she would simply get someone else to do it.
She would hide far behind them, covering her eyes with her slender, fair fingers while secretly peeking through the gaps.
That way, she could satisfy her curiosity without having to face the scary parts herself.
Yu Huan had discovered this horror game online a long time ago and immediately added it to her game library when it was released.
Unfortunately, it required multiple players to play together. The game had launched right around the beginning of summer vacation, and Yu Huan hadn’t been able to find anyone willing to play it for her.
But now the timing was perfect.
Zhu Heqing had come to see her, and Zhou Muyang happened to be at home too.
There were exactly two people available.
No matter how much Zhou Muyang complained, once he was faced with Yu Huan’s adorable face, he still obediently went back to get his computer.
When Zhu Heqing was in his teens, he had dabbled in all sorts of things. It wasn’t until he joined the company that the amount of time he spent on electronics gradually decreased.
So aside from being slightly rusty at first, he quickly got back into the game.
The game had received overwhelmingly positive reviews.
It used traditional Chinese superstitions and folklore as its foundation, combined with eerie background music and sudden jump scares that appeared without warning.
It was enough to make many players’ hair stand on end.
Yu Huan lay against Zhu Heqing’s back, her hands covering her ears.
Whenever they reached a frightening part, she immediately buried herself against his back and covered her ears tightly.
Her warm breath seeped through the thin fabric and brushed against Zhu Heqing’s back.
While controlling the character and solving the puzzles, Zhu Heqing quietly comforted her.
Time passed without them noticing.
By the time Zhang Ya and the other three returned carrying large red fans, the game had reached its final stage.
Another jump scare suddenly appeared.
Zhou Muyang, completely unprepared, screamed at the top of his lungs.
The moment Zhang Ya and the others opened the door, they heard Zhou Muyang’s voice crack as he screamed.
“Son, what are you screaming about?”
Rong Xia poked her head inside.
Then she noticed the man sitting across from Zhou Muyang. She froze for a moment before remembering who he was.
“Oh, it’s Xiao Zhu. You’re here too.”
After the jump scare ended, the game began playing a cutscene.
Zhu Heqing first turned around and helped Yu Huan sit properly before standing up to greet the four adults.
“Uncle, Auntie, I’m sorry for dropping by without notice.”
“Not at all, not at all.”
Zhang Ya quickly waved it off.
“Fufu has been talking about you these past few days. Lao Yu, go cut up a watermelon.”
After exchanging a few pleasantries, they soon ran out of things to talk about.
Since they had a guest, Rong Xia and the others didn’t want to disturb them any further. Once the game ended, they called Zhou Muyang home with them.
Yu Hezhang cut up a watermelon and brought it out.
“Xiao Zhu, what do you like to eat? I’ll cook something for you tonight.”
Zhu Heqing answered politely.
“Uncle, you’re a wonderful cook. I’ll eat whatever you make.”
Then he turned to Zhang Ya.
“Auntie, there’s something I’d like to ask you for help with.”
Zhang Ya looked curious.
“What is it?”
The elegant man deliberately let a hint of embarrassment show on his handsome face.
“Fufu really likes the braised prawns you make. She doesn’t like eating prawns from restaurants, so I was hoping you could teach me a little of your technique.”
“Of course!”
Zhang Ya was more than happy to teach him.
“How about you come with me to the market later to buy some prawns? I’ll teach you step by step. I guarantee Fufu will love what you make.”
The sun had just dipped below the horizon, leaving streaks of red in the sky, when Zhang Ya took Zhu Heqing to the market.
Yu Huan hadn’t been to a traditional market since she grew up, but once she heard they were going, she insisted on coming too.
In the end, they decided all four of them would go.
There were two electric scooters at home, so there was enough room.
Thus, Zhang Ya drove Yu Huan, while Yu Hezhang drove Zhu Heqing, and the four of them headed to the market together.
The moment they arrived, Yu Huan regretted coming.
There were countless stalls packed together. Vegetable leaves and spoiled produce were scattered across the ground, while the areas around the seafood stalls were wet and slippery.
As a little clean freak, Yu Huan refused to walk on her own.
She looked at Zhu Heqing with those delicate, pleading eyes.
Zhu Heqing immediately crouched down in front of her, waiting for his spoiled little darling to climb onto his back.
Zhang Ya laughed and gently tapped Yu Huan’s perky nose.
“You really have been spoiled rotten by us.”
Along the way, the vendors who knew Zhang Ya and her family jokingly teased them.
“Your Huanhuan found herself such a good boyfriend! He’s so thoughtful.”
“You two are sweeter than honey. Even going to the market, he has to carry you.”
“When are you two getting married? Don’t forget to invite us! Just like her mother, that girl really knows how to pick a boyfriend—tall and handsome.”
“……”
Yu Huan’s little face turned bright red from all the teasing.
She buried her face against Zhu Heqing’s neck, turned her fluffy head away from everyone, and quietly ordered him,
“Walk faster. This is so embarrassing.”
Zhu Heqing gave every well-meaning vendor a polite smile.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Everyone is just blessing us.”
Near a corner of the market, a plump woman with short, curly hair was angrily slamming vegetables onto her stall.
“Tch. She only managed to snag a rich man because she’s pretty. Just wait until he gets tired of her. She’ll be the first one he dumps.”
“Rich people are only playing around with her. And she actually thinks she’s something special.”
Someone nearby couldn’t stand listening anymore.
“You sure have a lot to say. They’re a happy young couple. It’s none of your business, so why are you sticking your nose into it?”
“Mind your own business.”
The plump woman slammed a radish down.
“My mouth belongs to me. I’ll say whatever I want.”
“And I’m not wrong. Yu Huan has that seductive, fox-like face. She flirts with every man she sees. People like her have no shame.”
The woman continued grumbling and cursing.
Eventually, when there weren’t many customers left, she packed up her stall and rode her bicycle home.
The moment she stepped inside, a soda can came flying toward her.
“Why did you take so long? Are you trying to starve me?”
The plump woman wasn’t angry at all.
Instead, she smiled.
“Son, I didn’t mean to be late. I’ll make dinner for you right away.”
In the living room, a man so overweight that his eyes were nearly reduced to slits was sprawled across the sofa.
Trash and cigarette butts were scattered all over the floor.
The man picked his nose, finished his last bottle of soda, and impatiently said,
“Hurry up.”
“Okay, okay. It’ll be ready soon.”
While chopping vegetables, the plump woman began talking to her son.
“Son, I ran into that Yu Huan girl today.”
“She had absolutely no shame. She latched onto some rich man who’s at least seven years older than her, and now she’s parading him around in public. She’s completely disgraced her entire family.”
The moment the man heard the name Yu Huan, his scalp began to ache.
He remembered being cornered and having his hair pulled by her and her friends when they were children.
He touched his greasy hair, which he hadn’t washed in several days, and gave a sinister smile.
“That bitch…”
“I’ll just wait and see her get played to death by some old man.”