“Ka... ka...”
In the hallway, Ye Shiyu’s eyes widened slightly in disbelief as she took a step back. She tilted her head, catching a glimpse of her shattered phone on the ground behind her before turning her gaze back to Spencer.
“Hah...”
Her face had turned pale, her breaths quick and uneven, as if she was still shaken.
Though Spencer didn’t know what had just happened, a wave of irritation surged within her.
“I don’t know what you were planning, but for some reason, it really pisses me off.”
“......”
Even though the medium for her hypnosis had been destroyed by Spencer, Ye Shiyu’s initial shock quickly melted into a blank, expressionless mask.
Her left hand trembled slightly—like before, it seemed she was about to cast a move from zero frame.
“!!”
Spencer had no idea how Ye Shiyu’s techniques worked, but seeing her raise her hand, she instinctively lashed out, aiming for her wrist.
But this time, as Spencer’s hand was about to strike Ye Shiyu’s wrist, her opponent’s right hand, swift and ghostly, clamped down like a viper.
“Whoosh!”
Before Spencer could react, Ye Shiyu’s right hand coiled around her elbow like a snake.
“Snap!”
A wrist lock—arm entanglement!
Spencer tried to fight back with brute strength, but Ye Shiyu’s left hand flashed forward like lightning, slamming down on her shoulder. A sharp, precise force pressed through her joint, bending her arm backward and pinning it under her.
An armbar!
Spencer struggled, but Ye Shiyu’s grip on her elbow joint was unrelenting—every slightest movement shot pain through her arm.
“Hiss—!”
Since childhood, Ye Lan had spared no effort in nurturing her only daughter, hiring renowned instructors to teach her various disciplines beyond academics.
Ye Shiyu had once proudly told Yan Huan how she was skilled in many areas—music, weaving, dance...
But, of course, she had chosen to leave out certain proficiencies that might frighten him.
Such as martial arts.
Pinned down with her joints locked, every twitch sent searing pain through Spencer’s arm, forcing her to freeze.
A shadow-cloaked, chillingly composed Ye Shiyu opened her mouth and spoke, her voice cold and heavy,
“Earlier... you said, ‘Xiaohuan is already yours.’ What exactly do you mean by that?”
Spencer turned her head, a cold sneer curling her lips,
“What else could it mean? It means that Yan Huan—his body and his heart—belong to me, entirely!”
“......”
Ye Shiyu’s eyes sharpened, a murderous glint flickering within them. She tilted her head slightly and replied,
“Yours? And what gives you that right?”
Her ink-black pupils, lifeless and doll-like, stared unblinking at Spencer. The void in her gaze drained even her voice of emotion,
“Your looks? Your family background?
“Or perhaps... your swine-like stupidity and disgusting personality?”
Ye Shiyu knew she matched Spencer in both beauty and background.
As for personality... Sure, she considered herself despicable and vile. But certainly, she wasn’t as revolting as this woman.
Her mother’s warning had been crystal clear—she had resisted the urge to claim Yan Huan for herself
because
she cared for him.
And yet, here stood this self-entitled fool, spouting nonsense about owning
her
Xiaohuan?
Unforgivable.
Spencer’s pupils shrank at Ye Shiyu’s final words, like a raw nerve had been struck. She gritted her teeth, veins rising on her forehead.
Her voice was cold and venomous,
“If you’ve got the guts... say that again.”
“I said—” Ye Shiyu’s voice remained eerily calm, “—you’re not worthy.”
The moment those words fell, an explosion of strength surged from Spencer’s pinned arm.
“AAAAHHH!”
With monstrous power, Spencer lifted Ye Shiyu off her feet and flung her backward through the air.
Ye Shiyu’s eyes flickered with shock.
What kind of raw strength is this?!
But her body reacted faster than her thoughts—
She twisted mid-air, adjusted her center of gravity, and landed smoothly in a backflip, her palms brushing the floor lightly as if she were a graceful bird.
The shattered remains of her phone lay by her feet.
“......”
Ye Shiyu’s legs felt weak as she exhaled softly, bending down to pick up her phone. Pressing the lock screen, she saw that despite the spiderweb cracks, the display still flickered on—
This was the newer, sturdier replacement she had gotten after Ye Lan had scolded her for breaking the old one.
Ding-dong~
[Modifier APP: New Update Available]
A notification bubble popped up over the Hypnosis APP icon on her home screen.
Ye Shiyu blinked but didn’t open it immediately. Instead, she raised her gaze to the equally breathless and grim-faced Spencer.
The tension between them was palpable—two girls, standing apart but locked in a deadly stare, their wills clashing like spear tip against shield edge.
They despised each other to the core.
“Ye-Auntie, let’s check this way. Maybe Shiyu’s over here...”
“Alright.”
Just as the air was thick enough to crack, a familiar voice broke through from the corridor’s corner—Yan Huan and Ye Lan.
Both Ye Shiyu and Spencer froze, heads snapping toward the sound.
And there they were—Yan Huan, leading Ye Lan around the corner.
The scene hit Yan Huan immediately—two girls facing off, the hallway littered with shattered glass from a destroyed phone, and Ye Shiyu clutching the broken device tightly.
“......”
His heart skipped.
Perched on his shoulder, the spectral Meow-chan sighed with relief,
“Good thing you thought ahead and brought Ye Lan, meow... Otherwise...”
“Yeah...” Yan Huan took a deep breath, though he masked his tension under a perfect, composed smile.
“Shiyu-jie, there you are.”
“Mm... Xiaohuan.”
Ye Shiyu nodded briefly, her gaze shifting... and locking onto Ye Lan.
“...!”
At the sight of her mother, Ye Shiyu’s body stiffened, her hands clasping nervously before her stomach.
Ye Lan approached, arms crossed over her qipao-clad figure. Some of the coldness in her face softened as she asked,
“Xiaohuan said you were looking for him?”
“Ah... I... Yeah...”
“I searched all over but couldn’t find you, so I brought her along to help.”
Ye Lan stopped beside her daughter, her eyes flicking briefly to the guarded, defiant Spencer.
Her tone lowered, directed solely at Ye Shiyu,
“Conflict? What happened?”
“......”
Ye Shiyu gripped her phone tighter, her eyes darting aside guiltily.
Ye Lan’s brow furrowed ever so slightly—an expression that Ye Shiyu knew all too well.
It was the same cold, expressionless mask Ye Shiyu often wore herself... carved from her mother’s mold.
And when Ye Lan frowned... it was terrifying.
Ye Shiyu’s shoulders twitched—she braced herself for a scolding.
“......”
But instead, Ye Lan’s sharp gaze shifted to Yan Huan, the edge in her expression dulling. She offered him a faint smile and nodded toward Spencer,
“And who might
that
be?”
“Ah, she’s a new transfer student this semester—Aria Spencer.”
“Spencer...”
Ye Lan repeated the name softly. Recognition dawned instantly.
Her eyes swept back to Spencer, and she... began walking toward her.
“...!”
Spencer tensed instinctively, her body shifting half a step back, wary and defensive.
Seeing this, a memory flashed through Yan Huan’s mind—
A childhood memory—getting into a fight with another kid... only to freeze when that kid’s
parent
arrived.
Anger, frustration... and the primal fear of authority.
Yeah... Spencer must be feeling exactly that.
“Little Spencer,” Ye Lan greeted with a warm smile, extending her hand, “I’m Ye Lan, Shiyu’s mother. Pleased to meet you.”
Spencer’s eyes flicked to the offered hand, then back to Ye Lan’s face.
But she didn’t shake it. Instead, she mumbled irritably,
“...Spencer is Spencer. What’s with the ‘
Little
’ Spencer nonsense?”
Ye Lan chuckled behind her hand, unfazed by the rejection.
“Well,” she teased lightly, “that’s because I’ve met ‘Big Spencer’ before.”
Spencer’s eyes narrowed.
“You’ve... met my mother?”
Ye Lan nodded casually,
“Mhm. Once, back in Eagle Nation. We’re not close, but... you do take after her quite a bit. One glance, and I knew whose daughter you were.”
“You... know my mom?”
The words slipped from Spencer’s lips—an unguarded reaction. But realizing her excitement, she quickly clamped down, masking it with a feigned indifference.
Ye Lan didn’t press, just nodded,
“Yes. But... that aside—”
Her eyes sharpened slightly, “—What exactly happened between you and my daughter?”
Spencer hesitated, her gaze darting briefly to Ye Shiyu—who, at some point, had quietly hidden behind Yan Huan.
She then glanced at Yan Huan himself... and the way he was looking at her.
A long, uncomfortable silence.
Finally, with a huff, Spencer muttered,
“That Ye Shiyu... She just came up to me out of nowhere, talking crazy. Saying... I should stay away from Yan Huan or something...”
Ye Shiyu... tried to hypnotize and corner her... for
that
reason?
Seriously...
what kind of logic is that?!
Was there some strange rule that said stand users had to fight on sight or something?
Yan Huan’s eyes flicked to Ye Shiyu, confusion lining his face.
Only to find—
She had already scurried behind him, using him like a human shield.
Because—
Ye Lan had turned her sharp gaze back toward her daughter, her expression the embodiment of
motherly judgment
.
And it promised... no mercy.
Yan Huan’s figure shielded Ye Shiyu entirely from Ye Lan’s line of sight, but the pressure in the air still made Ye Shiyu’s body tremble.
Ye Auntie, you’re unstoppable!
Yan Huan clenched his fist inwardly, silently cheering for Ye Lan. At this moment, he felt like a sly court official fawning over the mighty Emperor Ye.
Ye Lan let out a soft sigh, withdrawing her sharp, disappointed gaze from Ye Shiyu. She turned to face Spencer, who was still pursing her lips in guarded silence. With a warm smile, she spoke,
“How about this—Auntie will apologize on Ye Shiyu’s behalf. Can you forgive her, little Spencer? I promise I’ll give her a proper lesson and make sure she never does this again.”
“......”
Spencer’s lips parted slightly, caught off guard by Ye Lan’s apology.
In that instant, Ye Shiyu’s earlier words echoed in her mind—how she had confronted her solely to warn her to stay away from Yan Huan.
Now that she thought about it... from the very start, it seemed like
she
was the one who kept messing with Yan Huan.
Threatening him with photos, teasing him endlessly...
She had even stolen his precious first kiss.
Somehow, facing Ye Lan’s gentle gaze, Spencer felt a rare flicker of guilt.
Her eyes darted aside, and her voice lowered to a small, awkward mutter,
“...Yeah, fine.”
Ye Lan’s smile softened even further. Then, she slowly raised her hand—
And placed it gently on Spencer’s head.
Spencer’s eyes widened in surprise—
Before she felt the tender, rhythmic strokes through her hair.
“What a good girl~”
“Ugh...”
Spencer’s instinct was to bolt immediately. But something about Ye Lan’s praise and the comforting warmth of her hand...
Her body refused to move.
A faint flush colored her cheeks. She closed her eyes, and from her lips slipped a soft, cat-like murmur of contentment.
“......”
Behind them, Yan Huan stood frozen in sheer disbelief.
Ye Auntie... is still killing it?!
Is she planning to rule for eternity?!
In his eyes, Ye Lan had transformed from an elegant woman into a serene Guanyin Bodhisattva, holding a jade bottle of mercy.
She had already subdued the “Black Bear Spirit” Ye Shiyu...
And now, with a single tap of her lotus hand, she was reeling in the “Red Boy” Spencer.
Blessed be the pilgrimage with Ye Lan leading the way!
Yan Huan blinked, his heart murmuring to Meow-chan,
“Meow-chan, I swear, you picked the wrong person. If you’d chosen Ye Auntie to deal with the Modifier, we’d probably be popping champagne by now.”
The world would be saved, and my life would be a thousand times simpler.
Maybe then he could just focus on studying hard and... someday end up with Ying Gong.
“Meow?!”
But Meow-chan only widened her eyes and gave Yan Huan’s cheek a soft slap with her paw pad, as if to say—
Snap out of your daydream, fool.
“Ye Lan—wait, Aria... Aria-sama!!”
Suddenly—
Two familiar voices echoed from the hallway behind them.
It was William and Milos, who had been frantically searching after Yan Huan led Ye Lan off somewhere unknown.
The moment they entered the corridor, their eyes immediately locked on Spencer.
“!!”
Spencer, still basking in the head pats, stiffened instantly—her body jolting with the instinct to flee.
But it was too late.
“Ye Lan-san, this girl is...?”
“I know who she is. I’ve met your president before,” Ye Lan replied with a chuckle, her eyes flicking to Spencer—who was now nervously eyeing the nearest emergency exit.
“She seems... quite afraid of you two. What’s the story here?”
William sighed, stepping forward to explain,
“Our president and Aria-sama have... a certain agreement. If she ever disrupts our work, we’re to report directly to him. I imagine that’s why she’s wary of us.”
“Is that so?”
“Mm...”
Spencer, cheeks puffed slightly, turned her head away with a tsundere huff.
But Ye Lan only chuckled and ruffled her hair once more,
“Well, that just means you’re a good girl who listens to her mom—knowing not to meddle in adult business. Unlike
someone
... who always treats my words like a passing breeze.”
You hear that, Ye Shiyu? She’s talking about you.
Behind Yan Huan, Ye Shiyu’s head sank even lower, as if trying to burrow into the floor.
William, noticing the subtle sparkle returning to Spencer’s eyes, smiled faintly but then turned to Ye Lan and asked,
“You said you’ve met our president before? Was that...?”
“A few years back... at your headquarters.”
Meanwhile—
Yan Huan, enjoying the scene of Ye Shiyu cowering behind him like a scolded ostrich, suddenly froze.
A faint, rhythmic ticking—soft as droplets of water—brushed his ears.
“滴滴...嗒嗒...”
His entire expression stiffened, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.
The sound...
Something about it was wrong.
His gaze flicked swiftly around the corridor, scanning every shadow and corner.
Even Spencer, who had been lazily enjoying her head pats, frowned and rubbed her ear, puzzled by the phantom sound.
“Ye Lan-san,” William suddenly said, “Perhaps it’s best if Milos accompanies you for the rest of your tour. I... need to take Aria-sama back with me for now.”
Milos stepped forward, intercepting Spencer before she could slip away toward the emergency exit.
The others began to move toward the exit—
And in that very moment—
A cold, semi-transparent hand, barely perceptible, shot out from behind and
clutched the fabric of Yan Huan’s shirt.
“...The hell?!”
Yan Huan’s body reacted instantly—his instincts flaring as if he had brushed against a ghost.
Yet—
His mask of perfect composure remained flawless. Not a single crack of emotion slipped through.
Only his eyes, subtly and warily, traced downward.
And then—
The hand
pulled.
“Shhhht—”
A strange, slithering sensation, as if a seam in reality had been torn—
To everyone else... Yan Huan’s clothes appeared perfectly intact.
But in
his
vision—
His neatly pressed shirt had been
peeled open
, exposing his pale, toned chest and abs beneath.
The fabric layered oddly—one image overlaying another—like a glitch in the worldline.
“Xiaohuan, Shiyu... Let’s go.”
“...Mm.”
Around him—
No one noticed a thing.
His mask remained—his expression serene, unshaken.
But his heart thundered with confusion, his eyes narrowing.
And then...
He saw
her.
The culprit.
Just ahead—
A certain girl, clad in a stylish idol-themed academy uniform—
Bai Yi.
Her eyes were
wide,
locked
shamelessly
on his exposed skin.
Her cheeks flushed pink, her breath a little uneven—
And—
In her hand...
Her
phone.
...Pointed
directly at him.
“...?”
For a split second, Yan Huan’s world blanked.
Then—
“Click!”
A photo—
with the damn flash on.
“......”
Yan Huan’s expression stayed neutral.
But his
soul
was screaming.
—The hell is this woman doing?!?!
Inside his mind:
ERROR 404—LOGIC NOT FOUND.
“...Meow-chan,” he whispered mentally, his voice tight, “...What the actual f***?! What’s Bai Yi suddenly doing? Did I trigger something?!”
“...Meow?! I... I got no clue, meow!”
Even Meow-chan was baffled, her ears twitching as she watched Bai Yi, who now clutched her phone like it was treasure.
No modification commands... No hypnosis cues...
Nothing.
Yet she had gone
full paparazzi
on him—right after Ye Shiyu and Spencer’s showdown ended in mutual suppression by Ye Lan.
And worst of all—
She succeeded.
A clean shot—no defenses, no warnings—straight into her gallery.
Yan Huan was a fortress—
But Bai Yi...
Bai Yi had stolen the crown jewels.
And the reason...
That tale...
Began moments earlier—
When Ye Shiyu lured Yan Huan away for her duel with Spencer...