Pale fingers lifted the top of the fluffy pom-pom keychain.
You Min placed the dust-covered ornament into his palm, rubbing and pressing it repeatedly between his fingers.
After a while, dust clung to his knuckles.
Yet instead of finding it dirty, You Min pulled out the keys Lu Yi had dropped in the alley.
The key ring clasp was red, but something was clearly missing from it…
When he aligned the broken string of the pom-pom with the clasp, they fit together perfectly.
So this was what Lu Yi had been searching for at the crime scene…
You Min stroked the remaining traces of blood.
The crimson eyes that had driven him into heat resurfaced in his mind, overlapping with Lu Yi’s damp black eyes until desire burned through his entire body.
Could they be the same person?
And if they weren’t…
It didn’t matter.
He would kill the silver-haired female who made him lose control—
And keep the Lu Yi he couldn’t bear to kill imprisoned by his side forever.
Ding dong.
The doorbell rang.
You Min withdrew his obsessive gaze and headed downstairs.
On the visual intercom screen stood several beastmen in uniform boots gathered outside the yard.
At a glance, You Min recognized them.
Police.
The police had finally traced the case here.
That thief who stole Lu Yi away…
Had exposed her secret to these beasts.
Ding dong.
“Anyone home? Planet Weimang Police. Please cooperate with the investigation.”
You Min replied coldly,
“This is my property.”
Hearing a response, the officers exchanged glances.
“Sir, are you the homeowner? We’re from Planet Weimang Police. Please cooperate with our investigation.”
“I refuse.”
You Min’s tone was filled with impatience.
They assumed the man inside was the old owner listed in the records and patiently continued,
“Sir, a very serious case occurred here—”
“Come back with a warrant before talking to me.”
You Min shut off the visual intercom, giving them no further chance to speak.
Turning around, he went upstairs again.
From his pocket, he removed a narrow perfume bottle and carefully sprayed the area where the bloodstain remained.
Several hours later, the old blood visible only through thermal vision silently disappeared…
Lu Yi arrived at the Lin family estate and solemnly bid farewell to the snow fox statue.
“Thank you… Fox God… for giving me the chance to support myself.”
Led by the butler, she entered the estate and quickly noticed elegantly dressed nobles gathered together.
Each held wine glasses while speaking gracefully with one another.
Apparently, some kind of event was taking place at the Lin estate today…
“Miss Lu Yi, today is Young Master Lin Yu’s art exhibition.”
Though the butler wasn’t a commoner, thanks to Lin Che’s influence, he still treated Lu Yi with a certain level of respect.
At the very least, he wasn’t like those arrogant elites who looked down on weaker people.
“An art exhibition… that’s amazing.”
“Of course. Brother Yu is the most famous painter in the entire galaxy.”
A familiar bright voice sounded from nearby.
Turning around, Lu Yi saw the usually carefree Lin Che dressed in a refined modern Chinese formal outfit.
His short hair was perfectly styled, his handsome brows and eyes unusually dignified.
At this moment, he truly looked like a young master.
“Student Lin Che…”
“Lu Yi.”
He took over from the butler naturally and grabbed the soft pale hand hanging at Lu Yi’s side.
Lu Yi’s heart skipped violently.
Instinctively, she tried to pull away, only for the boy’s scorching palm to tighten further around her hand.
“Don’t run.”
Lin Che dragged her toward the back garden.
His tone allowed no refusal and even carried a trace of viciousness.
“Student Lin Che…”
Lu Yi became even more panicked.
Turning her head, she realized his entire neck was flushed red all the way to the corners of his eyes.
White roses bloomed across the flower walls on both sides.
Pure and immaculate.
Completely opposite from the provocative movements of the boy’s fingers.
A strangely intimate atmosphere surrounded them.
Lu Yi could feel his grip tightening tighter and tighter, as if he wanted to crush her.
“That hurts.”
She cried out softly and finally stopped walking.
The resistance made Lin Che turn around.
Immediately, he released her hand.
Seeing the redness around Lu Yi’s eyes, his chest felt painfully clogged.
His lean, powerful arm suddenly wrapped around her waist—
And with one swift motion, he hoisted her over his shoulder.
“Lin Che! W-What are you doing!?”
Terrified, Lu Yi grabbed at his clothes.
The result was a hard slap against her thigh—
Smack!
An overwhelming wave of humiliation swept through her.
Lu Yi instantly exploded in anger.
Tears spilled uncontrollably as she punched and struggled against him, desperately trying to get down.
Lin Che let her struggle however she wanted.
But he absolutely refused to let go.
Only after reaching the swing in the garden did he finally place her down onto the cushioned seat.
“…You’re really so tiny, Lu Yi.”
As long as Lin Che bent down slightly, he could block all the sunlight reaching her.
Below him, Lu Yi’s black hair was disheveled.
Her red lips parted in rapid breaths.
Just as beautiful as in his dreams…
Those maddening erotic dreams had nearly destroyed him entirely.
And now, the culprit behind all of it wanted to leave him.
Leaning closer, confusion and dissatisfaction filled his eyes.
His handsome face moved directly before hers.
Lu Yi couldn’t smell any scent of heat from him.
Only a clean fragrance of bamboo and wood lingered around him.
Shivering, she emphasized:
“I’m your teacher!!”
“I know.”
Lu Yi frantically turned her face aside and tried pushing him away.
But every time she retreated, he simply leaned closer again.
He seemed to enjoy this little chase between them—
Until a slap landed across his face.
A bright red handprint instantly appeared on his handsome features, horribly out of place.
“…Do you hate me that much?”
His long fingers touched her face gently, slowly wiping away her tears.
The pressure in his chest only worsened.
“…Don’t you feel anything at all?”
The boy leaned closer, wanting to kiss her.
Lu Yi immediately dodged away.
“I came today to resign…”
Those words pierced straight through Lin Che’s heart.
“Hah… then isn’t that perfect?”
He leaned in again.
This time, his lips only brushed the corner of hers.
The soft contact instantly set his entire body ablaze.
His voice turned hoarse as he murmured:
“If you’re no longer my teacher… then I won’t need to respect boundaries anymore.”
Lu Yi nearly screamed.
“Lin Che… I-I don’t like you!”
She wanted to feel fear.
But she’d already grown too used to seeing him as her student.
She couldn’t become truly afraid of him.
All she could do was tremble nervously as she spoke.
“But I like you!!”
Lin Che practically gritted the words out.
“I like you! Can’t you tell!?”
“……”
Lu Yi didn’t dare answer.
Because honestly…
She really couldn’t tell.
“Lu Yi. Look at me.”
Lin Che grabbed her chin, almost roughly forcing her to meet his gaze.
Yet Lu Yi clenched her teeth stubbornly and refused to look at him.
“Look at me! You can’t even do that!?”
Lin Che was finally getting angry.
He didn’t understand.
Why was Lu Yi always like this?
Her exterior was soft and gentle—
Yet inside, she was so cold no one dared touch her.
Even while sitting right before him, she still felt millions of light-years away.
“Lu Yi. I’m going to kiss you.”
“No!!”
Lin Che seized both her wrists and pinned them tightly above her head.
His grip on her pale delicate chin left visible red marks as he almost violently crashed toward her—
“What are you doing?”
An unwelcome voice interrupted the tension between them.
Lin Che’s eyes sharpened immediately.
Turning around, he saw the person he admired most—
His older brother, Lin Yu.
The painter’s white curls were loosely tied behind his head.
The beautiful ruby earring dangling from his ear swayed gently in the wind alongside the loose strands of hair.
Standing amidst the white roses, he looked like a living painting.
Yet the fox-like eyes staring at them carried a bone-deep coldness.
“Brother Yu, I—”
“You’re about to get engaged.”
Lin Yu’s voice was calm and distant.
“And now you’re behaving like this? Are you trying to slap your fiancée in the face?”
Lin Che froze instantly.
His grip around Lu Yi loosened.
The moment she was free, Lu Yi shoved him away and fled desperately toward the garden exit.
“Lu Yi!”
Lin Che tried to chase after her—
Only for Lin Yu to stop him with one arm.
Filled with frustration, Lin Che slammed his fist into the flower wall.
A gust of wind swept through the garden, scattering white petals everywhere.