Chapter Forty-Four: A Man’s Hair

"What?" At that moment, Xu Nuo gazed into Sheng Ming's eyes, which seemed to pierce right through her, and a sense of foreboding washed over her. Could it be that this young master of the Sheng family was not as arrogant and shallow as he appeared, and had truly seen through her intentions?

007: "Host, it's over. It seems he has seen through your disguise."

Sheng Ming said, "Clearly, if you just admitted you liked me, you could have anything you wanted. But you insist on playing these games—is it because you lack confidence?"

"I know women of your background often feel inferior, thinking you're not worthy of someone like me. But I don't mind."

"So stop the act and just admit you've fallen for me."

Xu Nuo: "..." She was nearly blinded by the confidence radiating from Sheng Ming's smile.

007: "Sigh, all that worry for nothing."

Xu Nuo rolled her eyes, unceremoniously pushing him toward the door. "Go wash up and sleep. Don't come here acting crazy."

007 chimed in: "Host, hypothetically speaking, if you went along with Sheng Ming's assumptions and admitted everything you did was because you liked him, trying to catch his attention, wouldn't the Heartbeat Value increase more smoothly?"

"No," Xu Nuo shook her head. "For someone like him, what he can't have will always stir him. Only what he can't obtain, what he can only yearn for day and night, is truly precious."

"Is... is that so?" 007 felt her reasoning contradicted its professional strategies. If the goal was to make the target fall for her, the core principle was to meet their needs, to become indispensable and irreplaceable. People naturally feel affection and trust toward those who treat them well. Complying with the target and fulfilling their wishes was the quickest route to success.

But the host rarely showed Sheng Ming a kind face, the only time being in the museum's underground warehouse when she took care of him.

From 007’s experience, that single act of kindness wasn't enough. The host ought to give more, so Sheng Ming would be moved and the Heartbeat Value would soar.

007 shared its analysis with the host.

"Hmm, you make a good point," Xu Nuo replied, "but I want to explore other strategies."

Ah, this host always preferred challenging herself, never taking the easy path.

"Tonight's late-night snack tastes really good... Wait, why does it feel familiar?" She looked closer—oh, it was frozen dumplings. No wonder the taste was so recognizable.

.

The next evening, Lin Qisheng appeared at the windowsill again.

"Miss Xu, the moon is so bright tonight."

"Mm," Xu Nuo glanced at the calendar on the wall. "Because tonight is the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Lin Qisheng: "Mid-Autumn Festival? How do you remember that so clearly?"

After years in the apocalypse, they’d long lost track of precise dates. It was the first time someone nearby was chatting and moon-watching with him.

Xu Nuo said, "Oh, everyone at the base is busy celebrating. They even brought me a bunch of mooncakes. Want to try some?"

Lin Qisheng’s tone was sour. "No need, they still have energy for festivities? Such leisure in these times."

"Come on, have some, it tastes great." Xu Nuo unwrapped a mooncake and stuffed it into Lin Qisheng’s mouth.

"Mmmph—I don’t..."

His protests faded. Unable to resist, Lin Qisheng chewed—indeed, it was delicious, nothing like the cloyingly sweet mooncakes of past festivals. This one was refreshing, tasty, and... the flavor struck him as strangely familiar.

Xu Nuo said, "You shouldn’t come looking for me so casually anymore. Yesterday, Sheng Ming almost discovered you."

Lin Qisheng frowned, deeply displeased. "What did he do to you?"

Xu Nuo replied, "Nothing, he’s just always acting weird. I don’t really want to deal with him."

"Tch," Lin Qisheng squatted on the windowsill, his face full of suppressed frustration. "I told you, I can help." He wanted to resolve this trouble quickly, so Xu Nuo could leave this place and get away from that neurotic young master. He hated sneaking around like a thief every time he came to see her.

Xu Nuo grinned, "Help me? That can be arranged."

"What, what?" Lin Qisheng eagerly leaned closer. "What do you want me to do?"

Xu Nuo said, "Be my little brother."

Lin Qisheng: "??"

"Little brother," Xu Nuo called him.

Lin Qisheng hung his head, reluctant. "Miss Xu, are you making fun of me?"

Xu Nuo replied, "I'm serious."

"Why?" Lin Qisheng pouted, scraping the window glass with his nails, making an unpleasant screech.

"I made up a story—said I have a younger brother with fire abilities..." Xu Nuo explained some of her circumstances to him.

"Huh?" Lin Qisheng said, "So now everyone thinks I’m your brother?"

Xu Nuo: "Yes."

Lin Qisheng was dissatisfied with that identity. He had become Xu Nuo’s younger brother, instantly beneath her, and lost any manly rivalry with Sheng Ming.

Lin Qisheng: "Can’t we change the identity?"

Xu Nuo: "No. If we keep making things up, it’ll be exposed. Besides, isn’t being my little brother a good thing?"

Xu Nuo drew closer, hooked her elbow around Lin Qisheng’s neck, and ruffled his hair. "Big sister will take good care of you."

Lin Qisheng was nearly suffocated by her rough gesture. Her chilling words sent shivers down his spine.

"Stop—let go, I can’t breathe..."

"Call me big sister," Xu Nuo threatened.

Lin Qisheng clamped his mouth shut in protest.

Xu Nuo: "Didn’t you shout it so cheerfully before? Why are you shy now?"

"...Big sister," Lin Qisheng managed to utter the words, then found it wasn’t so embarrassing—strangely, it felt pretty good.

Xu Nuo affectionately patted his head. "Good boy, little brother."

Lin Qisheng: "So, can big sister let go of me now?" He really didn’t want her choking him anymore.

Xu Nuo released him. "Tonight is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for family reunion."

007 sensed the host’s shift in mood: "Happy festival, my dear host. I’m here with you."

"Happy festival," Lin Qisheng flashed Xu Nuo a vibrant smile. "Big sister."

Xu Nuo: "Happy festival, little brother." And also to little Seven, and Gu Xingze.

Xu Nuo asked, "By the way, how’s Brother Gu these days?"

"You still remember him?" Lin Qisheng harbored hostility toward any man in Xu Nuo’s life, especially Gu Xingze, whom she used to favor. "He’s probably fine, still at the camp."

Xu Nuo: "Hmm."

After a while without further questions, Lin Qisheng couldn’t help but ask, "Big sister, aren’t you going to ask more about Gu Xingze?"

Xu Nuo: "As long as he’s okay, that’s enough."

"Alright." Seeming pleased that she’d lost interest in Gu Xingze, Lin Qisheng said, "Let’s keep watching the moon."

"If only we had some wine."

Xu Nuo: "You’re just a kid, what wine?"

Lin Qisheng: "By the way, since it’s Mid-Autumn Festival, didn’t Young Master Sheng invite you to dinner?"

Xu Nuo: "I turned him down."

Lin Qisheng watched her for a long moment. "I really can’t guess what you want."

"Knock knock—"

Outside, a servant called, "Miss Xu, we’ve brought your dinner."

Lin Qisheng swiftly hid.

Xu Nuo opened the door. The familiar aroma that wafted in made her momentarily dazed.

Regaining her composure, she asked casually, "Which chef made these dishes? They smell wonderful."

Servant: "The new Chef Gu."

Gu, Chef?

Xu Nuo: "When did he arrive?"

Servant: "He’s been here several days."

Once the servant left, Xu Nuo closed the door tightly and tasted the dishes with an uneasy expression—it was a familiar flavor. That so-called Chef Gu was, without a doubt, Gu Xingze.

"This smell..." Lin Qisheng emerged as well, tasted a few bites, and suddenly realized, "Isn’t this Brother Gu’s handiwork?"

"He’s come here too?" Lin Qisheng stroked his chin in thought. "He must be looking for you. But why hasn’t he come to see you after so many days?"

Xu Nuo: "Uh, why indeed?" A sense of unease crept up on her.

Lin Qisheng: "Maybe Brother Gu is plotting something big in secret?"

Xu Nuo: "Maybe."

.

That night, Xu Nuo had a rare dream. Upon waking, most of its details faded, but an uncomfortable feeling lingered in her heart.

"You didn’t rest well last night? You look so tired." Sheng Ming observed Xu Nuo’s pallor and dark circles.

"Or were you sneaking around again..." Sheng Ming was about to tease her, but as Xu Nuo passed by, he spotted a short hair on her.

It was less than a finger’s length, darker in color, and coarser than Xu Nuo’s hair.

"What?" Xu Nuo, sleep-deprived and irritable, snapped.

"Stop." Sheng Ming held up the hair he had found on her. "Tell me, what is this?"

"What do you mean?" Xu Nuo lazily glanced over. "Are you showing off new cufflinks, Young Master Sheng?"

"Look closely." Sheng Ming brought the hair to her face, holding her head steady.

"This is... hair?" Xu Nuo was bewildered. "Why are you showing me your hair?"

"It’s not mine," Sheng Ming’s tone grew dangerous. "I found it on you."

Xu Nuo: "You pervert, why are you collecting my hair?"

Sheng Ming: "This is a man’s hair. I found it on you."

Xu Nuo jolted awake, suddenly much more alert.