CHAPTER 42: ARE YOU POSSESSED?

Yuanfeng blinked and smiled faintly. "No, sweetheart. Just thinking."

Huaijin climbed onto his lap, curling into his chest like a cat seeking warmth. "Grandfather sent you a letter, didn’t he?"

He hesitated. "...Yes."

"Does he want us to go back to the mansion?"

Her voice was too calm for a six-year-old.

Yuanfeng looked down at her in silence. After a long pause, he simply wrapped an arm around her. "No matter what he wants, I’ll make sure you’re happy, Huaijin. That’s all that matters."

"I know," she whispered, closing her eyes.

But deep down, she was already preparing for the storm.

Because if the Chi family thought she would quietly return and let history repeat itself, they were in for a rude awakening.

This time, Chi Huaijin wasn’t just an extra in someone else’s story.

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When Chi Huaijin returned home that afternoon, she was perfectly satisfied, like a general returning victorious from battle, her tiny chest puffed up proudly.

Her father carried her in one arm, occasionally pinching her chubby cheek, amused at how talkative his daughter had suddenly become after spending a day at the amusement park.

As for Huaijin, she was humming an off-key tune while munching the last of her favorite strawberry candy, completely unaware that she had left a trail of chaos and a permanently confused young boy behind.

Meanwhile, at the far end of the park, under a shadow cast by a swaying Ferris wheel, the "victim" of the day stood unmoving, staring at his hand like he had seen a ghost.

The famous distinguished families’ well-known Young Master Yun was not the type to stand around blankly.

His followers, a few boys from similarly wealthy families, shifted nervously behind him, exchanging confused looks.

They had seen him face down arrogant heirs and business rivals with the calm of a veteran warrior.

But today, he was just standing there... frozen.

"Uh, boss?" one of them, Jia Rui, ventured cautiously. "You’ve been looking at your hand for... five minutes. Is it... dirty?"

Yun Jue didn’t reply. His gaze was fixed, almost analytical, on the faint warmth that still lingered where Huaijin’s tiny fingers had wrapped around his own.

It was so warm, soft, and sticky.

He could still smell a faint trace of candy, strawberry, or maybe peach? He didn’t know. He’d never cared to find out before.

Because normally, he hated such things.

Anything sticky, sweet, or childish. He despised the mess, the sugar, the childish laughter.

He despised crowds, noise, and above all, clingy children who thought they could charm him with wide eyes and pretty smiles.

Yet that girl—

That tiny creature with her pink cheeks and mischievous eyes—

Had somehow gotten past his defenses like a miniature storm in little pigtails.

"Boss," Jia Rui tried again, louder this time. "Who was that little girl? She... did she know you somewhere from before?"

The other boys perked up instantly, eyes gleaming with gossip-hungry curiosity. They had never seen Young Master Yun talk to a girl voluntarily. Much less one that could barely reach his waist.

"The gall she had to call you ’little brother,’" one of them said, half laughing. "Since when do you let people call you that, huh?"

Another chimed in, "Yeah, and you didn’t even correct her! Usually, you’d give them the frostbite stare and they’d run crying to their moms!"

"—You even smiled!" added a third, dramatically clutching his chest. "I saw it! A real smile! Not that cold smirk you give people before ruining their day!"

"...He did, didn’t he?" Jia Rui muttered, staring at his friend’s stoic face, trying to spot cracks of emotion. "You even offered her your hand. Voluntarily. Voluntarily, Young Master Yun!"

That last line was practically shouted, drawing curious stares from nearby park-goers. Yun Jue’s brow twitched slightly.

"...You’re noisy," he said finally, his voice as flat as ever.

The boys exchanged knowing looks.

Translation: he was flustered!

Truthfully, even Yun Jue didn’t understand what had happened.

He had only stopped by the haunted house to humor his cousin’s insistence. He found it boring, predictable, and frankly ridiculous, the sort of childish amusement he’d outgrown years ago.

The eerie lights, the fog, the fake skeletons, none of it fazed him.

Until she appeared.

A small girl with big eyes, clinging to the wrong person out of panic. She’d grabbed his arm like it was a lifeline, her voice trembling with faux fear.

"Big brother, don’t leave me!"

He had almost shoved her off his arm until he looked down and met those eyes.

They were watery, wide, and utterly sincere.

And somehow, his hand didn’t move.

It was absurd. He didn’t even like children. He didn’t talk to them. He didn’t know how to comfort them, either.

But before he knew it, he was holding her hand, leading her through the maze like some responsible adult while his friends gawked from behind.

Then, at the end of the ride, she’d looked up at him, face glowing with relief and admiration, and—

Kissed him, right on the cheek.

The boys around him hadn’t recovered from that shock either.

"Boss," Jia Rui said weakly, rubbing his temples. "She kissed you. On the cheek." He wanted to say, ’And you didn’t even wipe it off.’

However, he valued his poor little life, so instead of saying it directly, the guy changed his approach as he put it nicely, "Should I get some face wash to wash your face?"

"No need." Yun Jue’s voice was flat as he shook his head, causing the boys to gasp in horror.

’Damn it! Are you possessed?’ another gasped in shock. ’Should we call a doctor? Or an exorcist?’

"Maybe she cast a spell," the youngest whispered, horrified. "Those eyes! Those cheeks! Maybe she’s one of those, those fairy spirit things from folklore—"

Yun Jue turned his head slightly, his gaze sharp enough to silence them all.

"I’m fine."

"Fine?" Jia Rui sputtered. ’You’re staring at your hand!’

The group burst into muffled snickers.