Starting with a Breakup: Why Is the True Heiress My Possessive Ex? - Chapter 74

“How did it go?”

Seeing everyone return safely, Chen Qiu greeted them with a warm smile.

“How was your first mission?”

“I still remember how nervous I was during mine.”

“It… it went alright.”

Xu Nian replied awkwardly, her fluffy fox tail swaying gently behind her.

Chen Qiu blinked in confusion.

“What’s wrong?”

“The mission was successful, wasn’t it?”

Only then did he notice the dried blood still staining Xu Nian’s shoulder.

“Although it looks like you went through quite a fierce battle…”

“…every strong Fluxweaver grows through hardship.”

“It’s only a small setback.”

“You’re right.”

Xu Nian smiled.

“This mission taught Qingya and me a great deal.”

Everyone silently chose not to mention what had really happened.

Some truths…

were better left buried.

Today’s mission…

had simply been too dangerous.

She and Su Qingya had become Fluxweavers less than a week ago.

Yet in that short time…

they had already experienced—

A Fluxbeast outbreak at an amusement park.

An assassination by a three-star Fluxweaver.

A mysterious Joy Path expert from the God Realm.

And finally…

A four-star Solitude Fluxbeast.

Were high-star enemies really this common?

Did they grow like weeds?

“…Captain.”

Su Qingya stepped forward.

“This is for you.”

She handed over the four-star Solitude Core.

Xu Nian quietly watched.

Her emotions were complicated.

That lonely little girl…

had been forcefully transformed into a four-star Fluxbeast.

But…

Xu Nian also understood…

That kind of strength wasn’t real growth.

It came at the cost of reason.

Future potential.

Humanity.

Even becoming a monster.

If instant power required such a price…

She would much rather advance step by step.

Thinking of advancement…

Xu Nian suddenly noticed something.

She, too…

seemed to be approaching two stars.

It was difficult to describe.

A strange feeling of fullness spread through her body.

As though something…

was finally reaching completion.

Perhaps…

It was because she had harvested such an enormous amount of Joy today.

Trash Qingya…

There’s no way she’ll rank up faster than me… right?

“How do you feel?”

Xiao Ge asked after accepting the Emotion Core.

“I think…”

“I’m ready to advance.”

Su Qingya lowered her head slightly.

“…Already?”

The entire room stared at her.

One of the team members couldn’t help blurting out,

“So fast?”

Among the nine members of the team…

Only two captains were four-star.

Two others were three-star.

Everyone else…

was still stuck at two stars.

Xu Nian had only just begun secretly celebrating…

Yet Su Qingya was already preparing to break through.

Someone sighed bitterly.

“It took me years to become a two-star.”

“And she…”

“She only finished today’s crash course.”

“She’s advancing already?”

“…Fortune favors the bold.”

That was all Su Qingya said.

She offered no further explanation.

Only she knew…

What it felt like…

to experience a Fear Value of ninety-nine percent.

It was absolute suffocation.

Nothing else could exist inside her mind.

Every thought…

Every instinct…

Every emotion…

Centered solely upon the source of her fear.

Her desire to destroy anything threatening Xu Nian…

became overwhelmingly powerful.

Even now…

The beastly transformation hadn’t completely faded.

Fine black fur still clung to parts of her arms.

Hidden beneath her coat…

it slowly receded.

“…Two-star Fear Cores aren’t especially difficult to obtain.”

Xiao Ge nodded thoughtfully.

“You simply need sufficient merit.”

“This mission already satisfies that requirement.”

It was precisely why…

He had entrusted the four-star Emotion Core to Su Qingya earlier.

“…Thank you.”

Su Qingya bowed slightly.

She desperately wanted to become stronger.

She already felt…

that one star was nowhere near enough.

Their enemies…

were growing stronger.

Only by becoming stronger herself…

could she continue protecting Niannian.

No matter how quickly she advanced…

It still wouldn’t be enough.

Once the discussion ended…

Xu Nian hurriedly stopped Xiao Ge.

“…Captain.”

“What about…”

“…that little girl?”

Her body still lay quietly inside the theater.

Alone.

Silent.

“…Bring her out.”

“We’ll bury her properly.”

“I’ll also notify her parents.”

“The Public Security Bureau will arrange compensation as well.”

“…Alright.”

Xu Nian quietly lowered her eyes.

The parents who had left their daughter alone in a hospital for so long…

Would they even grieve?

“…Actually.”

Leng Xiao suddenly spoke.

“The fact she remained hospitalized all this time…”

“Means her parents were still paying for her treatment.”

She didn’t elaborate further.

She had already noticed…

the guilt hidden inside Xu Nian’s eyes.

Perhaps…

Xu Nian blamed herself.

“…This wasn’t your fault.”

Leng Xiao said quietly.

“Don’t carry someone else’s sins on your shoulders.”

“In the future…”

“You’ll witness many tragedies like this.”

“Simply remember…”

“why you became a Fluxweaver.”

Xu Nian slowly nodded.

She gently waved her folding fan.

The little girl’s body quietly emerged from the theater.

They prepared to send her home.

Yet…

Xu Nian’s heart remained unsettled.

A God-Realm Fluxweaver…

was still hiding somewhere.

Watching her.

Waiting.

She still couldn’t understand.

Her first eighteen years had been completely ordinary.

So why…

The moment she became a Fluxweaver…

Had someone of that level begun targeting her?

If their difference in strength was truly so overwhelming…

Why didn’t they simply kill her themselves?

Wouldn’t that have been easier?

Wouldn’t that have ended everything?

“…Go home.”

“Drive carefully.”

Xiao Ge spoke simply.

But for just a moment…

Xu Nian thought she caught something hidden inside his eyes.

He knew something.

Yet…

He chose not to say it.

Instead…

He simply gave her a reassuring look.

The evening sky gradually darkened.

A cool breeze drifted through the streets.

Xu Nian drove slowly.

Very slowly.

Beside her…

Su Qingya leaned against the passenger seat in silence.

No one knew what she was thinking.

“…Qingya.”

“If one day…”

“I’m really gone…”

“…No.”

“I won’t allow that.”

Su Qingya answered immediately.

The scene of Xu Nian dying on that stage…

still haunted her.

Even remembering it…

made fear surge uncontrollably inside her.

Her answer…

was straightforward.

Yet hearing it…

filled Xu Nian’s heart with warmth.

Still…

No one could predict the future.

If something truly happened to her…

Xu Nian didn’t want Su Qingya following her into death.

She hoped…

that even if she disappeared…

Su Qingya would continue living peacefully.

Because…

In Xu Nian’s heart…

Su Qingya’s life would always come first.

Even if…

She had to let go.

Like releasing a canary…

from what it believed to be freedom…

only to discover…

it had always lived inside a beautiful cage.

Xu Nian suddenly smiled.

“Alright.”

“I’ve decided.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m going to become your psychologist.”

“…Psychologist?”

“That’s right.”

“You’re far too prone to losing control.”

“That won’t do.”

Su Qingya smiled softly.

“Then…”

“I’ll be in your care, Dr. Xu.”

Xu Nian laughed.

Outside the windshield…

Moonlight filtered through rows of streetlights.

Its pale glow reflected in her eyes…

where warmth…

and worry…

quietly intertwined.