Mature Fantasy Power Invasion

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The dishes Auntie Chen set on the table were a riot of color and aroma; one whiff of the drifting fragrance was enough to make anyone's mouth water.

Yan Huan swept his gaze across the platters, then turned and saw Ye Lan at the head of the table. She had changed into a soft cotton short-sleeve top and let her hair down, resting her chin on her hand while watching him with a smile.

"Hungry, little glutton? We'll start once Auntie Chen brings the chopsticks and Shiyu gets here."

The laughing curve of her eyes and the affectionate nickname brought a rare flush of shyness to Yan Huan's face. He looked away and started to stand.

"I'll go help Auntie Chen with the bowls."

"No need, Xiao Huan. Sit. I've already fetched them."

Before she finished speaking, Auntie Chen emerged from the kitchen carrying bowls and chopsticks. She placed one set in front of Ye Lan, one in front of Yan Huan, and one at the seat beside him.

Only three bowls and three pairs of chopsticks?

Yan Huan thought Auntie Chen wasn't eating with them—until she turned back into the kitchen and returned with a single black-lacquered bowl and a pair of stainless-steel chopsticks. She set them opposite him.

Yan Huan stared. Unlike the others' tableware, the black bowl bore a small white inscription in graceful characters:

"Ye Shiyu."

The same name was etched on the tip of every stainless-steel chopstick.

He looked questioningly at Ye Lan; she replied only with a helpless smile. Auntie Chen, still beaming, explained,

"Shiyu specially commissioned these in Longguo. She had them fired at the porcelain capital and brought a set for us too. Only she insists on black—her mother and I think it's gloomy, so we use plain bowls."

"Were the stainless-steel chopsticks custom-made too?"

"Oh, no, those were store-bought. Shiyu just has this quirk—she loves writing her name on everything. My goodness, every single item! After every shopping trip she spends ages labeling them."

Auntie Chen dished out rice and poured drinks as she talked.

"And once something is hers she won't throw it away—not until it's completely unusable. If she misplaces anything she'll search and search until it's found."

What a strange habit, Yan Huan thought, blinking.

Ye Lan looked even more resigned, yet she didn't criticize her daughter's stubbornness; instead she said cheerfully,

"It's much better since high school. If it isn't something precious she'll give up the hunt. It shows your Shiyu sis treasures everything she has—I think that's a good quality."

"If I'd had a habit like hers, my middle-school teacher wouldn't have called me scatter-brained," Yan Huan added, making Ye Lan laugh behind her hand.

A faint footfall sounded on the stairs. Ye Lan turned and waved.

"Shiyu, come and eat."

"Mm."

Ye Shiyu nodded, her face still neutral—neither warm nor cold. She sat opposite Yan Huan and lightly wrapped her fingers around a glass.

A second later, exactly as Yan Huan expected, Ye Lan raised her own glass and smiled at him.

"Then let's begin dinner. Welcome to our home, Xiao Huan—cheers."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"Good boy, no need for thanks to Auntie."

Ye Shiyu lifted her glass too, tapping Ye Lan's, Auntie Chen's, and finally Yan Huan's. She took only a tiny sip, then touched the tip of her tongue to her lips.

That was the signal for the meal to start.

Ye Shiyu held the black bowl in her left hand, pale-pink fingertips slowly tracing the name etched on its side, while her mother piled food onto Yan Huan's plate and hers.

The Ye household had no rule of silent eating. Conversation wandered through trifles—Auntie Chen complained that the supermarket produce was never fresh.

Only after Ye Lan reminded him did Yan Huan realize Linmen was on the sea, with no farmland; vegetables were flown in from abroad.

Ye Shiyu chewed delicately, saying nothing.

Ye Lan, meanwhile, fussed over Yan Huan, asking about school matters she hadn't covered in the car, steering the talk toward things teenagers find interesting.

"Do you all take the school bus?"

"Yes, Auntie. Every district has routes. Jinghe District has one too, though it seems far from here. Students in this neighborhood probably... well, they probably don't need the campus bus."

"Exactly. Shiyu's chauffeur saves time. I'm busy most days, so I arrange a separate car."

Perhaps it was only Yan Huan's imagination, but he sensed Ye Lan circling toward something she hadn't yet said.

Suddenly, as if the idea had just struck her, she set down her chopsticks, eyes bright.

"Hey, Xiao Huan, why don't you move in with us?"

"Huh?"

"You're schoolmates and the same age. You could ride together every day, no need to rush for the bus. Auntie Chen can cook breakfast and dinner, pack desserts for school. How about it?"

Yan Huan's chopsticks paused mid-air. He blinked at Ye Lan's hopeful face and finally understood why she had told the principal she was his "mother."

She hadn't come merely to reminisce or mourn his mother—she had come to adopt him.

Did Ye Lan have any ulterior motives?

No.

As she had said, she simply wanted someone to look after her eccentric daughter. Beyond that, she was head of Yeshi International's Linmen branch; Yan Huan was just a high-school student, student-council president or not. She had no need of further schemes.

There was only one reason: she saw the child of her late best friend as family and wanted to care for him.

Realistically, everything Yan Huan had seen screamed money—anyone with a brain ought to kneel and yell, "Mom!" like a Linmen branch of Tony Montana.

But Gul'dan, what is the price?

A nameless unease quickened Yan Huan's heartbeat. He glanced at Ye Shiyu, who was still eating calmly.

His smile faltered.

"Auntie, isn't this a bit sudden?"

"No? Do I make you uncomfortable?"

Catching the retreat in his voice, Ye Lan's glow dimmed into the same shimmering sorrow he had seen that afternoon. Her mouth drooped at the corners.

Don't make that face, Auntie Ye!

Yan Huan looked away, marshalling reason and emotion.

"Auntie, you're wonderful—that's not it. I just think it's inappropriate. After all, I'm a boy and—"

Before he could finish, Ye Lan cut in.

"You're not a stranger, and no need to worry. Auntie Chen's on the first floor, your big sis and I are on the third. You'd have the second floor. Each room has its own bathroom, the walls are thick, and we'll always knock before entering. Your privacy is safe."

Fine—flexing cash power?

Still, a glance around the sprawling garden villa dispelled any thought of discomfort. The living room alone could host a basketball game, never mind the second and third floors and the rooftop terrace.

Left with no easy retreat, Yan Huan advanced the issue to its heart. He looked up at Ye Shiyu—whose eating had slowed—and said,

"But something like this has to consider sis Shiyu's feelings. Things Auntie thinks are trivial might—"

Ye Lan didn't even let him finish; she turned eagerly to her daughter.

"Shiyu, what do you think?"

Ye Shiyu held her bowl, a small clump of rice balanced on her chopsticks.

Without chewing, she placed the rice in her mouth and met her mother's gaze.

Seeing the slight pout, the pleading in those eyes, she nodded softly.

"I have no objection."

Her voice was pleasant—soft yet crystal clear.

"Wonderful! Don't let her quietness fool you—your Shiyu-sis is gentle and kind. No worries, Xiao Huan—we both welcome you."

Gentle and kind?

Yan Huan shot Ye Shiyu a sidelong glance. She looked back, unflinching.

That steady gaze dissolved some of his unease. He thought for a moment, still reluctant to agree outright.

Finally, he activated the ability he had gained only today and adjusted his expression.

"I know Auntie and Shiyu-sis are wonderful people, but could I have a little time to think?"

Ye Lan pressed her lips together, reading the gratitude—and hesitation—on the boy's face.

Yes, she had pushed too hard, just as she had that afternoon.

She softened her tone.

"Of course, Xiao Huan. It's Friday night and already dark. Your place in the south district is far. Why not stay the weekend? Tomorrow and the day after I'll show you and your big sis around. How does that sound?"

As long as nothing was set in stone, Yan Huan's goal was met.

First he had to dispel that ominous premonition.

He looked at Ye Lan—still hesitant—yet in the end her gentleness won out. He smiled and nodded.

"All right, Auntie."

Ye Lan exhaled, then turned to her daughter.

"Shiyu?"

"Mm. I have no objection."

Same response as before.

"Great! It's settled. Auntie Chen, could you tidy up the second-floor room later?"

Ye Lan clapped her hands; the meal was nearly over.

Auntie Chen, who had listened quietly the whole time without interrupting, finally rose and began briskly clearing the dishes. "All right, I'll take Xiao Huan up in a bit," she told Yan Huan.

Ye Lan was already basking in the joy of her "pre-adoption" of Yan Huan. She turned to Ye Shiyu. "Shiyu, don't forget to swap contact info. If anything comes up at your new school, just ask your little brother—he grew up in Linmen and he's the student-council president, so don't be shy about needing help."

Ye Shiyu dabbed her lips with a napkin and stood. She glanced at Yan Huan. "Fine. I left my phone upstairs; I'll add him when I get it."

"Mm-mm. I'll have Auntie Chen bring you some milk later."

"Okay."

Footsteps echoed up the stairs as Ye Shiyu vanished.

Yan Huan started to rise. "Then let me see if Auntie Chen needs a hand—"

"No need. Stay and keep me company for a bit longer, won't you, Xiao Huan?"

But Ye Lan only shook her head, resting her chin in her hands, eyes fixed on Yan Huan's face. She loved looking at him—at his eyes—as if she might read everything about him there, or perhaps find a trace of someone long gone.

Under that gentle, water-like gaze, Yan Huan slowly sat back down. "Sure."

Ye Lan studied him in silence, then smiled warmly. "Xiao Huan... these years have been hard on you."

Her voice was so tender that Yan Huan blinked, the slowing thud in his chest suddenly too heavy to push any words out. Just as he gathered himself to speak, Ye Lan stretched, rising to her feet.

"All right, Auntie's a little tired. I'll head up now. Auntie Chen will show you to your room later—get some rest, okay?"

"You too, Auntie Ye."

He answered a beat late, watching her leave.

Ye Lan went up to the third-floor bedroom. Auntie Chen said she'd been on the move since dawn; the trip to Yuanyue Academy to collect Yan Huan had been her last stop.

When Auntie Chen finished tidying the kitchen, she led Yan Huan to the guest room. All they really did was spread fresh sheets and fetch bedding—nothing complicated.

Yet the bedroom on the second floor was enormous. It was hard to believe a single guest room could be larger than the one-bed-one-living combo he'd rented in the South District. It came with its own bath, and even a sitting area with sofa, table, and bookcase. Beyond that, doors opened onto a private balcony overlooking the night.

Yan Huan closed the door behind him, set his schoolbag on a chair, and peeled off his uniform jacket. "This is... overkill."

He pinched the leather of the sofa, then stepped to the bedroom doorway and eyed the balcony where the curtains had not yet been drawn. Outside, the city lights glittered.

In a few hours this reborn teenager would have to text his weekend boss and ask for leave—he'd decided to drop the final period in the message, to sound tougher.

He stared at the dark for a long moment before pulling the curtains and switching on the bedside lamp. The soft mattress welcomed him.

"Meow."

A delicate cat cry came from somewhere in the room.

Yan Huan propped himself up and spotted a chubby black cat wriggling out from beneath the bed. Without the lamp it would have blended perfectly with the dark-red hardwood.

The cat turned its head, revealing jade-green eyes—Meow-chan.

"You're here."

"Meow!"

Yan Huan lay back; Meow-chan leapt up, rubbed against his arm, then planted all four paws on his stomach and spoke directly into his mind.

I thought the whole Modifier business would scare you off women for months. Yet not even a full day has passed, and instead of running you're moving closer.

"Use your brain—it's obvious."

He scratched the cat's warm ears and stroked its fuzzy back.

"You never told me who besides Bai Yi has a Modifier, or what each one does. So you don't actually know, do you?"

Exactly. My knowledge of these invading forces is limited to their existence and common traits; specifics—

"Then we're done talking."

Yan Huan spread his hands, calm and matter-of-fact.

"The goal is to eliminate the Modifiers. Step one: locate them and their hosts. Step two: learn their nature. Only then can we figure out how to remove them."

Suppose Ye Lan and Ye Shiyu both carry Modifiers. Even if he had refused dinner tonight, rejected Ye Lan's offer of adoption, or gone further and cut all ties—Ye Shiyu would still attend Yuanyue Academy. What had to come would come. Unless he abandoned every woman, dropped out of school, erased ten years of relationships, disfigured his own face, and hid in a cave somewhere.

Shouting "I'm done being human!" might work, but...

"I want to fix the Modifiers so the timeline returns to normal and my life can continue smoothly. I can't put the cart before the horse or throw the baby out with the bathwater. Besides, Ye Shiyu's personality is odd, but that doesn't necessarily make her a host."

His gaze drifted; he rested his forearm across his forehead and murmured, "And Auntie Ye is a very gentle person."

Meow-chan watched him, feeling the steady stroke of his hand. Without replying, it straightened and began kneading Yan Huan's chest with soft pink pads—left, right, left, right.

Prrrrrrr.

Yan Huan blinked down at the purring cat. "What are you doing?"

Meow-chan kept kneading, giving him a look that said, I'm a cat. What else would I do besides make biscuits?

Before Yan Huan could grab the plump feline by the scruff, a knock sounded at the door.

Knock knock knock.

He and Meow-chan exchanged glances. Yan Huan sat up. "Who is it?"

Silence.

But he already knew. He set Meow-chan gently aside. "Hide. Don't let anyone see you."

"Meow."

The cat nodded, wriggled under the bed, and vanished.

Yan Huan smoothed his white shirt, slipped on his slippers, and padded to the door. "Coming."

Click.

He opened the door a crack. The hallway light was on, but with the living-room lights off and Ye Lan already in bed, the second floor felt dim.

In that half-shadow stood a tall, black-haired girl dressed entirely in ink-black, her skin porcelain white. Her beauty looked engineered by genetics themselves.

Yan Huan blinked, then smiled and opened the door wider. The bright bedroom light spilled out, halting precisely at the toes of her slippers.

"Shiyu sis, what's up?"

At the sound of his voice she moved, raising her phone. "Mom told me to add your contact."

So she'd just come to exchange friend codes. Looks like she might not be a Modifier host after all—just quiet.

Yan Huan exhaled and pulled out his own phone. "Right, almost forgot. Hold on—do I scan you or do you scan me?"

"You scan me."

"Okay."

Ye Shiyu unlocked her phone and held it out. Yan Huan opened Plane's scan screen. The back of her phone case still bore her name.

He aimed his camera at her screen—and froze.

The image wasn't a QR code at all, but a whirlpool of sinister violet light, spinning faster and faster. Some kind of app interface?

What the—

Yan Huan's pupils shrank. Oh no—

The vortex spun wildly, and in the same instant Ye Shiyu's eyes darkened ten thousandfold, dragging his consciousness into the void.

Beep!

A notification tone from the app in her hand signaled something was happening, and Yan Huan also heard a faint, ethereal voice coming from the girl.

[App activated]

[Effect: Individual Hypnosis]

[Duration: 15 minutes]

[Countdown initiated.]

End of Chapter