It had been five days since Huo Feng had spoken with Lu Jiang, and today was Yue Ning’s birthday.
Sunlight streamed gently through the curtain blinds, painting the room in soft golden colors. Yue Ning stirred and sat up, blinking against the brightness, and instinctively scanned the room. Huo Feng was nowhere to be seen.
’The host performed well yesterday,’ the system spoke suddenly, its mechanical voice cutting through her thoughts. There was an unusual note of approval this time—a rare acknowledgment she had long heard since she had advanced in the intermediate level.
"You scared me," Yue Ning admitted softly, taking deep breaths to steady herself.
Her curiosity soon overtook her surprise. "But I have to ask... Emotional Influence as a skill—what exactly does it do?" Her fingers brushed her chin as she pondered, a thoughtful crease forming on her brow.
’It is as stated. I’m fairly certain you understand what it entails,’ the system replied in its usual flat tone.
Yue Ning’s eyes darkened with a spark of realization, her lips curving into a slow, deliberate smile. "This skill... it could be very useful."
She rose from the bed, the sunlight glinting off her hair, and for a moment allowed herself a quiet thrill. The game was getting more interesting—and she was beginning to understand just how much power she now held.
In the Huo villa, Yue Ning continued her usual tasks, unaware that the Lu residence had transformed into a quiet anticipation of her arrival.
She finished her lunch, lingered over a book, and checked a few messages. No hint of celebration reached her. She had no reason to suspect the careful orchestration unfolding elsewhere.
As the afternoon deepened, Huo Yan arrived at her room lightly humming. "Sister-in-law," she said, a playful lilt in her voice, "you’re going out today. Come with me for some errands." Dıscover more novels at 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚·𝔫𝔢𝔱
Yue Ning looked up, curiosity flickering in her eyes as she asked. "Errands?"
"Just a few things I thought you might enjoy. Fresh air, a little outing. It won’t be long." Huo Yan’s eyes held a sparkle that Yue Ning didn’t question. There was a gentle insistence in her tone filled with sisterly warmth.
"Alright," Yue Ning agreed, slipping on a light coat over her dress. She didn’t know that the errands were a carefully designed path to the Lu household, that every step she took was leading her toward a life-altering moment.
The drive was quiet, filled with occasional observations from Huo Yan about small details—flowers in bloom, the subtle angle of sunlight across the city streets. Yue Ning’s mind wandered, thinking about the missions, the system, and the lingering warmth of last night.
She had no idea the birthday celebration awaiting her was designed not only to honor herself but to formally reintroduce her to the Lu family as their long-lost daughter.
As the car moved along familiar paths, Yue Ning’s eyes furrowed, and she snapped her gaze to Huo Yan whose attention was on her phone.
"Huo Yan," she called out softly. "Isn’t this the way to my family’s house? I thought we wanted to run some errands?" She asked her, curiosity and suspicions laced in her tone.
Huo Yan smiled brightly, holding Yue Ning’s hands. "Sister-in-law, we are just taking a little detour."
Yue Ning narrowed her eyes, the feeling of suspicion eating deep into her.
’I think something is being planned out for you.’ The system said.
Yue Ning nodded, agreeing with it. But instead of being against it, she was anticipating it instead.
The car slowly stopped at the Lu residence. Yue Ning was surprised to see it decorated. She blinked continually as she turned to look at Huo Yan with a questioning gaze.
"You will understand soon." Huo Yan assured her as they exited the car.
As they walked, Yue Ning’s eyes took in the decorations—lanterns were hung, flowers were placed in vases. Compared on normal days, the Lu residence was heavily decorated, and filled with a celebratory mood.
Huo Yan held Yue Ning’s hands as they walked in. The maids were scurrying around, but when they passed by her, they stopped, bowing as they greeted her.
Yue Ning’s brows furrowed. A sense of anticipation was building in her.
As they walked into the main hall, Yue Ning froze. Her eyes swept over the room. Lanterns hung from the ceiling, vases of fresh flowers lined the windowsills, and the soft glow of candles filled the space with warmth.
"What... what is all this?" she asked softly, her voice a mixture of confusion and awe.
Huo Yan smiled, her hands still holding Yue Ning’s. "Just a little something, a surprise. You’ll see soon."
Yue Ning’s brow furrowed. She looked around, taking in every detail. The Lu residence had never looked before. It was carefully arranged, so quiet yet full of life. She took a cautious step forward, her curiosity filling her.
"Surprise? Huo Yan? I don’t understand," she murmured, glancing at the younger girl.
"Just follow me," Huo Yan said gently, leading her further into the hall. Her calm demeanor only made Yue Ning more suspicious. Every instinct told her that something important was about to happen, but she had no idea what.
As they approached the center of the hall, Yue Ning’s eyes landed on a small table decorated with a neat arrangement of flowers and a wrapped box.
The careful placement, the soft candlelight, even the subtle scent of fresh blooms—all of it screamed of deliberate planning.
"I... I don’t get it," Yue Ning admitted, her hands fidgeting slightly. Her pulse quickened, the quiet anticipation in the room pressing against her chest.
Huo Yan stepped aside, letting her take it all in. "Just look around. You’ll understand in a moment."
Yue Ning’s gaze shifted from the table to the softly lit room, then back to Huo Yan. Something about the quiet reverence in the atmosphere unsettled her in the most unexpected way. She had no clue what was coming, and yet, she couldn’t look away.
A soft creak sounded from the far door, and her head turned sharply. A figure emerged, stepping into the light. Yue Ning’s eyes widened, breathing deeply, confusion swirling in her eyes.
"Father?" she whispered, her voice small, and filled with uncertainty.
Lu Jiang stepped forward, his expression calm, yet filled with something deeper—recognition, a long-held longing, and an unspoken truth that had waited years to be revealed.
Yue Ning’s lips parted. She hadn’t expected this. No errands, no messages, no books—had prepared her for the sight of her father standing there, in the center of this transformed home.
Her hands tightened slightly on her coat. She could feel her heart racing, the world narrowing to the presence of him.
The room held its breath with her, the flickering candlelight reflecting in her eyes, capturing the raw, unfiltered surprise and curiosity that washed over her.
She swallowed, the feeling of uncertainty filling her while wondering what was going on.
"Happy Birthday, Yue Ning!"