Chapter Twenty-Three: Do You Like Him?

Mo Nian Nian was full of questions—what on earth was going on? What kind of nonsense was this little rascal up to now? Mo Nian Nian was nearly beside herself with anger. She stormed upstairs, only to see the little one curled up pitifully on the sofa, looking utterly forlorn.

Most of her anger dissipated. “What’s wrong?” she asked. Truly, she had raised a little ancestor.

Jiang Hu’s voice was low. “Sister, do you like that police officer?”

Mo Nian Nian: ???

She almost laughed out of exasperation. “No, what are you thinking? This is only the second time I’ve met him.”

“It’s the third,” Jiang Hu insisted. “He was there the day Wang Qiang was sentenced.”

“Fine, the third time then.” Mo Nian Nian was nearly driven mad by her little ancestor. “What on earth makes you think I like him?”

“Once you got his call, you were immediately happy and hurried downstairs to see him,” Jiang Hu said, sounding aggrieved. “You talked to him for so long, and you came back so cheerful.”

Mo Nian Nian gave him a sharp slap. “I went to see him for your sake, you little ingrate.”

It was all about the case, yet hearing it from this little rascal’s mouth somehow made it sound so strange. Mo Nian Nian was left speechless.

“Really? Sister doesn’t like him?” Jiang Hu’s eyes sparkled.

Mo Nian Nian replied with certainty. “Of course not.”

Jiang Hu was delighted and hugged Mo Nian Nian, acting spoiled. “Then sister, don’t like anyone else, okay?”

Sister could only like him.

Mo Nian Nian didn’t catch the underlying meaning in Jiang Hu’s words. She laughed, pinching his cheek. “Do you want me to grow old alone?”

Though she’d never considered finding a partner, her life span was so long that nothing could stir her interest anymore. Even coming here for this task had been an accident.

Jiang Hu’s expression was hard to read. “Sister, do you want to fall in love now?”

The little one’s mood was off. Mo Nian Nian glanced at him. “You don’t want me to?”

Jiang Hu looked down, his voice barely audible. “If sister has a boyfriend, she’ll never treat me well again.”

He looked at Mo Nian Nian with longing in his eyes. “Sister, stay with me forever, okay?”

Mo Nian Nian was dazed, bewitched into nodding and agreeing for the moment.

Jiang Hu was immediately overjoyed, hugging her tightly and refusing to let go. His chest was burning hot, and Mo Nian Nian could distinctly feel the difference between his physical makeup and hers. She even heard the sound of his heartbeat.

Mo Nian Nian was slightly stunned. For the first time, she realized that the little one was no longer the little one he once was.

Was he relying on her too much?

Mo Nian Nian pushed him gently. “Let me ask you something.”

Jiang Hu wouldn’t let go, clinging desperately to her side. “Go ahead, sister.”

“No matter what I say, you’ll do it?”

Jiang Hu’s eyes curved, his gaze full of laughter but with an indescribable determination. “Of course. As long as it’s your command, I’ll do my utmost to accomplish it.”

Mo Nian Nian: ...

That’s really not necessary.

She looked at Jiang Hu, wanting to say something but stopping herself. In the end, she simply patted his head and told him to rest early.

Mo Nian Nian was troubled. [System, what’s Jiang Hu’s current malice value?]

The system was timid and fearful. [It’s dropped a few points.]

[How much until it’s completely eliminated?]

[About thirty points.]

Jiang Hu’s malice value had started at around seventy points. After more than two years of her efforts, it had finally dropped to thirty.

Yet Mo Nian Nian couldn’t understand—she’d already dealt with his greatest enemy, so why was his malice value still so high?

Thinking back to Jiang Hu’s behavior just now, Mo Nian Nian grew even more worried. [System, do you think there’s something off about him?]

The system’s heart was in its throat. If the host found out the male lead’s true feelings, she’d surely realize it was him that night. Then the system and the male lead could just hold hands and wait for their doom.

The system strove to sound normal. [What’s off? I think he’s fine.]

[He seems…] Mo Nian Nian paused for a long time. Just as the system was about to crash from data disorder, she finally said, [A mama’s boy.]

The system: ???

It coughed twice, comforting its wounded little heart, and cautiously looked at Mo Nian Nian. [Host, why would you think that?]

[Don’t you think he relies on me too much? And he’ll do whatever I say. Isn’t that the definition of a mama’s boy?]

The system’s data was nearly twisted into a knot. It stammered, [When you put it that way… it’s not wrong.]

Amen. Hopefully God would forgive it.

Mo Nian Nian’s brows were furrowed. [This won’t do! How could the male lead turn into a mama’s boy? If this keeps up, what will he do when I leave?]

[Host, you still plan to leave?]

[What else? Once the task is done, what’s the point of staying?]

The system thought silently that its host was truly a ruthless woman. Unfortunately, the task was a one-off. As long as the host could reduce the male lead’s malice value to the minimum, the mission would be considered complete and she could leave this little world.

The system pitied the male lead for a moment.

With Mo Nian Nian’s promise, Jiang Hu became more and more brazen. Many times, his gaze was so bold it seemed he wanted to devour Mo Nian Nian whole. The system was terrified she’d notice, its heart pounding in fear.

Luckily, Mo Nian Nian was oblivious—she’d yet to realize anything was amiss.

She’d classified Jiang Hu as her junior from the start, so naturally, she never considered anything else.

Soon, it was time again for Mo Nian Nian to venture out and make a living. The line of people wanting her services was long; she never had to worry about money.

But this time, Jiang Hu stopped her. Taking out a card, his face slightly flushed, he said, “Sister, this is the money I’ve earned these past two years. Please use it.”

Mo Nian Nian didn’t take it seriously. “Keep it for yourself. I can support you.”

Jiang Hu inexplicably liked the word “support.” He comfortably squinted his eyes. “Sister, you’ve always supported me. Now it’s my turn.”

“There’s eight hundred thousand in the card. It’s not much, but I’ll work hard to earn more.”

For a moment, Mo Nian Nian was deeply skeptical of the phrase “not much”—she was stunned, seriously pondering how eight hundred thousand could ever be considered “not much.”

“Sister, trust me. I can earn enough to support you.”

His sister deserved the best the world had to offer. He would work hard, earning money to lay everything before her.

Mo Nian Nian finally snapped out of her daze. “How did you get so much money?”

“I partnered with some classmates to start a small company, selling self-developed potions. This is just the early stage—I'll definitely earn more in the future.”

Mo Nian Nian couldn’t help but sigh—he really was the male lead. She hadn’t even earned half of what he had in the card after all this time.

“Sister.” Jiang Hu stubbornly extended his hand, offering the card to Mo Nian Nian.

After considering for two seconds, Mo Nian Nian happily accepted it. Who wouldn’t want to live a life of easy comfort and leisure?