What are you doing?

"Alright, I've told Momo everything. She said she needs to report it to the higher-ups first, but she'll be back in a bit and told me to be careful."

In the courtyard of Mo Bai's house, Mo Bai was holding a small hoe, earnestly planting potatoes and playing in the mud, while Mu Sheng looked left and right, pondering where he might bury a trap or two.

Failing that, upon remembering Qi Lin's formidable combat prowess, he simply gave up, squatted down next to Mo Bai, and joined in on planting potatoes and playing with mud.

"Qi Lin was heavily battered by the Blue King, losing most of his power. Right now, he's basically at the Star-Convergence level."

"Asking the local Control Bureau for help is the best choice. It just so happens that Mo Mo has connections in there, so they'll probably prioritize guarding your place. Even Qi Lin won't find it so easy to kidnap you."

Mo Bai couldn't help asking, "Aren't you a wanted criminal, kid? Will it be an issue if your sister's people see you?"

What if the Control Bureau folks showed up, saw Mu Sheng, and—hey, a pleasant surprise—immediately rolled up in a van of agents to snatch Mu Sheng away?

When that time came, the bounty would be split fifty-fifty: one half for you, one half for me. Mo Bai would just have to tearfully accept Mu Sheng's blood-and-sweat money, visit him in prison every winter, and drop off a cake on the way.

Mu Sheng looked smug. "These days, even influencers know how to mask their faces with a phone filter. How could I possibly wander around showing my real face?"

"I definitely use a mask, otherwise I wouldn't even be able to ride the bus."

Mo Bai chuckled. "A Ultraman Taro mask, is it?"

Fitting for a sniper; even his mask has to be Ultraman Taro. Who could look at that and not shout out, "Ah, the legendary rookie of the universe!"

"No, no, no, that's just an emergency measure." Mu Sheng waved his hand and gave Mo Bai a deadpan stare. "I should be asking you."

"Out of nowhere, how on earth did you manage to catch the Red Moon's eye?"

Mu Sheng looked terrified. "Let me tell you, not a single one of those moons is up to any good. Don't go thinking this is some kind of blessing."

"They are definitely plotting something."

Hearing Mu Sheng's words, Mo Bai couldn't help thinking of Gu Ran. She had stayed by his side for eight years and handed him power for free. What on earth was she after?

Eight years of... companionship?

Mo Bai lowered his gaze. "Is it really that exaggerated? I think that red moon is quite cute."

Mu Sheng: "?"

He grabbed Mo Bai by the shoulders. "A person cannot—at the very least, they shouldn't."

Mo Bai raised an eyebrow. "A person can—at the very least, they should give it a try."

"Go to hell!" Mu Sheng gave Mo Bai an indignant shove. "I've warned you. When the Red Moon eventually devours you down to the bone, I'll definitely dance on your grave."

"I'm going to dance Happy Synthesizer!"

Mo Bai offered a seductive, wicked smile and dug up a potato on the spot. "Forget it, I'll definitely live longer than you."

"I'll be dancing Platinum Disco right over your tomb."

With that, the two of them burst into gales of utterly shameless laughter, instantly filling the courtyard with a cheerful atmosphere.

Once the laughter died down, however, Mu Sheng's expression turned tragic once again as he clutched his head. "We're doomed, doomed, doomed... Why on earth did the Red Moon fixate on a scumbag like you?!"

"Now I'm completely screwed. Not only can I not take you back, but there's no way I can leak any information about you either. Dammit, I'm going to get mocked by that devil again..."

"She'll probably come up with some outrageous demand again, treating me like some kind of plaything. It's over, it's over, it's over..."

Mu Sheng was so frightened that cold sweat broke out on his forehead, which only made Mo Bai even more curious. "Is that devilish boss of yours really that terrifying?"

"How exactly does she mock you?"

"How *doesn't* she?!"

Mu Sheng's emotions flared up instantly. He placed a hand over his chest looking deeply aggrieved:

"'You know what? I saved your life, so you're my dog for the rest of your life.'"

"'Normally, given your status, you'd only be fit to kneel on the ground and lick my shoes. Now I've given you the chance to look at my face, and you should be grateful to me for the rest of your days.'"

"'Don't get any wrong ideas; your life is worthless to me. I just don't want you, as my dog, to embarrass your master.'"

"'Stuttering just from seeing a girl's face? Heh, I never expected you to be such a weakling. Come on, look closely at my face and let me admire that comical expression of yours.'"

"'Never held a girl's hand? Here, this is my benevolence to you. You can lick it with your tongue like a little puppy if you'd like, you know.'"

"'Don't even think about running away from me. Your blood, your flesh, your bones, your soul, and even your ■■ belong to me. Understand?'"

"'Heh, with a good-for-nothing like you, I'm probably the only one who will ever make use of you in this lifetime, so you better cherish me.'"

Mu Sheng rattled off a long string of complaints in one breath, panting heavily as if he had just emerged from a bloodbath. He looked at Mo Bai with utter grievance, desperately hoping for some comfort from his bro.

"That's how she mocks me! And for no good reason, she always loves to kick me and invalidate my worth. Tell me, isn't that utterly outrageous?!"

"Doesn't it just make your blood boil the moment you hear it?"

Mo Bai: "..."

"Hiss..."

His expression gradually twisted into one of deep constipation.

Wait, this—this isn't right, is it?

Are these lines... is there something just a tiny bit off about them?

Is there something wrong with him, is there something wrong with that devil boss, or...

Is there something wrong with Mu Sheng?

Surely *someone* has to be the problem here, right?

So, Mo Bai looked up at the top of Mu Sheng's head once more. Rummaging through that complex array of traits, he finally found the one he had previously ignored tucked away in the corner.

[Masochist] White.

Mo Bai's eyes lit up instantly as everything suddenly became clear.

That's right.

It was Mu Sheng's fault.

You little freak, you're actually enjoying this, aren't you?

Mo Bai swiftly flipped Mu Sheng the middle finger to express his utmost contempt.

"Damn you."

Failing to receive comfort and getting mocked instead, Mu Sheng let out a miserable wail. "Why?! Whyy?!!"

Indeed, why?

Mo Bai really wanted to ask: You motherfucker, possessing a gold-tier trait like [Galgame Master], why on earth can't you even read between the lines like this?!

Could it be that your brush with a criminal record back in the day completely stripped away whatever humanity you had left?

Or could it be that the devil boss is actually a tank?

*Press F to pilot the tank.*

Just to be safe, Mo Bai asked, "Is your boss pretty or not?"

"I have photos." Mu Sheng swiped on his phone and showed Mo Bai a group photo saved inside.

When Mo Bai saw the long-haired black-haired JK young lady standing next to Mu Sheng in the picture, he was shocked.

If Mo Mo was a 100, this woman had to be at least a 98.

Isn't this a super adorable beautiful girl?!

What the hell are you even doing, man!

And so, for the second time, Mo Bai extended his middle finger to express his profound disdain.

"Why?!"

While the two were bickering, the iron gate by the courtyard rattled. Mo Bai and Mu Sheng turned their heads, and the first thing they saw was Mo Mo rushing toward them.

"Brother, big brother..." Mo Mo tightly hugged Mo Bai, who was still playing in the mud. "Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? Did the assassins sent by Qi Lin do anything to you..."

Mu Sheng tactfully stepped back to give the siblings some space.

He went to the corner to play in the mud instead.

"I'm fine, I'm doing great." Mo Bai ruffled Mo Mo's hair. "Nothing happened at all. Besides, aren't you here now?"

Upon learning that her brother was unharmed, Mo Mo still didn't let go of him, only murmuring softly into Mo Bai's chest, "Mm."

"I will protect big brother."

Behind Mo Mo, Chu Aoqing walked over with a cheerful expression. "Yo, we meet again."

"What did I tell you? Someone was bound to be after your kidneys, right?"

Chu Aoqing held up the plastic bag in her hand, which was filled with various fresh vegetables and meat. "Just in time, it's dinnertime."

"Get inside and stir-fry a couple of dishes for me."