Su Wanyan sank into the wooden chair with a satisfied sigh, the afternoon sun warming her shoulders as a light breeze carried the distant sounds of animals and happy visitors. "Whew, we can finally eat," she said, stretching her arms lightly above her head before relaxing.

Mo Xingxue laughed softly—a clear, melodic sound—and took the seat across from her. Little Mo Yan’s stroller was parked neatly beside their table, the baby still sleeping peacefully under a thin blanket, her tiny chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. They had spent hours wandering the zoo, visiting nearly every exhibit, and the quiet moment felt like a well-earned reward.

"That was a nice stroll," Mo Xingxue said, picking up her fork and taking a delicate bite of her fresh garden salad. The crisp greens glistened under a light vinaigrette, dotted with cherry tomatoes and toasted nuts.

Su Wanyan nodded in agreement, biting into her tuna sandwich. The bread was soft and slightly toasted, the filling rich with creamy mayo and chunks of fresh tuna. "Tell me about it. It’s been a while since I visited the zoo," she replied between bites, savoring the simple meal.

The two women fell into an easy, comfortable rhythm. They ate slowly, exchanging occasional soft comments about the animals they had seen and the gentle weather. The air around them carried the faint, pleasant mix of fresh food, blooming flowers from nearby garden beds, and the distant, wild scent of the enclosures.

Golden sunlight filtered through the canopy above, warming their skin without overwhelming them. For a brief, precious stretch of time, it felt like the cameras, the show, and the complicated plot faded into the background. It was just the two of them—old friends reconnecting under a peaceful sky.

Their quiet enjoyment was interrupted when a woman in her mid-twenties approached their table hesitantly, eyes wide with barely contained excitement. "I’m so sorry to bother you," she said, her voice trembling with thrill as she looked directly at Mo Xingxue. "But.. are you the real Mo Xingxue?"

Mo Xingxue offered her a warm, professional smile that still carried genuine kindness. "Yes, I am. Is something the matter?"

The woman let out a small, delighted shriek. "Hi! I’m such a big fan! Can we take a picture, please?"

Mo Xingxue glanced at Su Wanyan, who simply smiled and gave her an encouraging nod. "Sure," Mo Xingxue replied, standing up gracefully.

The fan fumbled excitedly with her phone, moving closer. Mo Xingxue adjusted her sunhat slightly and posed with natural elegance. They took three photos—one smiling normally, one with peace signs, and one where the fan made a heart with her hands. After the last click, the woman stepped back, clutching her phone to her chest like a treasure.

"Thank you so much, Goddess Mo! I’ll treasure this picture forever," she gushed, cheeks flushed with happiness.

Before leaving, she turned to Su Wanyan. "Teacher Su, please take care of our Goddess Mo!"

Su Wanyan laughed lightly and nodded. "That has never been in question." Her gaze drifted to Mo Xingxue with open fondness as she spoke.

To Su Wanyan, it was a simple, sincere statement between friends. But to Mo Xingxue—and the thousands watching through the live cameras—it landed very differently.

The barrage exploded.

[Sheesh, she’s so good at flirting.]

[I strive to be as smooth as Su Wanyan.]

[ARF ARF ARF ARF.]

[Does Su Wanyan accept A to A relationships? I don’t mind being at the bottom.]

[AYO??]

[Why are you stealing Mo Xingxue’s future wife?]

[Lol, Mo Xingxue’s face is red as a tomato!]

And red it was. Mo Xingxue felt heat rush up her neck and bloom across her cheeks. She sat back down quickly, fanning herself with one hand. "It’s.. kinda hot here, no?" she tried, voice slightly higher than usual as she desperately changed the subject.

"Yeah," Su Wanyan replied without missing a beat, a playful glint in her eyes. "It’s because you’re here."

The fan who had been walking away choked on her own saliva. The cameraman filming them, who had just taken a sip of soda, coughed violently, eyes watering as the liquid went down the wrong way. Su Wanyan turned to him with immediate concern. "What’s wrong? Are you okay?"

The cameraman waved her off, still coughing but insisting he was fine. Su Wanyan studied him for a second longer, then turned back to the two women, not convinced but didn’t investigate further.

Mo Xingxue’s face had turned an even brighter shade of red. She fanned herself with both hands now, looking anywhere but at Su Wanyan.

The fan who had lingered a few steps away stared at them with an unreadable expression—a mix of shock, amusement, secondhand embarrassment, and something like envy.

"Anyway," the woman said, recovering with a bright smile, "thank you, guys! Enjoy your date!" She waved enthusiastically as she finally walked away.

Both Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue waved back. Su Wanyan returned her attention to her sandwich, taking another contented bite. Mo Xingxue, however, found herself unable to eat. The corner of her mouth kept twitching upward in a smile she couldn’t suppress. She cleared her throat repeatedly, trying—and failing—to compose herself.

Su Wanyan noticed after a moment and looked up with clear concern. "What’s wrong, Xuexue?" Her eyes widened as she registered the unusual flush still burning across Mo Xingxue’s face. She stood up immediately and placed her palm gently against Mo Xingxue’s forehead. "You’re burning up," she murmured, worry threading through her voice.

"Uh, that’s—" Mo Xingxue stammered, caught off guard.

Before she could finish, Su Wanyan had already flagged down a nearby show staff member and quietly asked for medicine. Her expression was serious, brows furrowed with genuine anxiety.

In the original owner’s memories, Mo Xingxue had always been sickly as a child, falling ill multiple times a month and suffering for days. On top of that, she had given birth only four months ago and was still recovering. It was only natural for Su Wanyan to worry.

"No, Yanyan, I’m—" Mo Xingxue tried again, but the stubborn look in Su Wanyan’s eyes stopped her. "Why didn’t you tell me you had a fever?" Su Wanyan asked, her voice soft but laced with clear concern.

Mo Xingxue opened her mouth, searching desperately for an excuse, but none came. She couldn’t possibly say the truth: that she had blushed so hard because of Su Wanyan’s smooth words. That would be social suicide.

While Mo Xingxue silently lamented her fate, Su Wanyan sat back down, anxiously waiting for the staff to return.

Just then, a condescending, arrogant voice cut through the peaceful atmosphere.

"Oh? What are you doing here, rut-toy?"

Mo Xingxue flinched. The blush on her face disappeared instantly, replaced by a cold, distant mask. Su Wanyan turned sharply toward the speaker, her expression hardening.

Standing a few feet away was a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Mo Xingxue—same elegant bone structure, same phoenix eyes—but where Mo Xingxue radiated grace and quiet strength, this woman carried an air of prideful arrogance. Her lips curled in a mocking smile.

"Mo Fangyue," Mo Xingxue muttered, her voice as cold as ice.

The woman’s smile widened. "Why, hello there, heat-brain."

The barrage exploded with outrage.

[What the fuck?] 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

[Who the fuck is she to call Mo Xingxue that?]

[Who the hell are you, fuck face??]

[I’m sharpening my knife.]

[Oh, I have a new person to add to my death note.]

Just like the barrage, Su Wanyan couldn’t tolerate it. She stood up slowly, her usual gentle demeanor replaced by quiet, controlled fury. "Hey. Watch your mouth."

Mo Fangyue’s attention shifted from her sister to Su Wanyan. Her expression changed in a heartbeat—from mocking cruelty to sweet, fawning innocence. "Oh my, what are you doing here, Big Sister Yanyan?" Her voice turned sugary and obedient, as if she hadn’t just hurled a vicious slur seconds earlier.

Su Wanyan clenched her hand tightly at her side, barely holding back her anger. "Say sorry to your big sister," she demanded firmly, gesturing toward Mo Xingxue.

Mo Fangyue glanced back at Mo Xingxue, then returned her gaze to Su Wanyan. That condescending smile crept back onto her lips. "Why should I, Big Sister Yanyan?"

Su Wanyan couldn’t hold it together anymore. "You—"

Before she could finish, Mo Xingxue’s voice cut through, cold as ice. "That’s enough, Yanyan."

Su Wanyan looked at her, sighed heavily, but immediately shut her mouth and sat back down.

This was the first time Su Wanyan had met Mo Fangyue in person, but it wasn’t the first time she had heard of her. In the original novel, Mo Fangyue was another tragic victim—first charmed and used by Lin Xuanyu, then destroyed by Gu Chengze’s jealous rage. Her glands had been brutally removed, and she was fed to rabid dogs in one of the story’s darkest moments. That horror had also accelerated the mighty Mo family’s eventual downfall.

From the original owner’s memories, Su Wanyan knew Mo Fangyue hadn’t always been this way. She remembered the day the girl was born—a tiny, innocent baby. Mo Fangyue wasn’t inherently evil, but the elders of the Mo family had deliberately strained the relationship between the two sisters to push the younger alpha daughter as the perfect heir.

Su Wanyan felt a flicker of pity for her, but she could not—and would not—tolerate anyone speaking to Mo Xingxue with such disgusting slurs.

Mo Xingxue remained silent for a few long seconds before speaking again, her voice still frigid. "What are you doing here?"

Mo Fangyue clicked her tongue loudly, completely ignoring her older sister. Her eyes swept around the table and landed on the stroller. A cruel smirk twisted her lips.

"Oh, you brought the bastard?"