Character List for Chapters 12 & 13

Sienna

(formerly Song Qi)

Caspian

(formerly Mu Chuan)

Hunter

(formerly He Chi)

Victoria

(formerly Song Wan)

12

Late at night.

With a soft

click

, the lock on the iron cage snapped open.

In the next second, I fell into a cool, familiar embrace.

It was Caspian.

He seemed to have sustained more injuries, carrying a thick scent of blood.

Nevertheless, he held me tightly, navigated past the patrolling guards, and reached a small warehouse used for storing reagents.

Seeing no one around, I whispered to him.

"The evidence and clues have been reported. The police will be here soon to shut this place down. You don’t have to live in fear anymore."

That’s right—the moment I realized this might be a trap, Caspian had confessed everything to me.

He told me about the filthy dealings at the Sector A Research Lab and their inhumane biological experiments.

To increase her own excellence rating, Victoria had gone so far as to insanely harvest the inner cores of beastmen and transplant them into herself.

That was how she achieved her 79% rating.

God knows how many beastmen she had murdered to reach those numbers.

The entire research lab was thick with the smell of blood and formaldehyde.

So, he and I had made a plan: he would pretend to be captured while gathering evidence.

After nightfall, we turned these secrets over to the police.

I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In the darkness, his emerald pupils shone exceptionally bright.

I noticed his aura seemed slightly off.

"What's wrong?"

I asked him, but Caspian remained silent.

It wasn't until I urged him again that he spoke up moodily.

"Have you... liked him for a very long time?"

Seeing me staring at him, Caspian pursed his lips.

"Forget it, act like I didn't ask... From now on, as long as I'm around, he won't have a chance to be near you."

I smiled.

This snake is quite the "lovestruck" type, isn't he? How cute.

I teased him on purpose: "Well, that's not for sure. Maybe one day I'll—"

Before I could finish, my lips were sealed by his.

He pried my mouth open aggressively, taking over everything.

I gasped in annoyance, "You—!"

Just as I tried to push him away, he pinned my hands above my head.

His flexible tail coiled gently, brushing against every inch of my skin.

Caspian was dripping with jealousy.

"Sister, can he possibly be better than me?"

My face burned, and I deliberately avoided answering.

He let out a cold snort and pressed the back of my head: "Are you going to tell me? Hmm?"

With a flushed face and tears shimmering in my eyes, I whimpered.

"I'll tell you..."

He nodded with satisfaction, then said slowly:

"Telling me now is a bit too late."

"..."

I wanted to cry but had no tears.

This shameless Naga...

He really isn't human!

13

Soon, the Sector A Research Lab was shut down.

All the beastmen were returned to their previous locations, while those who had been straying for too long were sent to the Beastman Bureau.

As for Victoria, because of this scandal, our father disowned her, and she faced legal consequences.

The Sector A Lab was reported by the media, completely exposed to the public.

The public was shocked and outraged; many beastmen even sought private revenge against Victoria.

As the dust settled, I finally felt at ease.

Soon, I completed the adoption papers for Caspian.

"Caspian! Look at the surprise I brought you!"

I opened the door in high spirits, eager to tell him the good news.

Only to find Hunter sitting on my bed.

I was startled.

His face was flushed a shy, deep red. He was dressed in a male servant's outfit, his pair of fox ears looking soft and fluffy.

Wearing those silver earrings, he looked exceptionally provocative.

This was a scene I had once dreamed of.

But now...

Looking at him, he didn't seem nearly as stunning as my Naga fiancé.

Seeing me enter, he leaned forward.

Coming very close to me, he wagged his beautiful fox tail.

He lowered his eyes, his voice as gentle as water:

"Master..."

I was about to leave when he grabbed the hem of my clothes.

He looked at the adoption agreement in my hand, regret and apology flashing in his eyes.

A mist of tears gathered in Hunter’s eyes.

He pleaded pitifully:

"Sienna, don't leave me behind, okay? I don't mind... I can serve you together with him."

That look was filled with love.

His eyes were completely full of me.

But I simply didn't care anymore.

I pulled my hand away and shook my head.

"Hunter, it's too late."

No one stays in the same spot waiting forever.

That passion and patience had been worn away by his repeated coldness.

It had turned to dust and scattered with the wind.

Just like the feelings between us.

I said flatly:

"Don't come here anymore."

"I'll be changing the door code. Let's just go our separate ways. It’s better for both of us."