86: Chapter 86 The Silent Battlefield

An Ran felt as if her brain might have short-circuited.

It was as if a top-tier computer, running a massive AAA title at full speed, had suddenly been drenched with a basin of boiling water.

The graphics card was fried, the CPU melted, and even the data on the hard drive had been formatted clean.

All that remained was a blank, frozen screen.

She didn't even know how she had bent down.

The moment her fingers touched the rough surface of the basketball, she felt nothing.

It was like controlling a game character whose movements were stiff due to network lag.

Pick up the ball, turn around, take a step.

The energetic girl who used to dominate the court and walk with a swagger was gone.

Replaced by a robot whose limbs felt like they had just been installed and were not yet broken in.

Left arm forward, left foot follows.

Right arm swings, right foot lands.

Moving the same hand and foot.

It was incredibly bizarre, yet carried an indescribable sense of humor and desolation.

If someone had set off a firecracker by her ear, she probably wouldn't even have blinked.

Because her soul had been forcibly ripped away by that scene just a moment ago.

In that dark corner.

In front of that pile of moldy mats.

The kind of manga plot that should only exist when hiding under the covers late at night, or scenes from some unspeakable adult movies.

In broad daylight.

Less than ten meters away from her.

"Bang."

An Ran walked back to the court side, the basketball in her hand feeling like a hot potato, which she casually tossed aside.

The ball rolled to the Sports Representative's feet.

"Oh, Sister An is back!"

The Sports Representative was wiping his sweat, and when he saw An Ran's state, he paused for a moment.

"What's wrong? Your face is so pale. Is it low blood sugar from rushing too hard?"

The surrounding teammates also gathered around, asking with concern.

"Did you get hurt picking up the ball?"

"Do you need to go to the infirmary?"

Even the boys from the opposing team stopped and craned their necks to look over.

The noise sounded as if it were coming from behind a thick sheet of glass—buzzing and indistinct.

An Ran shook her head blankly.

"I'm fine."

Her voice was as dry as two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

"Just... a bit tired."

She didn't look at anyone, her gaze falling vacantly onto a crack in the concrete floor.

"Sorry, you guys keep playing, I'll rest for a bit."

After saying that, she drifted like a ghost to the very back of the crowd.

She found an empty step, sat down straight, wrapped her arms around her knees, and buried her face in her arms.

The people around looked at each other.

They wanted to ask more, but seeing the "stay away, even acquaintances keep your distance" aura radiating from her, no one dared to step forward and court trouble.

The game continued, and the squeaking of sneakers on the floor rang out again.

But the excitement had nothing to do with An Ran.

...

A while later.

At the "crime scene" in the corner of the playground.

The center of the storm was now a place of eerie peace and warmth.

Su Muxue was kneeling in front of Huang Mao, carefully tidying his slightly messy hem.

The pathological obsession from moments ago was gone.

Replacing it was a blush of fulfilled desire, and a sense of... satisfaction, as if she had just completed a grand project.

That was the feeling of being 'useful.'

That was the tangible feeling of being 'needed.'

Once finished, she didn't get up to leave.

Instead, like a clingy cat, she took the opportunity to press her face against Huang Mao's chest and nuzzle gently.

"Master..."

Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a trace of lingering desire.

"With this, you should feel much better, right?"

She looked up, her large, watery eyes shimmering with a desire for praise.

"You don't have to endure that pain anymore... right?"

Huang Mao leaned against the wall, head tilted back, looking at the dappled tree shadows above.

He was in a state of extreme post-climax clarity.

His soul felt as if it had ascended, drifting somewhere beyond the atmosphere.

Hearing Su Muxue's words, he nodded subconsciously.

"Mhm..."

If he still didn't feel better after that, humanity would have gone extinct long ago.

Receiving an affirmative answer, the smile in Su Muxue's eyes deepened.

She extended her pink tongue and gently licked her slightly swollen lips.

"However..."

Her fingers traced circles on Huang Mao's chest, her tone suddenly becoming meaningful.

"Considering Master's intensity... that last time was probably just a drop in the bucket."

"If that's not enough..."

She leaned forward slightly, her warm breath spraying onto Huang Mao's neck once more.

"As long as it's Master's request, I can do it as many times as you want."

"After all..."

She shyly lowered her gaze, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.

"I also really like... the feeling of serving Master."

Huang Mao snapped back to reality.

His spine stiffened instantly.

"Cough, cough!"

Huang Mao coughed violently, nearly choking on his own saliva.

"No need, no need!"

"I'm very satisfied! Really!"

"I've never been this satisfied in my life!"

"And you must be tired from just now, right? You should rest too!"

Hearing Huang Mao's firm refusal, Su Muxue felt a little regretful, but was more flattered.

Master was actually being so considerate of her.

Even though he could have demanded more.

"Since Master says so..."

She stood up obediently and brushed the dust off her knees.

"Then I will listen to Master and stop here."

Huang Mao let out a long sigh of relief.

It felt like he had just been pulled back from the edge of a cliff.

His mood was complicated.

On one hand, there was the extreme physical pleasure; on the other, the immense psychological pressure.

This sense of immorality...

Tsk, how should he put it?

It was actually quite thrilling.

Just then, he suddenly remembered something.

Hadn't there been a notification sound earlier?

He had been at a critical moment then; he had no mind to care about his phone.

Now that he had regained his senses, Huang Mao pulled out his phone.

The screen lit up.

On the social media interface, Leng Qingxuan's name was prominently displayed.

The message was sent over ten minutes ago.

The content was simple, just one sentence:

【What are you doing?】

There was also a cat head emoji.

Huang Mao's fingers stiffened.

This was bad.

The timing was too perfect.

It was exactly during the time he and Su Muxue had "disappeared."

What to do?

Tell a lie?

Huang Mao's brain worked at high speed.

Finally, biting the bullet, he typed a line.

...

On the side of the playground.

Leng Qingxuan was sitting on a bench, her brows furrowed.

She had been observing An Ran the whole time.

The usually boisterous Sports Student had returned from picking up a ball like a soul who had been drained.

That dejected appearance was definitely not just because she was tired.

That was the reaction of someone who had received a massive shock.

And the source of the shock...

Leng Qingxuan's gaze turned back toward that dark corner.

Where else could it be?

Who else could it be?

Just then, her phone vibrated.

She looked down.

【Nothing, just got dragged to a quiet place by her to chat for a while—uh, do you believe that?】

Leng Qingxuan looked at this line on the screen.

The corner of her eye twitched uncontrollably.

Good grief.

Seriously, good grief.

Had this man carved the words "lying flat" into his DNA?

Even his lying was this perfunctory!

A nameless fire instantly flared up from the bottom of her heart.

She took a deep breath and her fingers tapped rapidly on the screen:

【You know I can't possibly believe that, so why say it? (Red-faced angry emoji)】

Almost an instant reply.

Huang Mao: 【Isn't it because I don't want you to feel bad, but I also don't want to lie to you?】

Looking at this reply, Leng Qingxuan was actually amused by anger.

Sincerity.

Too sincere.

So sincere that it made one want to bite him.

This was Huang Mao.

This was the man she had taken a fancy to.

He could always use some strange logic to stifle your anger at moments that made you furious.

Leng Qingxuan bit her lip and replied:

【As expected of you. But the result is that now I feel both bad and lied to.】

【But that's not the main thing...】

【What I care about more now is, what did you two actually do?】

This was the point.

A lone man and a lone woman.

A blind spot for surveillance.

Over ten minutes.

Plus An Ran's "seen a ghost" expression.

If anyone said they were just chatting in there, even a ghost wouldn't believe it!

...

In the corner.

Huang Mao looked at the last message sent by Leng Qingxuan and sighed.

How to answer this?

There was no way to answer this.

Should he say, "I was enjoying the service you haven't been able to give me"?

If he said that, tonight wouldn't be a Shura field; it would be a crematorium.

【This... let's wait until tonight to talk about it.】

He kicked the can down the road to his future self.

Drag it out as long as he could.

Just as he finished sending the message.

Su Muxue, beside him, was looking at his phone screen with a subtle expression.

Although she didn't deliberately peek.

A woman's intuition told her that Master was likely engaged in some kind of extreme tug-of-war with that "primary wife" sister.

Su Muxue gently smoothed her stray hair, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Master."

She called out softly.

"In order not to attract more unnecessary attention, should I go back first?"

"You can wait a minute or two before coming out."

Huang Mao felt like he had been granted amnesty upon hearing this.

This maid was too sensible!

She was truly a thoughtful little cotton-padded jacket!

"Indeed, indeed."

Huang Mao nodded like a pecking chicken.

"You go first, and mind your expression management."

Su Muxue nodded obediently, then turned and walked out of the shadows with light steps.

When the sunlight shone on her again.

The blush on her face had faded for the most part, replaced by her usual gentle and lovely demeanor.

Only the spring-like charm flowing between her brows could not be hidden.

She did not return to the basketball court, nor did she pretend to join the spectators as if nothing had happened.

Instead, she walked straight toward the rest area on the side of the court.

She walked toward Leng Qingxuan, who was sitting on the bench staring fixedly in this direction.

Leng Qingxuan had just put down her phone when she looked up.

Their gazes collided in the air.

Sparks flew.

When she saw Su Muxue's proud, blooming appearance, as if she had just been nourished by rain and dew.

The alarm bells in her heart rang instantly—no, they were almost broken from the ringing.

She definitely did something bad!

And it wasn't just any bad thing!

She had to strike hard!

She subconsciously wanted to stand up.

"Hiss—"

However, the pain from her ankle made her gasp instantly.

Her legs went soft, and she fell heavily back into the chair.

Her brows furrowed tightly.

And Su Muxue had already arrived in front of her.

She clasped her hands in front of her, bowed slightly, and performed a standard lady's curtsy.

A gentle smile that couldn't be faulted in the slightest hung on her face.

"Sister Qingxuan."

Her voice was sweet, yet it made Leng Qingxuan feel a chill.

"Seeing you want to stand up just now, was there something you wanted to do?"

Su Muxue looked at her with concern, her eyes full of "sincerity."

"Did you want to try walking?"

"Or... did you need to use the restroom?"

She stepped forward slightly, looking down at the distressed Leng Qingxuan.

"If that's the case, wouldn't it have been better to just call me to help?"

"After all..."

She leaned in closer and said in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"As a servant in the house, it is my duty to help the sisters handle 'everything'."

She emphasized the word "everything" heavily.

It was full of hidden meaning.

Leng Qingxuan looked at this delicate, harmless face in front of her.

Listening to this sweet, cloying "sister" address.

She only felt a chill down her spine.

How was this a gentle maid?

If you cut her open, she must be black inside!

The kind of black that was colorful!

...

And in the corner.

Huang Mao was leaning against the wall behind him, sighing up at the sky.

"Sigh..."

He rubbed his temples, feeling his head buzzing.

He had only just conquered Leng Qingxuan last night.

Or to be precise, he had been conquered by her.

And yet, before the day was even over, this had happened with Su Muxue.

Was the progress bar moving too fast?

"Sigh..."

He sighed again.

Fortunately... no one saw, right?

As long as no one saw, it was Schrödinger's cat.

As long as he didn't admit it, it hadn't happened.

Wait.

Huang Mao suddenly froze.

Earlier... did An Ran come to pick up the ball?

That ball, didn't it roll near here?

And after she picked up the ball, didn't she seem to not go back immediately?

A sinister premonition instantly enveloped his whole body.

He poked his head out and took a look toward the court.

He happened to see An Ran curled up behind the crowd like an introverted mushroom.

That back view was filled with a thick sense of "worldview collapse" desolation.

"Damn."

The name of a plant slipped out.

Huang Mao covered his face in agony.

It was over.

It was all over.

Now it was truly going to turn into a Shura field battle royale.

However.

Huang Mao, who was immersed in the anticipation of the coming disaster, did not notice.

Just diagonally above him.

Between the dense leaves.

A black object, only the size of a palm, was quietly floating in the air.

It was a miniature drone.

Four propellers were spinning silently, maintaining an extremely stable hovering posture.

And the camera beneath it, with its faint red light.

Was staring fixedly at his position.

He didn't know how long it had been hovering there.

Nor did he know...

Just how many things it had captured that it shouldn't have.