At this decisive moment, Lin Anyi almost became a captive of the hypnotic abyss. His will was like dew on thin ice, ready to vanish at any time. His consciousness blurred, and Alechino standing before him seemed to transform into his beloved Funina.
Seeing Lin Anyi's dazed performance, Alechino nodded with satisfaction.
"Come, go back with your wife. When you return home, I promise you will be very comfortable~"
Her voice sounded like it came from another world, filled with endless temptation and promise.
"Go, go home..."
Lin Anyi's fingers trembled slightly as he slowly raised his hand, ready to hold Alechino's. Just as he was about to succumb, a burst of gunfire shattered the illusion.
Alechino's expression froze instantly, and she retreated nimbly to avoid the sudden attack.
"Damn it."
Alechino frowned as she spotted Clorinde standing protectively in front of Lin Anyi, shielding him behind her. Her eyes were firm and calm, while the muzzle of her gun still emitted faint white smoke.
"Sorry, I'm late."
Clorinde's voice was low and powerful, her gaze locked onto Alechino, warning the uninvited guest to back off. Lin Anyi was the husband of her best friend, and for the sake of his innocence—and Funina's trust—Clorinde resolved to never let another woman lay a finger on him.
Alechino, caught off guard by Clorinde's sudden appearance and the substantial threat she posed, reassessed the situation. She narrowed her eyes and spoke in a cold voice:
"Clorinde, shouldn't your position align with mine? Our common enemy is Funina; you have no reason to help her."
The air grew heavy with tension, almost freezing into frost. For a moment, hesitation flickered in Clorinde's eyes as if she were wrestling with some deep emotion.
But her expression soon hardened. Remembering her friendship with Funina, she spoke with unwavering determination:
"The past is over. Lin Anyi and Funina are now a legitimate couple. No one has the right to interfere."
Alechino sneered, her laughter cutting like a sharp knife through Clorinde's resolve.
"How noble, but do you truly believe that? Lin Anyi has shared everything with us, and now, after losing his memory, he's just a foolish girl's possession. Even if she's your best friend, I don't believe you're entirely unaffected."
Clorinde's face darkened. Her voice rose, filled with anger, as she leveled her gun at Alechino:
"Enough! Get out of my sight immediately, and never come near Lin Anyi again!"
Alechino didn't panic. Instead, her expression took on a look of amused interest at Clorinde's emotional outburst. Her gaze shifted to Lin Anyi, who stood behind Clorinde, behaving strangely under the lingering effects of the hypnosis.
A wicked thought flashed across Alechino's mind.
"Oh? It seems I accidentally left you a gift. In that case, Clorinde, you should enjoy this surprise."
Her tone was mocking, filled with layered meaning.
"I wonder if your determination will still be so unwavering after this enjoyment."
A faint, playful smile appeared on the corner of Alechino's mouth as her figure gradually disappeared into the night, leaving behind a lingering sense of loneliness and confusion in the air.
"You gave me a gift as a surprise? What does that mean?"
A trace of confusion emerged in Clorinde's heart. Alechino's parting words were like whispers in the wind, elusive and incomprehensible.
Just as Clorinde was lost in thought, trying to untangle the mystery, a warm and secure force suddenly enveloped her.
It was Lin Anyi, the person she had always tried to regard with indifference. Now, unexpectedly, he was holding her tightly, offering her tenderness with his embrace.
"Well, Fu Fu, are you having a second growth spurt?"
Lin Anyi's voice was low, tinged with doubt but also tenderness and dependence.
"Why do I feel like you're much taller today than before?"
This sudden hug instantly broke Clorinde's composure. The icy shell she usually wore seemed to melt under this moment of warmth, leaving her face filled with rare panic and confusion.
"What... what's going on?"
Her voice trembled with uncertainty as her thoughts swirled. She suddenly remembered Alechino's words to Lin Anyi before she intervened:
"There's no need to resist, the woman in front of you is your most beloved wife."
"Could it be... that because of Alechino's hypnosis, Lin Anyi now thinks I'm his wife?"
The thought tightened her heart. She didn't know how to respond. Should she savor this unexpected tenderness or clarify the misunderstanding? Clorinde's heart wrestled with anxiety and guilt.
"No, no," she thought, her resolve strengthening. "I'm Funina's best friend. How could I take advantage of her husband?"
Determined, Clorinde began to struggle in Lin Anyi's arms. Yet, even with her extraordinary strength, rivaling that of Alechino, the warmth of Lin Anyi's embrace stirred something deeply buried within her heart.
A long-frozen corner of her emotions began to thaw.
For a moment, Clorinde felt like an ordinary girl—blushing, conflicted, and weak. Although she wanted to push Lin Anyi away, her strength faltered, and she found herself unable to break free.
After a long moment of pushing and pulling, Lin Anyi finally spoke, his voice tinged with confusion:
"Fu Fu, why are you so resistant to me today? If you're upset, let's just go home, okay? Don't stand here on the street."
Clorinde suddenly snapped back to reality. She noticed the curious gazes of pedestrians watching their interaction. Her face flushed crimson with embarrassment.
"Yes, don't worry about it. Let's get Anyi to my house first," she said hurriedly.
Acting swiftly, she scooped Lin Anyi up into a "Prince hug" and started toward her home.
As she walked, Clorinde silently comforted herself:
"I'm sorry, Funina. The situation is special right now, and I have no choice but to bring your husband back to my place."
"Don't worry. He'll just rest at my house—I won't do anything!"