"Speaking of which, my best friend is staying at my house temporarily. Let me introduce her to you..." Funina began enthusiastically, but her expression suddenly shifted to alarm. Her eyes widened, and she exclaimed in panic, "Oh, I almost forgot about this!"
Lin Anyi immediately looked concerned.
"What's wrong?" he asked hurriedly.
Funina scratched her head awkwardly, a sheepish smile on her face.
"When I couldn't find you at noon today, I asked Clorinde to help organize a search and rescue team. But after we rescued you, I completely forgot to notify her! I guess Clorinde might still be working outside in vain."
Hearing this, Lin Anyi also felt embarrassed.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let her come back to rest," he urged.
"Yeah, okay!" Funina quickly nodded in agreement. She then turned to Yae Shenzi with an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry, Miss Yae. I need to contact my best friend first. Anyi will entertain you in the meantime."
With that, Funina hurriedly left the living room, leaving Lin Anyi and Yae Shenzi alone in the now-empty house.
The atmosphere suddenly turned subtle.
Lin Anyi stood awkwardly in the spacious living room, scratching the back of his head as he searched for something to say to break the silence.
"Sister Shenzi, how about we go to the living room to sit? Or… do you need something to drink?"
Yae Shenzi smiled at Lin Anyi's considerate gesture, her eyes softening. She waved her hand gently.
"Don't bother, Anyi. We can just sit here and chat," she replied casually, her tone warm and approachable.
Her light-hearted demeanor seemed to dissipate the stiffness in the air.
However, unknown to Lin Anyi, Yae Shenzi's thoughts were far more intricate than they appeared. A mischievous glint sparkled briefly in her eyes as she thought to herself:
Because of a small mistake by Funina, she's inadvertently created such a perfect opportunity for me.
She had a playful smile in her heart:
"She actually left such a beautiful boy alone at home. Didn't that woman Alechino teach Funina a lesson?"
She whispered to herself:
"Forget it, it's a blessing to suffer a loss. Since Alechino didn't teach her a lesson, I'll make up for it~"
With this thought, Yae Shenzi's fingers lightly touched the pocket-watch-shaped button she carried. In the next moment, she activated her ability to stop time.
The room instantly froze. Every movement and sound came to an abrupt halt. Only Yae Shenzi remained unaffected, able to move freely in this static world.
She slowly rose from the sofa, stepping gracefully around the table. Her light footsteps echoed faintly as she approached Lin Anyi. At this moment, she wasn't merely an observer—she was the director of this frozen scene, fully in control.
Standing in front of Lin Anyi, Yae Shenzi's eyes deepened, capturing the boy's frozen figure in her gaze. Her heart brimmed with anticipation and careful calculations.
"There's no rush," she murmured to herself, a hint of mischief glimmering in her eyes.
"After all, if the person involved doesn't notice it, what's the point? Let's just scare him a little~"
With those words, Yae Shenzi waved her hand. A fox formed from the element of lightning appeared, crackling faintly with energy.
It nimbly carried Lin Anyi onto its back, whisking him away from the house in a flash.
_______________
Originally, Lin Anyi was still immersed in thinking about how to entertain Yae Shenzi to repay her kindness. Suddenly, he felt dizzy. The feeling of "daze" came again, and when he came to his senses, he found himself inexplicably in an unfamiliar basement.
"What's going on?!" Lin Anyi exclaimed, his eyes wide open as he looked around the gloomy space.
He clearly remembered escaping from danger and returning home safely with Yae Shenzi and Funina. How could he suddenly find himself in a basement? The abruptness of the change left him feeling confused and scared.
Faced with the unexpected situation, a thought raced through his mind: "Is this the trick of that bad woman Alechino?!" His voice was tinged with suspicion and unease, and his heartbeat quickened involuntarily.
At that moment, he noticed the basement door slowly creaking open. His heartbeat accelerated further as his eyes widened, fixed on the door. The tension in his chest tightened like a coiled spring. Was Alechino's terrifying figure about to reappear, ready to devour him entirely?
However, when the door finally opened, it revealed the familiar and reassuring figure of Yae Shenzi.
Seeing her in such an ominous place immediately pulled Lin Anyi's emotions back from the brink of panic.
"Sister Shenzi, why are you here?" Lin Anyi's voice was filled with concern and surprise.
After all, Yae Shenzi had put herself in direct conflict with Alechino earlier in the day to save him. He feared she might also have fallen victim to some conspiracy and been kidnapped.
Yae Shenzi stepped lightly into the basement, her movements graceful and her smile gentle yet enigmatic.
"Why am I here?" she asked softly, her eyes shimmering with wisdom.
"That's because I came to save you, Anyi."
"So that's how it is." Hearing her answer, Lin Anyi felt a wave of relief wash over him, and his tension began to subside.
However, in Yae Shenzi's eyes, a playful glint briefly flashed. She recognized that Lin Anyi's trust in her provided an opportunity—one she intended to exploit fully.
After a brief silence, Yae Shenzi's gaze lit up, as though an idea had struck her.
"Anyi, close your eyes for a moment," she said gently, her tone tinged with mystery.
"Close my eyes?" Lin Anyi repeated, startled, his eyes filled with doubt and confusion. At such a critical moment, her request seemed peculiar. Despite his hesitations, Yae Shenzi's composed demeanor made him falter.
Seeing his hesitation, Yae Shenzi softly urged him:
"Anyi, close your eyes obediently. I'll use a secret technique to save you."
"Is that so." Lin Anyi nodded thoughtfully, still unsure but intrigued.
"What kind of secret technique requires me to close my eyes?" he wondered.
Could it be one of Sister Shenzi's mysterious transformation techniques? Though his mind swirled with questions, he chose to trust the woman who had saved him.
Exhaling softly, Lin Anyi slowly closed his eyes. Anticipation and a trace of apprehension painted his face.
As he waited, he heard the sound of Yae Shenzi's high heels clicking against the floor. Each step was distinct, echoing in the stillness of the basement. The rhythmic sound seemed to sync with his own rapid heartbeat, amplifying the tension in the air.