Feng Ju deeply gazed at Feng Mu, suddenly remembering that his wife indeed mentioned to him a few days ago about their son being entangled with gang thugs.

But at that time, he didn’t pay much attention.

Now, the memories all aligned.

"So that’s it..."

The doubts in Feng Ju’s heart gradually dissipated,

"I’ve been too suspicious. This unfilial son doesn’t even know Zheng Hang. Zheng Hang appearing at the Eighth Academy has nothing to do with him. Everything... is just a coincidence."

Feng Ju’s gaze turned to his obedient daughter beside him.

Feng Yuhuai was resting her chin on one hand, her eyes sparkling, completely absorbed like a child entranced by a story.

He initially wanted to confirm if his daughter had really never encountered [Mask] in the underground tunnels, but on second thought—this child is always well-behaved and sensible. How could she possibly be involved with dark and terrifying monsters?

He reached out to ruffle his daughter’s hair, catching the jasmine fragrance of her shampoo on his fingertips.

Feng Yuhuai immediately nuzzled against his palm like a kitten, her lips curling into a sweet smile.

This familiar gesture completely dispelled Feng Ju’s last doubts—yes, there was no need to ask more.

For Feng Yuhuai, it was her first time hearing the details about the "boyfriend," and her mind was instantly filled with thoughts.

She shook Feng Ju’s arm, blinking her innocent eyes and asked:

"Dad, you haven’t answered my brother’s question yet. How did Zheng Hang turn into [Mask]... well, turn into that human-like yet inhuman monster."

Inside, Feng Yuhuai felt restless as if scratched by a cat:

"According to the conversation between father and brother, the boyfriend was possessed by an Evil Sacrifice on March 18th, not much earlier than me, yet why does he seem ten times stronger than I am?"

"Is it because I missed some steps feeding the Puppet Mother, or is the Evil Sacrifice behind him much more powerful than the Puppet Mother... hmm, could I also..."

One has to admit, Feng Yuhuai’s excellence is no coincidence—this keen instinct for strength and thirst for knowledge is truly admirable.

Feng Ju didn’t hide the truth and instead answered:

"The truth is, Zheng Hang killed a female student and then completed an Evil Sacrificial Ceremony."

"Killing someone and completing an Evil Sacrificial Ceremony can turn you into a monster?" Feng Yuhuai’s eyes widened, a perfectly-timed look of fright on her face.

Feng Ju did not notice the subtle nuance in his daughter’s words.

Feng Yuhuai said, "can become a monster" instead of "will become a monster."

The difference of a word, "can" and "will," hides completely opposite subjective intentions.

Feng Ju shook his head, his face slightly somber and said:

"Generally, it’s impossible. Even though I don’t know what exactly an Evil Sacrifice is, I assume it’s not something that grants every wish."

"There are quite a few cases related to Evil Sacrifices in Lower City every year, but as far as I know, it seems only Zheng Hang succeeded."

At this point, Feng Ju’s voice subconsciously lowered a bit:

"So, either Zheng Hang got extraordinarily lucky, or his Evil Sacrificial Ceremony had something special about it?!!"

Feng Yuhuai’s breathing became almost imperceptibly quickened.

She pretended to choke on the soup, using a tissue to cover her trembling lips.

Feng Ju suddenly glanced alertly at his daughter, his face turning serious.

He pressed heavily on Feng Yuhuai’s shoulder, speaking earnestly:

"Yuhuai, you must not become interested in these sinister and crooked paths."

His voice carried a rare severity,

"You are the pride and hope of our family, a true genius. You will have a bright and splendid future..."

"There’s no need to think about these messy things. Those are stupid and crazy choices made by those untalented, worthless people in desperate situations."

Feng Ju’s principles were still very upright. He deeply locked eyes with his daughter’s wavering gaze, then glanced at his son’s calm eyes, speaking in a deep voice:

"Remember, becoming a monster will not have a future. It will only drag you into the abyss, along with the entire family into an inescapable abyss of doom."

Feng Yuhuai proudly lifted her face, her lips forming a honey-sweet smile: "Daddy is right, I remember it all."

Feng Mu observed this affectionate father-daughter scene, timely chiming in softly:

"Father worries too much. Yuhuai has always listened to you the most and will never disappoint you."

Feng Yuhuai sweetly glanced at Feng Mu, feeling more and more that her brother was different, no longer as annoying as before.

Feng Ju also glanced at Feng Mu, feeling inwardly that his daughter remained obedient and that the unfilial son had finally bowed his head to him again.

"It seems this unfilial son has finally become sensible. Is it because he knows his sister is going to the Upper City? He’s much more tactful than before, hehe—" Feng Ju thought to himself.

He nodded with satisfaction: "Naturally, I believe that our Yuhuai will never disappoint me."

Feng Yuhuai gently smoothed her bangs that her father had ruffled, her gaze turning to the camera on the coffee table, diverting the topic seemingly innocently:

"By the way, dad, where did this camera come from?"

"It’s from a journalist." Feng Ju replied nonchalantly.

"A journalist?"

Feng Yuhuai showed a look of sudden realization,

"It’s that guy from Light Prism TV Station, right? I saw the live stream clip online! It was shot by this camera, he’s really brave, daring to secretly film those monsters..."

"Brave?!"

Feng Ju sneered, picking up a piece of glossy meat, the greasy juices bursting between his teeth:

"Just a foolish creature overestimating himself, vainly risking his life for a day in the sun, and what was the result?"

Feng Ju put down his chopsticks, a mocking smile on his lips:

"His whole rotting body feeds the rats in the sewer."

"Ah... he’s dead..."

Feng Yuhuai pretended to be startled, covering her small mouth, her eyelashes lightly trembling and casting a shadow on her face,

"It’s really such a pity..."

Her eyelids lowered, her heart filled with secret joy:

"Good thing he’s dead, since the journalist who did the secret filming has died, it means that the contents of the memory card haven’t been seen by anyone yet."

What Feng Yuhuai didn’t know was—

Feng Ju did say the "journalist is dead," but he didn’t say there was only one journalist.

And Feng Yuhuai, naturally assumed...

There was only one person risking their life to film secretly.

A wonderful misunderstanding between father and daughter!

Feng Mu’s glasses reflected the light of the chandelier, his Adam’s apple rolled silently, but in the end, he said nothing.

Feng Ju habitually seized every opportunity to instill his daughter with life lessons:

"Yuhuai, you’re excellent, but when you go to Upper City, the people around you might be just as excellent, and the competition could be unprecedentedly fierce.

It’s not that I don’t trust you, but you must always be clear about your capabilities, remember, don’t be reckless, you are a talented person, don’t take those dangerous opportunities.

You need to walk every step steadily, promise Dad, never to take reckless risks?"

Feng Yuhuai nodded vigorously, her eyes firm, repeating earnestly:

"Dad, I promise you, I will make sure to walk every step steadily, and will never let myself fall into dangerous situations, not even potentially dangerous ones."

Feng Ju’s comforting smile had yet to unfold when his phone suddenly vibrated violently.

At the moment he picked up the call, his expression suddenly froze:

"What? Who did you say...? I’ll be there right away!"

He rose abruptly, rushing out without even putting on his coat.

Feng Yuhuai reacted quickly, jogging to grab a coat and giving chase out the door.

The dim hallway light elongated the shadows of the father and daughter, one in front, one behind, very long.

Feng Mu still sat at the dining table, his deep gaze watching the busy back of his mother in the kitchen.

Then he slowly stood, walked over, and gently closed the door.

A barely audible sigh slipped from his lips, dissipating in the scent of the slowly cooling food on the table: "Dinner, all done, huh..."

The lights in Upper City had long since gone out, and the night shrouded the entire Lower City like melting tar.

In the rundown residential area, there were hardly any streetlights, only sparse lights from some windows cutting a few blurry traces of light in the darkness.

Feng Yuhuai stood in the entrance of the building, wavering, hesitant, wanting to catch up, but unable to take the step.

She could devour and assimilate everyone, but at the critical moment, she really couldn’t take this last step.

She’s smart, proud, selfish, likes to be praised... but these are all just appearances, her true color is only one—cowardice.

She’s afraid of becoming a monster exposed under the spotlight, afraid of disappointing and hateful looks, afraid of being called a monster, afraid of being left alone.

So, no matter how much mental preparation she did, no matter how much strength she had, she was, in the end, just a cowardly college girl.

She didn’t dare, she didn’t dare to catch up...

She gritted her teeth, about to turn around, when suddenly a voice echoed in her mind, it was the voice of the cloth doll.

The cloth doll hadn’t spoken to her in a long, long time, so long that she had forgotten its existence, but little did she know, this unawareness was the most terrifying.

It means that the cloth doll had, without her noticing... "devoured and assimilated" her, indeed.

"Don’t be afraid, I’m here with you, you’re not alone."

The cloth doll spoke softly.

Feng Yuhuai, horrified, watched her body start moving on its own, taking steps to chase after Feng Ju.

She wanted to cry out in terror, but what came from her mouth was her own sweet laughter.

"Why refuse, isn’t it good to have everyone by our side? Only those assimilated with us will never leave us."

The cloth doll, controlling Feng Yuhuai’s body, said sweetly.

And so...