After fusing with the Supreme Demonic Body, Qin Yan got out of bed and decided to take another shower.
During the transformation, his body had expelled a large amount of impurities. He felt sticky all over—deeply uncomfortable.
He left the bedroom and was about to head for the bath when he discovered Yun Qing and Qin Zhan standing outside his door.
Qin Yan looked at the two of them and blinked.
"What are you doing here? Why are you standing outside my room?"
Yun Qing didn't mind his grimy state at all. She grabbed his hand, her voice trembling with excitement.
"Yan'er, you awakened the Supreme Demonic Body?"
Qin Yan nodded.
"Yes."
"That's wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"
Overcome with joy, Yun Qing spun around, instinctively reaching out as if to grab someone to celebrate. The motion startled Qin Zhan so badly that he hurriedly retreated several steps before coughing awkwardly.
"Well… since Little Yan is fine, I'll be taking my leave."
Qin Yan looked at his overly excited mother and said helplessly, "Mom, can we talk about everything tomorrow? I really want to take a shower first."
Yun Qing forcibly suppressed her excitement and nodded.
"Alright, go ahead. I'll head back first."
After both of them left, Qin Yan finally went to bathe.
When he finished and stepped out wearing a bathrobe, preparing to return to his room, a maid hurried over.
"Young Master, the girl you brought back has woken up. But she's been crying and causing a scene, insisting on going to find her parents."
Qin Yan hadn't planned on paying Xiao Ruyi any attention at all. But after a moment's thought, a twisted smile slowly curved his lips.
"Wait here. I'll take a look."
He opened the door and said to the maid, "Lead the way."
The maid guided him toward Xiao Ruyi's quarters. Before they even reached the door, her shrill screams echoed from inside.
"Go away! I won't eat!"
A crash followed—the sound of things being smashed.
Qin Yan's expression darkened instantly.
This girl clearly had no grasp of her situation. She dared to throw a tantrum in the Qin residence?
He kicked the door open.
The moment he stepped inside, he saw a maid drenched in soup and broth, while shattered bowls and plates littered the floor, food strewn everywhere.
Seeing Qin Yan, the maid hurriedly bowed.
"Young Master."
Qin Yan acknowledged her with a low hum and walked straight up to Xiao Ruyi, fixing her with a cold stare.
Under his gaze, Xiao Ruyi felt a surge of fear. Images of the dead bodies at the Liu Family estate flashed through her mind, and she shuddered uncontrollably, her face pale with terror.
The maids couldn't really do anything to her—but Qin Yan was different.
He truly dared to kill.
She retreated again and again, her voice shaking.
"Y-you… what are you going to do? Don't come any closer."
Qin Yan said nothing. He stepped forward, grabbed her by the shoulder, and dragged her straight out of the room.
Xiao Ruyi screamed the entire time.
"What are you doing? Let me go! Let go of me!"
"I want to find my parents! Please, let me go!"
Hearing her cries, Qin Yan merely said coldly, "Your parents are already dead. Your brother killed them."
Xiao Ruyi froze.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Yes. Her parents were dead—killed because of Xiao Fan.
The resentment in her heart surged, all of it directed at her brother.
Their parents had worked themselves to the bone to support his schooling, yet he had seduced someone else's girlfriend and even ran off with her at another man's engagement banquet.
If not for all that, how would their parents have died?
Seizing the moment, Qin Yan dragged her straight into his own room and slammed the door shut.
Only then did Xiao Ruyi realize what had happened—she was alone in a room with him.
Terror flooded her heart.
"Y-you… what do you want?"
Qin Yan walked up to her and pinched her chin between his fingers.
"Tell me—your brother killed my fiancée. How do you think this debt should be repaid?"
Her bright, expressive eyes were filled with fear, like a startled deer.
"I—I don't know. I really don't know."
A faint smile tugged at Qin Yan's lips. He shoved her down onto the bed.
"You don't know? Then I'll tell you."
"He owes me one. And you'll pay in his place."
"You'll stay and replace her."
As soon as the words fell, he reached out toward her.
Before long, Xiao Ruyi's dress was torn to shreds.
…
The next morning, Qin Yan woke from his sleep feeling something warm in his arms.
Lowering his gaze, he saw Xiao Ruyi curled against him like a kitten. Tear stains still marked her face, her eyes swollen and red, making her look pitifully fragile.
Yet Qin Yan felt not the slightest stir of affection.
What had happened the night before was purely because she was Xiao Fan's sister. He felt no feelings for her whatsoever.
Strictly speaking, they were enemies.
But that was precisely what made it exciting.
He wondered what kind of expression Xiao Fan would have when he saw his own sister lying in Qin Yan's bed.
After a moment's thought, he pushed Xiao Ruyi away and sat up.
Xiao Ruyi had endured too much the previous day. After being tormented half the night, she was exhausted to the bone.
Yet the shock had been too great, and her sleep was light.
The moment Qin Yan pushed her, she woke up.
Opening her eyes and seeing him, she immediately jolted upright, dragging the blanket around her curving body, her eyes filled with fear.
Qin Yan ignored her. He calmly dressed himself, then turned back to speak.
"What happened yesterday is over."
"Your brother isn't dead. He's already left."
"From now on, you'll stay here and behave as my woman. You won't be lacking food, clothing, or anything else."
Xiao Ruyi didn't dare disobey him. She sniffed softly and asked in a trembling voice, "C-can I go see my parents?"
Qin Yan didn't refuse.
"Yes. I'll arrange for someone to take you."
With that, he left the room.
Outside, a maid greeted him.
"Good morning, Young Master."
Qin Yan glanced at her.
"Prepare a set of clothes for the girl in my room. Don't let her be short of anything."
"Yes, Young Master."
As the maid was about to leave, Qin Yan suddenly stopped her.
"Wait."
She froze and turned back.
"Do you have further instructions, Young Master?"
Qin Yan said calmly, "Go invite Aunt Lan from my mother's side. Tell her I need her help."
The maid acknowledged the order and hurried off.
Not long after, a graceful woman around Yun Qing's age approached. She had delicate features and an exceptionally gentle air.
"Young Master, you were looking for me?"
This woman was Aunt Lan—Qing Lan. She was Yun Qing's personal maid and childhood companion, utterly loyal to both Yun Qing and Qin Yan.
She wasn't purely human, but the descendant of a human and a fox demon. Her voice carried a naturally bewitching quality.
Qin Yan nodded.
"Aunt Lan, the girl in my room is Xiao Fan's younger sister, Xiao Ruyi."
"I want you to talk to her."
"Make her hate her brother."
"The kind of hatred where she wants to kill him the moment she sees him."