"Don't worry, Little Yang Yang! I will take down the trending topic," James said.
"Oh crap! My laptop has been hacked! Damn it's that Mist Ghost!" James whined. Anastasia put down her fork, touching her chin thoughtfully. She wondered if she knew who this hacker was. In Fire Rose: Fake and Real Heiress, the plot was nothing but twist after twist, but in the Hacker Cyber list, Anastasia knew there were four top hackers: one was the heroine, Serena, of course; the other was the male lead; the third was a villain; but no one knew about Mist Ghost – he was pretty much a ghost. It was the same with Crimson Butterfly, shrouded in mystery.
But Mist Ghost is just a nobody.
"It's fine! I will go on my phone!"
"I will tag you as a sister," James said.
"What is that? The hashtag already dropped?" James said, looking panicked.
"I didn't do this, who did? You, boss?"
"I am eating," Serena said dismissively, returning her attention to her food.
"Damn it! Mist Ghost hacked my phone too!" James whined.
Anastasia looked at Vladimir. A flicker of concern crossed her face, but she quickly masked it.
"Put your phone down and eat," Anastasia said as she handed Vladimir more food, a subtle gesture of reassurance. She didn't want him worrying about James's tech troubles.
"Alright," Vladimir said, accepting the offering with a curt nod and resuming his meal.
After Vladimir was done eating, Anastasia stood up with him.
"Since we are done with lunch, we are heading out, sister," Anastasia said as she waved Serena goodbye.
"Hey boss, that girl seems different and I kind of feel danger from her though she is doing nothing," James said. Serena, who had been gazing into her water glass, looked up at Anastasia with a cold, assessing gaze.
"How's that thing going," Serena asked coldly.
"Relax boss, no one will find you, those idiots won't guess you are in Rostovondon city. Plus you are now the daughter of the Marcani Family, a genius heiress," James said. Serena leaned back against her chair and softly smiled.
"Not everyone is stupid, isn't that guy from the Smirnov Family, Ivan Smirnov, coming to this city," Serena said as she continued to study her water glass.
"True that," James said, nodding in agreement.
"Have you found the whereabouts of this new hacker, Nyx?" Serena asked, a spark of genuine interest lighting up her eyes. She found this new hacker fascinating.
"Nope! I am unable to hack through her or his firewalls! Each time I try to go through, I am hacked and a virus is set, and I am unable to even delete the virus!" James whined, throwing his hands up in frustration. Serena raised her eyebrows, clearly intrigued by the challenge.
As Anastasia and Vladimir walked out of the restaurant, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. James's comment about feeling danger from her lingered in her mind. It was probably just paranoia fueled by the constant stress of navigating this unfamiliar world.
Outside, both Vladimir and Anastasia walked alongside each other, the bustling city sounds swirling around them. The afternoon sun cast long shadows, and the air was crisp and cool.
"Isn't today a good day? Let's go shopping for your clothes," Anastasia said, attempting to lighten the mood. She opened her phone and began scrolling through stock market data, her fingers flying across the screen with practiced ease. It was a habit she'd developed to keep her mind occupied and to ensure that her investments were performing well – a skill honed from years of managing her family's assets back in her original world.
Vladimir remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the street ahead. He observed the people passing by, analyzing their movements with an almost unsettling intensity. His expression was unreadable, a carefully constructed mask that hid his thoughts and emotions.
"Shopping?"
Both Anastasia and Vladimir walked sidebyside, a comfortable silence settling between them. Anastasia gazed out at the lake for a long time, her mind preoccupied. She noticed his wounds, how they seemed to worsen under the relentless sun. His eyes were a striking emerald green, captivating and intense. His dark brown hair, shaved on the sides, partially concealed his forehead. Vladimir had been her living blood bag for as long as she could remember, and he had never once complained.
Anastasia didn't know what to say or do. He was so obedient, yet how could he simply act like nothing when he was clearly in pain? Judging by his physique and the powerful aura he exuded, she suspected he also boxed. Anastasia wondered if she could prevent him from embracing the villainous path that awaited him, even if he was only a minor antagonist.
If not, her fingers were in trouble. She couldn't afford to let him spiral into darkness.
"Vladimir, ever since I was a kid, I have made you give me your blood. Don't you hate me?" Anastasia asked, subtly initiating a hypnotic suggestion on Vladimir. She focused her intent, willing him to be honest.
Vladimir's eyes glazed over, becoming lifeless and distant.
"No, my blood is yours," he stated flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.
Anastasia frowned, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach. Her hypnosis had never failed her before, and it was virtually impossible to lie under its influence. Did he truly mean it? Or was he merely pretending? Damn the Marcani family—they had clearly done a number on him. Well, he didn't hate her yet.
That was good, as long as he hadn't grown resentful. Anastasia gently poked Vladimir's forehead, a playful gesture masking her concern.
"Sorry, you had something on your shoulders," Anastasia said casually.
"Let's go shopping," Anastasia said indifferently, attempting to steer the conversation away from the unsettling revelation. It wasn't exactly her style to be overly solicitous, but she promised herself she would try to be nicer to Vladimir from now on—to prevent him from succumbing to the darkness that seemed to lurk within him.
"Alright," Vladimir replied, his right hand clenched tightly behind his back, a telltale smear of blood visible on his knuckles.