However, he still opened the package. If it was truly a prank from his third brother, he’d find a way to get back at him.
To his surprise, what he saw inside made him narrow his eyes.
“It’s actually not a trap.”
He muttered softly, taking out the carefully wrapped mooncakes and inspecting them.
“These definitely weren’t sent by the third one.”
Then who could it be?
Ruan Xinglan’s gaze fell on a box inside. Opening it, he found a letter and a peculiar little object woven from string.
He picked it up, casually twirling it between his fingers, his eyes void of any emotion.
Ruan Xinglan even thought expressionlessly that maybe these things had been sent to him by mistake.
He unfolded the letter, and recognized his eldest brother’s handwriting.
‘These mooncakes are from your little sister. If you dare throw them away, I’ll come over and make you pay. Eat them! And keep that lucky charm safe. If you don’t want it, send it back to me, but if you throw it away, I’ll make you pay just the same!’
The whole letter was full of threats. Ruan Xinglan scoffed after reading it—his foolish elder brother!
The Ruan family had three children, and Ruan Xinglan was confident that the combined brains of the other two didn’t even match his own.
But… since when did he have a younger sister? And one that prompted his good-hearted elder brother to threaten him so intensely?
Ruan Xinglan pressed his tongue against his cheek, his jade-green eyes darkening like deep, top-quality emerald.
Every member of the Ruan family had a rebellious streak, including himself, despite his mild-mannered appearance. Why should he have to do whatever Ruan Fengsi told him to? Ha…
Ruan Xinglan picked up the mooncakes and walked out.
He insisted on throwing them away!
But as he stepped outside, he ran into some female colleagues from his research institute. Almost instantly, a warm, approachable smile appeared on his face—a flawless, seamless transformation.
“Senior Lu!”
In the entire institute, the female colleagues adored this Senior Lu the most. He was gentle in speech and polite, unlike some of the other male colleagues, who were always a bit unkempt. Senior Lu was always impeccably clean, with a refreshing, scholarly demeanor reminiscent of a refined university professor.
Except for his aversion to people getting too close, he was practically perfect.
“Senior Lu, where are you going?”
Ruan Xinglan greeted them with a warm smile, his voice that gentle tone that easily enchanted the women around him.
It was no wonder so many people liked him; unfortunately, Senior Lu was deeply invested in his research and had no plans to date for the time being.
Ruan Xinglan glanced at them, then at the items in his hands. Without a second thought, he handed them over.
“I was just about to take these to share with the group. Since you’re here, could you bring them along for everyone to enjoy? These are snacks sent from home—please share them around.”
Ruan Xinglan spoke kindly, his smile so genuine that one would never guess he had just been considering throwing the items away.
A few of the girls were thrilled. “You’re really giving these to us, Senior Lu? You’re so thoughtful! Your family treats you so well. My parents practically kicked me out. It’s not like I burned down the house or set their hair on fire on purpose when I was little. I’ve grown up a lot since then!”
“Yeah, Senior Lu, your family is so good to you, even sending you treats.”
Ruan Xinglan chuckled coldly to himself. Good to him? The kind that threatened him with death, perhaps?
Outwardly, he maintained the appearance of a patient listener. Once the girls finished chatting, hugged their mooncakes, and bid him farewell, he slipped his hands into his jacket pockets and let his smile drop entirely, heading back to his lab.
Though pretending could be tiring, he’d managed to get rid of several people who’d looked at him the wrong way, and no one even suspected him. This feeling of manipulating others so effortlessly had its own appeal.
Ruan Xinglan mused, What kind of gift should he send his elder brother in return?
Initially, he’d thought about using that item his brother wanted so much as bait for a trap, but then reconsidered. Wouldn’t it be more entertaining if his brother was tricked into doing something yet still didn’t get what he wanted?
Just the thought excited him.
As for that supposed little sister, Ruan Xinglan didn’t give her a second thought.
…
In the Ruan family’s study, there was an important meeting in progress, attended by only four people, including Ruan Shu herself, the subject of discussion. All she needed to do was sit quietly and listen.
“What did you say?!”
Ruan Qingran had just started explaining that Ruan Shu’s Jingshen had the ability to heal others’ Jingshen and absorb X-pollutants when Ruan He’s loud voice reverberated through the entire study.
Fortunately, the study was well soundproofed.
Ruan He slammed his hand on the table with a loud bang, startling the quietly seated Ruan Shu into a little shiver.
Ruan Xiao reached over and patted her head gently, comforting her.
“Ruan Qingran, you can’t joke about things like this!”
Healing Jingshen and absorbing X-pollutants? How could that be possible?
Wasn’t his beloved granddaughter just a regular person with F-grade Jingshen?
Ruan Qingran looked at Ruan He with a serious expression. “Grandfather, I wouldn’t joke about something like this. Little Uncle also knows. We witnessed it during the tests; Shushu’s Jingshen pollution level is zero.
“Because of this seemingly impossible reading, I suggested a more comprehensive examination for Shushu. Through further testing, we discovered that her Jingshen contains a unique power. Not only does this power resist X-pollution, but it can even absorb pollutants.”
He handed a series of test reports to the two men.
“I don’t know yet what this mysterious energy is, but after just half an hour of Shushu’s direct mental healing, my Jingshen pollution level has already dropped below seventy.”
Both men studied the data with intense focus, as if dissecting every word.
After reading it, Ruan He appeared somewhat dazed, then looked over at Ruan Shu and pulled her into an embrace.
He wasn’t overjoyed. In fact, his initial reaction, like that of Ruan Xiao and Ruan Qingran, was one of worry.
Rather than seeing his dear granddaughter as some grand savior, he would much prefer she were just an ordinary person—a person they could protect, free from any potential dangers.
“With great power comes great responsibility,” something they understood deeply from personal experience.
“Shushu, what a hard fate you have!”
Had this happened to anyone else, they might have been overjoyed. But the Ruan family truly held Ruan Shu above all else, and they genuinely loved her.
Although Ruan Shu didn’t yet grasp the full danger of her situation, she could feel her grandfather’s and father’s deep worry and heartfelt concern.
“Grandpa, I’m alright,” Ruan Shu comforted him, wrapping her tiny arms around the old man’s neck and speaking in her soft, childish voice.
“I’m really happy that I can help you all.”