Before long, Xia Mu Zhu came downstairs with a brisk pace, walked up to Lin Yu, and took his hand directly. She then placed her other firmly clenched hand on the center of his palm.

Lin Yu was initially confused by her sudden action until he felt the unique sensation in his palm and understood what she was about to do.

As Xia Mu Zhu moved her fair hand away, revealing the roll of cash, Lin Yu repeatedly insisted, “No, it's not right, sis. I can't accept this money. The stun baton was a gift for you to try out, and this is simply too much.”

“Please take it back,” he said, trying to return the money forcibly.

Xia Mu Zhu backed her hand behind her, not allowing Lin Yu any chance to return the money, and gently said, “Keep it. After what you've done for me tonight, it’s the least I can do. If you don’t accept this money, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

“I..." Lin Yu began to protest, thinking he wouldn't be able to sleep if he took the money. But then he thought about that unshakable fate. Going against his usual principles, might taking the money diverge from this so-called destiny’s will?

In an effort to defy this unseen manipulation and prevent Xia Mu Zhu's dire fate, Lin Yu decided, just this once, to accept the cash. To free himself from the bonds of destiny, he had to start making decisions that went against his usual behavior.

After pondering, he swallowed his initial refusal, offered Xia Mu Zhu a sheepish and bashful smile and said, “Then, thank you, sis.”

“It's I who should thank you,” Xia Mu Zhu replied as Lin Yu took the money. Brushing a stray hair behind her ear, she spoke warmly, “Go home and study hard. And if you ever encounter any difficulties in life, you can come to me.”

Lin Yu nodded happily, heartened by the unexpected boon. Now, he had a legitimate reason to contact her in the future. This also presented an opportunity to learn more about the people around her—who to watch out for, who might help her stay safe. He could even subtly hint to them, ensuring they paid more attention to the second female lead.

As Lin Yu considered his future plans, he failed to notice the odd change in Xia Mu Zhu’s expression—as if she had something to say but was too embarrassed to say it.

Eventually, she couldn't hold back any longer and delicately broached the topic, “Lin Yu, your hairstyle... Is it perhaps a bit...?”

Her remark snapped Lin Yu back to the present. Affirming the second female lead's inquiry about his unique hairstyle, Lin Yu gave a bittersweet smile and revealed the humor in the situation. He brushed back the yellow hair covering half of his pale face, untouched by sun, and said, “I can't really help it now.”

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As expected, Xia Mu Zhu dropped the subject upon seeing his half-exposed face. Her lips tightened, and she seemed to struggle to contain her laughter.

“Go ahead and laugh, it's alright. Sometimes, I even laugh at myself when I look in the mirror,” Lin Yu said, shrugging with open palms, resignedly.

Xia Mu Zhu finally burst out laughing, soon muffling her laughter with her hand, before apologizing with a smile crinkling her eyes, “Sorry.”

After her giggle fit, Xia Mu Zhu's curiosity resurfaced, “Why did you decide to keep such a... distinctive hairstyle in the first place?”

Lin Yu sighed heavily and explained, “I was foolish as a child. I saw this character in a game who was really cool, so I admired him and kept the same hairstyle. Now that I'm older, I want to change it, but it seems to be irreversible.”

Xia Mu Zhu offered a solution, “You could apply some sunblock on the shaded side of your face. Once your skin tone evens out, you could change your hairstyle.”

“No, no, no,” Lin Yu quickly rejected, “It's way too much trouble. I'm planning to get a long break, lift the hair up, and just lie in the sun on my balcony for like ten days to a month. By then, both sides of my face should match in color.”

“Aren't you worried about getting really tanned?” she inquired, half curious, half concerned.

“It’s fine,” Lin Yu said. “I dislike my current look more than having a tan. I feel like a yin-yang symbol gone wrong, with no dots.”

Lin Yu's self-deprecating joke had Xia Mu Zhu laughing heartily. After she collected herself, Lin Yu said with a smile, “Alright, sis, you should get back. It’s getting late, and I have to go too. I still haven't started my homework.”

Xia Mu Zhu nodded, her face warm with gentle laughter, “You too, go home early and get some rest.”

After watching Xia Mu Zhu return upstairs, Lin Yu walked home. Observing the surroundings along the way, he tried to memorize nearby landmarks, just in case.

This day's plan had gone fairly smoothly. He had gained the second female lead’s preliminary trust, and now, he had to subtly implant the idea that the world could be a dangerous place.

However, much work remained. Lin Yu wore a serious expression as he considered the immediate need to replace the broken gate at Xia Mu Zhu’s building.

Ideally, he would also resolve the issue of the complex’s management. Considering the community’s situation, it seemed improbable to gather property fees from all residents. Without money, it was unlikely any management company would take on the mess.

That presented a challenging predicament. Lin Yu, rubbing his temple with a sigh, eventually let out a breath of relief. He decided not to ponder the distant issues, focusing instead on fixing the gate as a priority.

It might not seem urgent, but it certainly added a layer of safety for her.

For the sake of a pure-hearted endeavor!

No effort was too much!

Strolling through the night, Lin Yu pulled out his smartphone to alleviate the boredom with some videos. As he scrolled, an unexpected ghostly face popped onto the screen, startling him. Once he calmed down, he realized it was just the opening of a horror film narration.

Infuriated, Lin Yu downvoted, reported, and blocked the video. Horror narrators uploading frightful content in the middle of the night seemed almost designed to scare kids senseless – of course, Lin Yu wasn't scared, no. He was... He was preserving the mental health of the youth!

While brushing off his supposed fright, an idea sparked in Lin Yu's mind. What if he could also share some cautionary tales of female victims with Xia Mu Zhu? To warn her about dangers and encourage her to be more safety conscious?

With sudden enthusiasm, Lin Yu began searching for crime cases involving female victims to share, eager to improve Xia Mu Zhu's awareness.