Deep in the forest, sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting a gentle golden glow on the surroundings. Giant, towering trees filled the woodland, their leaves rustling faintly in the breeze.
On a thick, high branch, Jin Yu lay flat on his back with his arms folded behind his head, one leg dangling freely while the other rested propped up. His eyes were closed, as though he was napping. Wrapped softly around his neck, Rainbow had shrunk into a tiny purple necklace, her flower head still and quiet.
Jin Yu remained like that for a long while.
Suddenly, his eyes flickered open, black pupils catching the sunlight above. He stared at the golden rays for a few quiet seconds before shifting his gaze downward.
Far below, a tiny figure darted between trees, sprinting desperately. It looked like it was running from something. Jin Yu focused. It was a little girl—no older than five—beautiful, but disheveled. Her delicate white skin was streaked with dirt, and her torn clothes fluttered with each frantic step. Her face was pale with fear.
Jin Yu furrowed his brows and slowly sat up. One elbow rested on his bent knee as he tilted his head, watching.
The girl hadn’t noticed him—until she did.
She froze. Her wide eyes locked onto his.
At first, fear flickered in her gaze… then something else bloomed. Hope.
Her face lit up like the sun after a storm, and she ran toward the tree, arms flailing, her voice high and sweet as a bird’s chirp.
“Help... help Yin Rou, brother, help me…”
Jin Yu blinked.
“Help Yin Rou, brother! Something is chasing Yin Rou! Yin Rou is scared!” she cried again in her tiny, trembling voice.
She reached the base of the tree and clung to it, gazing up at him with tear-filled eyes. Her small body shivered, and she kept glancing over her shoulder as if expecting a monster to appear.
Jin Yu stared at her.
He wasn't looking at her beauty—no, something felt... wrong. His heart was still. Not moved. Not even curious. Like he was staring at a drawing instead of a living, breathing child.
Why… why do I feel like this? he wondered.
That fear in her big, black eyes, the quiver in her soft lips—none of it stirred him. Instead, a strange coldness hung in his chest.
The girl’s eyes filled up. Her little lips trembled harder.
“B-Brother? Help Yin Rou... wuwuwu...” Her voice cracked and she burst into tears.
She was adorable. No question. Big teary eyes, cheeks flushed pink, her sobs so pure and melodic they could melt a mountain’s heart—but Jin Yu still felt... nothing.
He tilted his head and looked closer.
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Even though I like cute things... why not this one? Why do I feel absolutely nothing?
“Who’s Yin Rou?” he asked, voice calm.
The girl sniffled, raising her little hands to wipe her tears. “I-I am Yin Rou,” she said quietly.
“Oh.” His face was unreadable, but inwardly, something twisted.
Ding!
Influence +1,500 (Anger)
What the—?!
Jin Yu flinched. He nearly slipped off the branch.
He looked down at her again, then scanned the forest. No one around. The clearing was bright and open. There was nowhere to hide.
Even Rainbow, asleep around his neck, stirred and turned red.
His eyes narrowed.
“Yin Rou?” he called again, voice low.
“Yes, brother,” she said, her tiny voice trembling.
“How old are you?”
She paused, just for a second.
Ding!
Influence +2,000 (Irritation)
Shit… It’s her!
Jin Yu nearly cursed aloud but held it in, waiting for her reply.
“Yin Rou is five, brother,” she said, putting on her sweetest face.
“Oh? Are you sure?” he asked gently.
Ding!
Influence +2,500 (Anger)
Damn! This little—
Jin Yu clenched his jaw. He wanted to slap the lie off her face, but he restrained himself.
“Five, huh… Are you sure you’re not fifty?” he said casually, peering at her with innocent curiosity.
Ding!
Influence +3,000 (Rage)
Influence +3,000 (Rage)
The girl’s face fell, her big eyes quivering as if he’d just insulted the moon.
“I’m fi—sniff—five… brother,” she mumbled, her little voice cracking.
“Oh.” He gave a thoughtful hum. “Then why do you look fifty to me… like an old woman in disguise?”
Ding!
Influence +10,000
Influence +10,000
Influence +10,000
Influence +10,000
Influence +10,000
(Emotion provoked: Fury)
For the second time, Jin Yu almost slipped off the tree branch.
The girl crouched and covered her face. Her shoulders trembled.
Then—
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
She let out a loud, heart-shattering wail. Her sobs echoed like music—soft, tragic, beautiful. Almost divine.
Jin Yu blinked, mouth falling open.
Is this even a cry… why does it sound like a damn lullaby?
Realization dawned on his face like the morning sun.
You little demon. That explains it. That’s why I don’t feel moved. Because you’re not real. You’re fake.
He rubbed his chin.
I should punch your fake face into the dirt… but no. He gave a small grin, a glint flashing in his eye.
I’m a gentleman. And besides…
He checked his influence points.
Influence Points: 500,000
Heh. That’s enough to push me to the peak of Essence Core. But Nascent Soul… still too far.
He looked back at the girl’s trembling figure, smiling wider.
Two can play this game.
You’ll help me jump realms, little twerp.
He leaned back on the tree trunk, one leg still dangling while the other rested casually. His expression was now calm, but his eyes sparkled with interest as he stared down at the sobbing girl below.
"Waaahh...!"
Yin Rou’s cries continued, her tiny shoulders trembling. Her little hands wiped her face clumsily, smearing her tears across her cheeks.
She sniffed, glanced up at him again, and sobbed even louder when she saw his amused gaze.
Jin Yu tilted his head and sighed.
"Your voice is cute, no doubt," he said thoughtfully, “but… don’t you think it’s a bit too trained? Like you've been practicing in front of a mirror or something.”
Influence +2,000 (Rage)
Influence +1,500 (Rage)
The little girl looked up with watery eyes, lips trembling. “Yin Rou doesn’t practice… Yin Rou is just scared…”
Jin Yu nodded seriously, eyes half-lidded.
“Of course, of course… only, when you're scared, your tears fall from your left eye first. That’s not normal, is it?”
Influence +3,000 (Frustration)
She hiccupped. “I-It’s normal for Yin Rou…”
"Aha, but look at your skin," he added. "So flawless and glowing… almost like it’s powdered porcelain. Is this how five-year-olds look nowadays?"
Influence +4,000 (Fury)
"I mean, not saying you’re ugly," he continued in a mock-thoughtful voice, rubbing his chin. "It’s just… your nose is a bit sharp for a kid, isn’t it? And your eyes... they sparkle too perfectly. You sure you didn’t borrow those from an immortal fox or something?"
Influence +5,000 (Fury)
Influence +5,000 (Fury)
Yin Rou sniffled louder, clearly shaken. “B-But I’m Yin Rou, I really am…”
She suddenly hugged the tree as if to hide behind it, peeking from behind the trunk like a scared kitten.
“Aww, now that’s adorable,” Jin Yu smirked. “See? That part looks real. But when you do that pouty thing with your lips, it kinda ruins it. A bit forced, don’t you think?”
Ding!
Influence +6,000
Influence +6,000
Influence +6,000
(Emotion provoked: Contained Fury)
The little girl trembled. “Y-You’re bullying me…”
Jin Yu widened his eyes, playing innocent.
“Me? I’m just trying to understand the complex structure of your mysterious… I mean, delicate little face.”
He tilted his head and added with a fake sigh, “You’re like a riddle with too much makeup.”
Influence +10,000
Influence +10,000
Influence +10,000
(Emotion provoked: Hatred)
Hate me already?, Little bitch!
At this point, Rainbow flickered crimson on his neck again, clearly reacting to the tension.
Jin Yu leaned forward a bit, his eyes narrowing slightly with amusement.
“Come on, Yin Rou. Don’t cry. If you keep going, people might mistake me for a bad guy… which I’m not.”
He paused, then added with a smirk,
“Not unless the bad guy is really, really handsome and clever.”
Influence +7,000 (Hatred)
The girl’s crying paused. She sniffed, looked up at him with wide, glossy eyes, then broke into another dramatic wail.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Jin Yu sighed again.
“I should win an award for this. What am I even doing, teasing an ancient old gremlin in disguise?”
He peeked at his influence points again, the number now climbing at a ridiculous pace.
Influence Points: 670,000
His smile widened.
"Alright, Yin Rou," he whispered to himself.
“Let’s see how far this cute little act of yours can take me…”
