Du Yanran allowed herself to be pulled into the bedroom, quickly opening the door. The two stepped inside. The room was simple—a single bed with a nightstand, a desk and chair by the window, and a wardrobe in the corner. But the moment Jian Dan entered, she sensed it—a faint ripple of spiritual energy.
A basic gathering array, elementary by cultivation standards, yet highly effective in this depleted world. It pulled drifting particle of qi into its center, funneling them toward Du Yanran for her use.
Jian Dan pretended to sniff the air, turning with a smile.
"Yanran, your room smells amazing—like something sweet. Did you spray perfume? It's even nicer than what I brought you from the capital!"
Du Yanran studied her expression carefully, finding nothing amiss. Suppressing her own unease, she grinned.
"Oh, it's just air freshener. So, what treasures did you bring me?"
"Only the best for you!" Jian Dan unzipped her suitcase. "First, this summer's new Chanel dress, tailored to your size. And this—" She held up a delicate crystal bottle. "'Azure,' a custom perfume made just for you. Based on your zodiac, blood type, and personality. One of a kind in the whole world."
"Well, at least you haven't forgotten me," Du Yanran teased, opening the box. Inside lay the bottle, its sapphire-blue liquid shimmering with a cold, nearly imperceptible light.
"Try it. It reacts to your natural scent—the top, middle, and base notes will all shift uniquely on you."
"Let's see."
Du Yanran spritzed her neck. Instantly, a fragrant aura enveloped her.
But something else happened too—a needle-fine strand of blue light slipped into her carotid artery, settling silently within. For a split second, Du Yanran's gaze flickered, her brow furrowing as if catching a strange sensation—but the perfume's allure pulled her back. Meeting Jian Dan's expectant eyes, she nodded.
"It's… really nice."
"Mission accomplished."
Jian Dan's smile reached her eyes, bright and genuine. "I knew you'd love it."
Once the laughter faded, Du Yanran grew serious, pulling Jian Dan to sit on the bed.
"You've only shared the good stuff this past year. Showing up so suddenly means something's wrong. I don't know if I can help, but talking about it beats keeping it bottled up."
Jian Dan exhaled heavily, her expression turning somber. She bit her lip before speaking.
"You always see through me. I came to say goodbye."
"What? Did someone bully you in the capital?"
"Not bullied. Just… invisible. A father's neglected daughter doesn't matter in high society."
"So your stepmother made trouble?"
"Yes. And no."
"Stop being cryptic! Spit it out."
"It's complicated."
Jian Dan spun a half-truth—how her stepmother's kindness had hinged on her son's failed organ compatibility, how she'd been cast aside when her half-sister matched instead, how her father had reclaimed her shares to secure his corporate control, leaving her adrift. Now, she'd decided to leave the country, using her mother's inheritance to start anew.
"Ugh, you're too soft! You shouldn't have given those shares back. I bet that's the only reason he brought you to the capital!"
"Maybe. But he's still my father. Blood ties can't be severed. At least this way, I've repaid his birth debt. No regrets."
"Fine. You're better off without him. You've got me."
"I know. That's why I came straight to you." Jian Dan leaned her head on Du Yanran's shoulder, voice wistful. "My paperwork's done. I'll be leaving soon. Who knows when we'll meet again?"
For a fleeting moment, hesitation flickered in Du Yanran's eyes. Then she patted Jian Dan's back.
"Wait—before you go, there's something I need to return."
She stood, opening her desk drawer to retrieve an intricately carved wooden box—the very one Jian Dan had left with her before departing.
"Here. Back to its rightful owner."
With a deft motion, Du Yanran flipped the lid open, sliding it toward Jian Dan.