As Han Yanyan returned to her room, a maid knocked on the door. "Miss, the master is asking for you to meet a guest."
"Why are there guests so early?" Han Yanyan inquired.
The maid had seen many such relatives who came to seek favors. She didn't express her disdain, knowing well that the family might have a closer relationship with this poor relative. She simply replied, "It was arranged beforehand."
Han Yanyan nodded.
She had created this world and naturally understood the backstory. The little boy here was the target of her current mission, the departed soul. Waking the deceased was indeed simpler than reviving the dead. Essentially, all she needed to do was help him relive his life, and he would awaken amidst the memories.
However, the dead still had bodies to breathe in; if they could wake up, it was tantamount to being revived. But what good was awakening a spirit that had no body left? Considering Leo's nature, which was driven only by money and devoid of conscience or law, Han Yanyan felt that this matter might not be beneficial for the departed.
Yet, she had little energy left to sympathize with others.
After changing into a dress and tidying herself up, she headed downstairs. Her father, the head of the Han family, was receiving guests in a small reception room. There were several guest rooms on the first floor, and if they were welcoming visitors here, it meant they were not of great significance.
Clearly, the guests understood this as well. A woman sat gracefully on the sofa, her legs crossed, exuding elegance but with a hint of caution. Next to her, a little boy was clearly instructed beforehand. He sat on the edge, only letting his bottom touch the sofa to keep his feet on the ground.
Both mother and son had good manners, but their clothing was not extravagant. The woman, once beautiful in her youth, now bore traces of hardship on her face.
"Father," Han Yanyan softly called as she stepped toward the man.
In contrast to the down-and-out mother and son, Han Yanyan's father was an entirely different figure. His neatly groomed hair and polished nails revealed he lived a life of luxury. He carried the unique aura and confidence of a powerful man, exuding a dominating presence in his mannerisms and speech.
"Yanyan, come here." He waved with a smile, "Meet your Aunt Xinya and little Ke."
"Is this Yanyan? She's all grown up now." The woman, referred to as Aunt Xinya, rose from her seat, though she was technically the elder.
"Aunt Xinya." Han Yanyan slightly bowed. Standing up, she turned to the little boy standing next to his mother. As the elder sister, she didn’t need to bow, but out of respect for the departed, she lowered her head slightly and said, "Little Ke, hello."
Aunt Xinya was a bit flustered and quickly pushed her son. "Quickly greet your sister; this is Sister Yanyan."
The little boy's mouth had been agape since she appeared, and startled by his mother’s push, he quickly bowed and stammered, "Hello, Sister Yanyan. I... I’m Tang Ke."
Han Yanyan looked at the three of them, feeling a swirl of memories in her mind. A slight headache formed as she finally understood why Leo had erased part of the Builder's memories. It was because the information she generated while creating the world was overwhelmingly vast. Since it hadn’t been cleared, being triggered by these three had flooded her mind with an influx of information, causing her headache.
She struggled to suppress it, focusing on the pre-given information. She now understood that this pre-given data was essentially a summary of characters and previous contexts she had left for herself. This concise and summative information was much easier to process.
The little boy in front of her was her mission target. His current name was Tang Ke, and his mother was Han Yanyan's father’s cousin several times removed. She was indeed very beautiful, and in her youth, she was somewhat proud, having once rejected this cousin's affections. Given the cousin's esteemed background, he was destined to marry a well-matched heiress; she did not want to be merely a trophy in his life.
She later married an ordinary man. Although her husband did not come from a prominent family, they lived comfortably. Yet, years ago, an accident forced her husband into expensive treatment, which not only failed to save his life but also drained their family finances. Now that her husband had passed, she was left to care for their child and faced difficulties in life; to avoid hindering her son's future, she had to swallow her pride and ask this long-unseen cousin for help.
"I didn't think that in the blink of an eye, Yanyan has grown up this much." Aunt Xinya sighed, handing over a beautifully crafted box. "These are some snacks I made for you, just a small gesture. Please try them."
In dire straits financially, she couldn’t offer a proper gift. Cheap things could lead to embarrassment, so she made some snacks to show her thoughtfulness. Aunt Xinya felt anxious; she knew her cousin's family was quite picky about food and worried whether this precious young lady would appreciate it.
Yet, Han Yanyan accepted it with both hands, smiling as she said, "Thank you, Aunt Xinya. It smells really good, and I haven't eaten breakfast yet. Little Ke, little Ke, let’s go eat some snacks together."
Hearing her mention not having breakfast, Aunt Xinya felt herself blush. But since Han Yanyan made her feel at ease, she swiftly told her son, “Go, join your sister.”
Watching the kids leave together, the head of the Han family sighed to Aunt Xinya, “I didn’t expect your husband would suffer from radiation from the accident. He must have gone through a lot. You should have called me earlier.”
Aunt Xinya’s eyes turned red as she lowered her head slightly. Her hair was styled elegantly, and her neck was delicate and beautiful.
Han Yanyan held the little boy's hand as they walked to the door, glancing back. She caught sight of her father leaning back, smiling as he gazed at Aunt Xinya’s graceful neck.
That was the look a man gives a woman; it was as if a hunter eyed his prey.
Even though she was a character of her own creation, Han Yanyan couldn’t help but smirk, holding onto Tang Ke’s hand as she stepped outside.
The morning sun was bright but pleasant, casting a comforting warmth. Holding Tang Ke's hand, she felt it was warm. Under the sunshine, she turned to take a closer look at him, noticing his tender face illuminated, the veins beneath his skin faintly visible. He was breathing, warm, and just a bit shy.
Han Yanyan felt much more composed. Even if he was a spirit, at least having some warmth was already better than the zombies of a post-apocalyptic world.
She led Tang Ke directly to a patio beneath a flower trellis, where there were outdoor tables and chairs, as well as a calling device. Han Yanyan called for the maid to bring out a breakfast for two, encouraging Tang Ke to join her.
"I don't need it, I-I’ve already eaten," Tang Ke said, but before he could finish, his stomach betrayed him with a loud growl.
Today was very important; his mother had reminded him several times, making him quite anxious and unable to eat much. Waking up too early, he had a light breakfast; now, his stomach was empty. A flush crept onto his small face.
Han Yanyan chuckled and gently poked the tip of his nose with a finger. "Listen to that, your stomach is protesting."
As she filled his plate, she added, "You’re a boy; it’s normal to eat five meals a day. How else will you grow up strong and healthy? Eat more, okay?"
She tasted Aunt Xinya’s handmade snacks, genuinely praising them.
With her gentle treatment, Tang Ke gradually began to relax. By the time they finished breakfast, his maturity and worries faded, revealing the innocent side of him. He kept calling her "Sister" without hesitation, breaking down any barriers between them.
Children were sensitive; they could easily sense the kindness or malice in others, especially a child like Tang Ke who had experienced great family upheavals, making him especially mature for his age.
Han Yanyan took his hand and strolled around the courtyard, asking, "Little Ke, do you know why you and Auntie Xinya came to our house today?"
Tang Ke hesitated for a moment but nodded earnestly.
"Tell your sister."
"I'm eight years old, and I’ve tested positive for psychic power," Tang Ke announced. "Mom is really happy; she wants me to become a mecha soldier."
Han Yanyan couldn't help but feel exasperated.
According to this world's settings, mecha soldiers were highly respected professions. In the military, they were powerful warriors; in civilian life, they were competitors. Mechas were used in various fields, and even if mecha soldiers didn’t become professional competitors, they could easily find work.
It was a society that was mad about mechas. Any child who became a mecha soldier was seen as having made it in life.
Yet, in such a nonsensical world, it somehow thrived and didn’t collapse!
Han Yanyan stared at the "cornerstone" sustaining this world.
This deceased man had been a general at the time of his death, a position of great honor. In the information she received about his life, he was not only a powerful psychic but also an outstanding mecha soldier. He had made remarkable contributions on the battlefield, with countless enemies falling to his mecha blade.
Thus, in his mind, the idea that mechas were a societal trend, chased after by people all around the world, was entirely reasonable and logical, wasn’t it?
Fine, fine. When we examine ourselves, it’s clear that everyone casts a flattering halo around themselves.
"So Aunt Xinya wants little Ke to go to East District for school, right?" Han Yanyan asked.
Tang Ke nodded, "Mom said the best school for psychic soldiers is in East District."
That was certain. Nurturing an excellent mecha soldier required a huge investment, and it was very difficult for a poor family to afford it. When you saw a young man become a mecha soldier, it was safe to assume his family was at least "well-off."
But for Tang Ke's family, attending a good school in East District would be a significant financial burden. Aunt Xinya was likely planning to swallow her pride and ask the Han family for assistance.
Families like the Han family, being prestigious, would not hesitate to help not only relatives but even exceptionally talented children from impoverished neighborhoods. The Han family alone had several charitable foundations.
This was also why Aunt Xinya was willing to set aside her pride to seek help; she probably believed... that what she sought would not be in vain.
However...
Han Yanyan thought of her father. Though this man would not hesitate to generously support Tang Ke, he wouldn’t let a beauty like Aunt Xinya slip away easily. Furthermore, this cousin had previously rejected him with a haughty demeanor; what he couldn’t have was always on his mind. Even if he had countless lovers, all young and beautiful, it wouldn’t prevent him from pursuing a beauty like Aunt Xinya to fulfill his past desire.
This design was made by Han Yanyan to intensify the humiliation Tang Ke experienced in his childhood. This target character had wandered and relied on others in his youth and had faced many scornful glances and mistreatment. Later on, he rose to power, mercilessly avenging those who had wronged him.
Han Yanyan made this setup ultimately to awaken his psychic source. But that... was ordered by Leo.
Leo was asleep.