[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-becoming-a-god-through-horror":3,"chapter-becoming-a-god-through-horror-becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-17":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Becoming a God Through Horror",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2273560,4441,"Chapter 17: Unexpected Guest: Emma","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-17",17,"\u003Cp>Just as he was thinking, the sound of car tires scraping against the road reached his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis looked up and saw David returning with items; behind him followed a little girl carrying a schoolbag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl had jet-black hair and looked like a future beauty, though to Louis, she still fell short of Emma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But judging by this scene, it seemed like they were… moving in?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David brought the girl over and announced to Louis and Emma, “This is Estelle. From now on, she’s your sister. Believe me, she’ll surprise you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprise us?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis glanced at Emma beside him; she was indeed stunned, her fork nearly bent from the tight grip in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But why had David suddenly decided to adopt an orphan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Estelle bowed slightly to the two, smiling gently, “Hello, Louis. Hello, Emma.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then presented gifts: a delicate doll and a blunt little knife, giving the doll to Emma and the knife to Louis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis accepted with a smile; after a moment of silence, Emma also took hers and returned Estelle with a friendly smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David, watching from the side, felt relieved—he had made the right choice. Estelle would get along well with Emma and Louis. Moreover, she was well-mannered, had read many books at the orphanage, and could even draw; she could easily teach Emma the physiological knowledge he couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, David led Estelle upstairs to prepare a room for her formal settlement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they went upstairs…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma’s expression twisted into fury. She slammed the doll onto the floor, stomped on it twice, and muttered under her breath, “Another one! Another one! Another one! Damn it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her effortlessly perform the Sichuan specialty, Louis couldn’t help laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma instantly shot him a venomous glare, met only by Louis’s cold stare—she immediately shrank back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She walked toward her room, her footsteps slightly heavy on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than a minute later, she came back down. Without looking at Louis, she picked up the doll, bowed her head, and went upstairs again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puhahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis burst out laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring her malice, Emma was somehow kind of cute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His laughter cut off abruptly. Louis’s brow twitched. He opened his mouth and pulled out a needle with a trace of blood, tasting the iron tang inside. He spat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thing was still hard to master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis shook his head and went upstairs to help David organize the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the second floor, opposite David’s room, a slightly smaller room had been prepared—bedding, desk, lamp… everything was in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, David had prepared in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Estelle helped finish the setup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David wiped his sweat, looking at the finished room, when a glass of water was gently placed before him—it was Estelle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Estelle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, Uncle David. Thank you—for taking me out of the orphanage. From now on, I’ll be a good member of this family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the sensible, well-behaved Estelle, David clenched his lips, moved. For a moment, he felt incredibly lucky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma had always been sensible and outstanding since childhood, Louis was a good boy living under his roof, and now even Estelle was so understanding and grateful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was truly blessed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Estelle opened her arms, as if seeking a hug. David naturally didn’t refuse—he wanted to offer the child fatherly affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bent down, and the two embraced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, they looked like a harmonious father and daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Estelle slightly narrowed her eyes, tilted her head up, flared her tiny nostrils, her expression rapt, as if sniffing some intoxicating scent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slightly opened her mouth, extended her red tongue to lightly lick her lips—and on the face of this nine-year-old girl, an unmistakable seductive allure appeared!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David still gently patted her back, soothing her, completely unaware of Estelle’s actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap-tap-tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Footsteps climbed the stairs. Louis appeared at the corner, returning with something. He stepped up just as the two broke their embrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Louis sensed something odd—he felt Estelle’s gaze had just lingered on him, and it had felt… strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was quickly settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Estelle officially moved into David’s home, becoming Louis and Emma’s sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shadow stealthily began moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She carried a music box and slipped quietly into the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep night, silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the room, Estelle stared at the music box placed beneath the table, then suddenly smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahh!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scream shattered the quiet, waking everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma’s face was tear-streaked. “Dad, my music box is gone, Dad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were red, glistening with tears. She clung to David’s side, heartbroken. David rushed over, instantly filled with pity. “Emma, don’t worry, Dad will find it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe you left it somewhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad, I always kept it right here. I loved that music box.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David nodded and began searching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But found nothing. At that moment, Estelle and Louis came down, dressed. “What’s wrong, Emma?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My music box is gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma looked at David. “Dad, check other places.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze casually swept over Estelle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Estelle spoke up: “Music box? Emma, didn’t you say you wanted to decorate the box’s surface, so you gave it to me? I finished it last night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>David walked over, glanced at Estelle, then at Emma. “Emma?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now the question was on Emma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis watched coldly from the side. He finally understood—this newcomer wasn’t simple. Emma was repeating her old trick: trying to frame Estelle with the same false accusation she’d once tried on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she’d been outmaneuvered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Estelle was interesting. Could she be a movie character? If so, which movie?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He regretted not paying closer attention when searching for films—should’ve memorized names too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Emma looked between David and Estelle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Admit it? Or deny it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gulps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma kept her expression calm. “I don’t quite remember. Maybe I did say something? I think I just mentioned the music box looked a bit plain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, she chose vague evasion—and planted a subtle verbal trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now the question returned to Estelle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1013,"2026-06-19T23:34:28.869Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f6c1f037fba6730edfaa0d59a4f7e6662e761ad705c7db90541432f6b2cfe8ec","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-18","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-16",253,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecoming-a-god-through-horror-cover.jpg"]