Chapter 990: Father and Daughter

After hearing the sound of the out-of-control vehicle crashing into the curb, Lu Mi immediately rolled down his window and stuck his head out.

He gazed toward the intersection about ten to twenty meters away, and at Mr. Cui, who had been flung farther and run over.

Almost simultaneously, he saw several figures emerge from hidden spots and rush toward the corpse and the wrecked car.

Lu Mi immediately picked up his phone, snapped two photos, and muttered under his breath:

“Fuck, there’s been a car accident!”

“That driver was speeding like in a race—did he get drunk?”

He looked exactly like an onlooker ready to post the incident on his social media and short-video accounts.

At that moment, the sunken wrecked car fully shut off and refused to restart; the door opened, and a swaying, unsteady man stumbled out.

“Shit, he really is drunk! Don’t drink and drive, don’t drive and drink!” Lu Mi started recording video, cursing as he filmed.

Only after the ambulance hauled away Mr. Cui’s body and the police had taken the driver away, leaving only the traffic officers inspecting the scene and the tow truck standing by, did Lu Mi return to his car, as if deliberating how to share the incident across various groups.

Not long after, Anthony, similarly disguised, emerged from the side 24-hour convenience store carrying a large bag, opened the car door, and got in.

Lu Mi started the car and drove away from the scene.

They hadn’t brought Ludwig with them—they’d sent the boy to Jianna—because if a seven- or eight-year-old boy appeared at both the site where Zhalatustra was shot and where Mr. Cui was killed, even if their appearances looked different at a glance, it would raise serious suspicion.

…………

In Room 2303 of Dechuang Garden.

Lu Mi sat on the single sofa and said to Fu Lan Ka and Jianna:

“After midnight, I’ll go find Li Keji.”

He paused, then added:

“Did Lu Mianna show any unusual behavior today?”

Jianna fell silent for two seconds, then recounted in full detail Lu Mianna’s dazed stare, her inner impulses, her bad luck, the wind on the rooftop, her remarks during card games, and many other subtle behaviors—without hiding anything.

Lu Mi listened intently, without interrupting, his expression gradually softening.

When Jianna finished, Fu Lan Ka opened her mouth, hesitated a moment, then said:

“If you’re kicked out of the dream a third time, you’ll face severe restrictions, like the ‘Mystic Queen’ did.”

Lu Mi remained silent for a long while, then said:

“I know.”

…………

At the edge of a lake, inside a four-story villa.

Huang Beibei returned from outside and entered the gilded hall.

Every time her classmates visited, they’d say: “Why is your house decorated like a palace? Doesn’t that seem weird?”

Huang Beibei could only shrug helplessly—it was just her father’s taste.

“Where are my dad and the others?” Huang Beibei asked the butler standing in the hall.

She usually lived on campus; unless it was a major holiday, she only came home selectively on weekends.

The butler replied respectfully:

“Master Huang Xia is exercising in the underground basketball court, Master Huang Bo is assembling a four-wheel drive toy in the toy room, Lady is out attending an art salon, and Master is in the wine-tasting room.”

Huang Beibei nodded, walked to the side of the hall, and took the elevator down to the basement level.

Here was a large wine cellar, with a secure storage room and a wine-tasting room where one could see the rippling water of the indoor pool.

Huang Tao sat on a sofa, sipping a glass of pure malt liquor with ice cubes, leisurely enjoying it.

“Back already?” He smiled as Huang Beibei entered.

“Why are you drinking again?” Huang Beibei sat down opposite him.

Huang Tao smiled:

“Getting older, not many hobbies left.”

Huang Beibei didn’t press further; she quietly watched her father take another sip of the alluringly colored liquor and pick up a few shelled pine nuts from the dried fruit dish on the table.

After swallowing the nuts, Huang Tao asked:

“Where’s your classmate? Didn’t she come over?”

“Her cram school’s biology teacher had an incident—she’s busy handling it, no time,” Huang Beibei replied simply.

Huang Tao laughed:

“You mentioned her before—why be a biology teacher? If you want to do experiments, just apply to a proper lab.”

Here, Huang Tao looked at Huang Beibei and sighed:

“Why don’t you like living at home? School hasn’t even started yet, but you moved into the dorm early.”

It’s not my problem… perhaps in the Fool’s perception, I’m separate from you, rarely together… Huang Beibei dutifully explained:

“I’m involved in a research project.”

Huang Tao didn’t press further—he was just complaining. He changed the subject:

“How’s your children’s book company doing?”

“Fine,” Huang Beibei recalled. “The children’s book market is the most profitable segment of the physical book industry. There’s real demand for repackaging and redesigning classic fairy tales, and we’re also cultivating our own children’s authors and illustrators.”

“This sector started too late in China—it’s still immature and lacks enough quality works. You’ve got huge potential,” Huang Tao praised his daughter. “But also pay attention to copyright imports—don’t leave those excellent foreign children’s books to your competitors.”

He earnestly instructed his daughter, as if determined to make Dawn Children Publishing grow strong.

Huang Beibei listened carefully, occasionally offering her own thoughts; the father and daughter discussed with great harmony.

When the discussion ended, Huang Tao suddenly swirled his wine and said with a sigh:

“Do you know what the greatest pain in life is?”

Huang Beibei shook her head.

Huang Tao gave a self-deprecating smile:

“It’s watching the people and things you cherish most, the life you long for most, being taken by others, while you’re locked inside a dark, suffocating prison.”

Huang Beibei looked at Huang Tao, saying nothing.

Huang Tao didn’t mind; he ate more dried fruit with his liquor, drinking slowly.

Gradually, his expression grew serious. He looked at Huang Beibei and said:

“If you discovered you were merely a phantom character in a dream, and someone tried to awaken the dream’s master, what would you do?”

Huang Beibei was silent for several seconds, then said:

“It depends on the specifics.”

Huang Tao smiled:

“Be specific: you know for certain that if the dream’s master is awakened, you’ll vanish completely—even if another dream comes, the corresponding figure won’t be you anymore. Meanwhile, the person you value most supports awakening the master, willing to risk even their own life. What would you do?”

Huang Beibei didn’t answer.

She stared at Huang Tao, saying nothing.

Huang Tao met her gaze calmly.

After a while, he drank the last of his wine, stood up, and said:

“I’m going upstairs to handle something.”

Huang Tao stepped out from between the sofa and coffee table, passed by Huang Beibei, and headed toward the wine-tasting room door.

“Dad.”

Suddenly, Huang Beibei called out to stop him.

Huang Tao turned around, his face already smiling.

“What is it?” he asked.

Huang Beibei stood up, hesitated, then said:

“I’ve always wondered—without science, what does a mirror really look like? What lies deep within it?”

Huang Tao stared at Huang Beibei for several seconds, then said:

“It hides a terror beyond your imagination.”

With that, Huang Tao turned, opened the wooden door, and stepped out of the wine-tasting room.

“A terror…” Huang Beibei stood frozen, chewing on the word.

…………

Late at night.

Lu Mi used “Teleport” to arrive near Red Moon Hospital.

He didn’t rush in; instead, he transformed into Lu Mianna’s appearance, made his disguise, and circled the hospital.

He saw mushrooms sprouting like spring bamboo shoots along the green belts around the hospital and in the cracks between building walls—various kinds of mushrooms.

These mushrooms didn’t encroach on other life forms or threaten building structures; they simply grew quietly and peacefully.

With so many mushrooms growing, no wonder Red Moon Hospital launched a mushroom meal… they all looked edible… who wouldn’t take free ingredients? After confirming the general situation around Red Moon Hospital, Lu Mi hid in a concealed spot, stepped into a mirror, and traveled directly to the psychiatric ward.

He wasn’t worried about being blocked or ambushed by police from the Dream City here, because Lu Mianna had no official identity and publicly had no connection to Li Keji. Unless senior officers like Ya Gai Ci received a prophecy or divination hinting that waiting here would yield clues, they wouldn’t send anyone.

And under the current suppression of all to Rank 7, Lu Mi, as the “Despair Witch,” wasn’t afraid of divination or prophecy revealing his location.

After observing the entire ward, Lu Mi leapt out from a mirror-like object, landing lightly.

He kept a mirror in his hand at all times, using it to reflect light and create illusions to blind surveillance cameras.

Lu Mi then examined the dimly glowing corridor lights and the steel doors where patients slept in darkness—his intuition gave no warning.

Next, he took a breath—no smell of blood, no other strange odors.

Only then did he gently knock on the metal door of Li Keji’s room.

Knock, knock, knock—the knocking was quiet, echoing softly through the area without reaching the nurse’s station.

Li Keji’s voice suddenly rose, hushed:

“Who is it?”

This time, no pale, plump mushroom appeared at the window to peer in, nor did thick white mycelium creep out from under the door.

“It’s me,” replied Lumian, his black hair draped over his shoulders, his voice soft, “the one who asked you to help treat your vegetative friend before.”

“You…” Li Keji still did not appear behind the iron-barred window of the door; he seemed huddled in a corner of his bed.

“Have you made progress in your research?” Lumian pressed.

“I have a few ideas, a pile of failed attempts, and one half-finished prototype—it still needs verification, and I’m not sure what the final result will be…” Li Keji’s voice grew increasingly uncertain as he spoke, “but something strange has happened. I probably won’t have time to advance the experiment you want.”

“What happened?” Lumian’s mind snapped taut.

What could possibly make Li Keji set aside his mushroom experiments?

After several seconds, Li Keji answered, as if speaking to himself in confusion:

“I’m pregnant.”

(End of Chapter)