By the time Lin Mo returned home, it was already 9 PM.
The moon hung in the pitch-black sky, its bright light illuminating a distant mansion, like a lighthouse shining brightly in the vast sea. The vegetation on the surrounding hills was dark and dim, and the rustling sound of the breeze added to the atmosphere. A strange feeling of nostalgia for his hometown stirred within Lin Mo.
He got out of the car. With a polite farewell from the AI in the taxi, the vehicle slowly drove away. Lin Mo walked up to the electronic gate and pressed the button to open it.
A slightly cool night breeze passed by, and Lin Mo suddenly felt a shiver down his spine.
He stood alone in front of the gate, looking up at the towering three-meter-high steel door, a sudden unease rising in his chest.
After a long pause, the gate didn't budge.
Lin Mo stood there silently, staring at the entrance of his mansion. It felt like a rebellious teenager being locked out of his house by his parents after staying out too late.
After a while, he walked over to the communication device by the gate, pressed the doorbell, and spoke softly into the microphone:
"Sis, it's me, could you open the door?"
Another minute passed, and there was still no response.
Lin Mo looked up at the camera placed atop the gate.
It was aimed directly at him.
"Sis, I'm a bit cold out here..."
Lin Mo hesitated for a moment, adding a pleading tone to his voice.
A few seconds later, the electronic gate made a mechanical sound and slowly opened.
Lin Mo sighed and walked inside.
The mansion was quieter than usual tonight. Though the nearby villa was brightly lit, these lights didn't bring any warmth to Lin Mo. The battle robots that usually patrolled the estate were nowhere to be seen.
In the distance, a hovering car was parked silently in the parking lot. The car had an elegant design with a silver-gray color that blended into the night sky like a concealed predator. Its sleek exterior was so smooth it resembled a mirror, without any crude decorations.
Such a luxurious and expensive vehicle could only be used by his sister.
Reaching the villa's front door, Lin Mo tried pressing the door switch. This time, the door opened smoothly.
The "Seed" chip in his finger successfully connected to the house's internal network. After verifying his identity, the thick wooden door slowly creaked open.
In the entrance hall, Xu Wanxue leaned against the wall, with the brightly lit living room behind her. The ceiling was adorned with glass lights that resembled twinkling stars, elegant yet stylish.
Seeing Lin Mo enter, Xu Wanxue didn't say a word, but her gaze seemed to speak volumes.
She reached behind her, threw a winter coat at Lin Mo, and said nothing.
Lin Mo: ...
He couldn't help but feel a strong sense of déjà vu from this scene.
If his sister wasn't throwing a coat at him, but rather a bunch of clean clothes and blankets while shouting "There's no place for you here anymore," the feeling would have been even stronger.
"I'm sorry, Sis, I shouldn't have come back so late."
Lin Mo had no choice but to soften first since it was his fault.
However, Xu Wanxue didn't seem to appreciate it. She still didn't say anything but just looked at him. She motioned for him to follow her with a gesture of her hand and then began walking upstairs.
Lin Mo had no choice but to obediently follow behind her, silently watching Xu Wanxue's back. The loose-fitting nightgown couldn't hide her graceful figure, and her mature body, developed over time, would make any man imagine different things.
Yes, Lin Mo also let his mind wander to various thoughts.
For example, Xu Wanxue might be holding a thick stick, ready to give him a lesson; or she might take him back to the bedroom, ask him to pick some casual clothes, and let him sleep on the mansion's lawn tonight.
But none of those imaginations came to pass. Xu Wanxue simply led him to the small kitchen on the second floor.
The villa was designed with a "narrow base and wide top," and the second-floor area was even larger than the first floor. This was their unique architectural style.
The reason for this design was that their house was located on a half-slope in Beixiang District.
Standing on the second floor of the villa, Lin Mo could see the entire Night City. No matter how heavy the mood, the view always brought a sense of relief, making everything seem better.
That's why, when the villa was first built, Xu Wanxue insisted on having a small kitchen on the second floor. The idea was to cook meals and then take them to the large outdoor balcony. Sitting in a wicker chair, one could enjoy the food and the stunning view of the city at night.
With the cool night breeze blowing, the endless night sky above, and in the winter, the snow-covered view, there was also an open swimming pool on the balcony to swim in when nothing else was going on.
Indeed, when Xu Wanxue first received the design plans, she insisted on having a pool, but she couldn't decide whether it should be outdoors or on the indoor balcony.
After some thought, she made a bold decision: not only was an outdoor swimming pool built, but a smaller pool with a hot spring function was also placed on the second-floor balcony. That way, even in winter, there was enough warm water for swimming.
Over the years, due to Lin Mo's strong sense of independence, even though Xu Wanxue was gentle and kind, she often ended up feeling frustrated.
However, every time she was angry at Lin Mo, she would come to the second floor, have dinner with him, and somehow let go of the negative emotions.
The private bar on the second-floor hall was filled with expensive yet purely decorative wines, while elegant music played from the music cabinet. No matter how angry one was, everything would seem to dissipate with the night's breeze.
Familiar memories flooded Lin Mo's mind, and he came back to his senses. He was already sitting on a wicker chair on the second-floor balcony. On the glass table in front of him was the dinner Xu Wanxue had cooked with care.
He casually took a bite with his chopsticks. It was indeed the familiar taste from his memories.
A smoky flavor spread in his mouth.
"Do you know why I'm angry?" Xu Wanxue asked, looking at the brightly lit Night City in the distance. She held a highball glass, swirling the drink as she spoke.
"Because I came back late," Lin Mo said, picking at the food, finding some meat and vegetables that hadn't been overcooked.
"Are you playing dumb, or just pretending to be clueless?" Xu Wanxue smiled lightly and took a sip of red wine.
Lin Mo, still holding onto the hope of avoiding the topic, stayed silent.
"To be honest, my brother, do you think I won't do anything to you? Is that why you've crossed my boundaries again and again?"
Xu Wanxue placed her wine glass on the table, propped herself up with both hands, and fixed Lin Mo with an intense gaze.
Her words, which seemed extremely cold when spoken by others, sounded full of grievance coming from Xu Wanxue.
She waited for Lin Mo's answer, but didn't explain what her "boundary" was.
Because she knew, both of them understood what this conversation was about.
Xu Wanxue's only boundary was Lin Mo.
"Sis, I've grown up." Lin Mo sighed and put down his chopsticks.
"Yes, I know. As your sister, I know you're different from other kids your age. You're very mature, and many times I feel that your youthful appearance is just a disguise. But you're still my brother, and that will never change."
"Lin Mo, promise me that you won't do anything so dangerous again, okay?" By the end, Xu Wanxue's tone became almost pleading.
Lin Mo looked at the beautiful, blossoming Night City in the distance, then said softly, "I'll try."
"Then tell your sister, what is it that you seek? In Night City, is there anything that I can't buy for you?"
Lin Mo gazed at her face. Even though she was nearly 30, his sister still had an enchanting charm, and the years had hardly left any marks on her face, as if it was the will of the Creator that a beauty should not fade with age.
But now, that beautiful face, tired from days of overtime work, had a touch of exhaustion, and the worry for her troublesome brother showed through.
"Sis, I want to become a legend in Night City... no, I want to become a legend in this world!"
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