Layla was very familiar with the town’s streets. She navigated them daily, selling the lilies she carefully cultivated. After a few quick turns, the noisy sounds behind them grew distant until the world returned to silence, leaving only the sound of their hurried breaths.

Brian leaned against the wall and slid down to the ground, gasping for air: “I’m… exhausted…”

“You should exercise more,” Layla said, her breathing only slightly uneven. Her rosy cheeks glowed from the run. “Even the children in town can run better than you. They steal things and never get caught, and you’re so much older.”

Brian: “…”

Shen Lin propped himself against the wall with one hand, glancing around to try and identify their location.

“This is Harsank Street,” Layla said, untying the scarf from her head. Her golden hair cascaded down, smooth and silky, making her look like a delicate porcelain doll. Her purple eyes were especially captivating in the night. She added disdainfully, “The wealthy won’t come here. They think it’s too dirty.”

“Thank you for helping us,” Shen Lin said.

“No need to thank me,” Layla replied, lifting her skirt slightly in a curtsy. “Helping those in need is what a lady should do. I hate those people too, especially Benson. He abuses his status to hoard supplies from outsiders. People often steal from him, but you two were the most careless.”

She put her hands on her hips, scolding them with a fierce yet endearing expression: “You should have been more careful! If caught, Benson would show no mercy! He’d hang you on a rack and whip you with saltwater-soaked lashes!” Her eyes reddened slightly. “I saw Anri beaten to death by him. They don’t even spare girls.”

Shen Lin: “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Layla said. “Let’s part ways here, Mike.”

Shen Lin asked, “How do you know my name is Mike?”

Layla shrugged helplessly. “Goodness, Luther is completely smitten with you! He keeps talking about wanting to see you again! My ears are about to fall off from all his chatter! But, looking at you closely today, you really are quite handsome! Though not as much as me.”

Yan Xiuyi gave Shen Lin a strange look.

Shen Lin: “…”

Shen Lin remained expressionless: “I miss him too, but I actually lied to him. I’m not a runaway; I’m a drifter from George Street. I have no home. Could you let us stay with you for the night? My friend is injured.”

Brian conveniently acted as if he were seriously injured.

Shen Lin: “Just for one night, please.”

At the same time, having done this before, he said to the KP: “I want to use Charm on Layla.”

KP: “…Roll the dice.”

Shen Lin rolled a success.

He looked at Layla, treating her like a lady, and gently took her hand, placing a soft kiss on the back of it. His emerald-green eyes reflected Layla’s surprised expression: “Beautiful lady, please grant our request.”

Layla’s stern expression softened instantly. She seemed to enjoy playing the role of a lady and couldn’t resist blushing at the gentlemanly treatment. However, she hesitated, her long lashes fluttering as she bit her lip in thought. Finally, she sighed and said, “Alright, alright. But you must promise not to wander around or cause trouble. I have a lot to do, and I can’t afford any more problems.”

“We promise,” Shen Lin said.

“And don’t steal anything from me.”

Shen Lin replied expressionlessly: “…”

It seemed their disguise was too good, solidifying their identity as thieves.

---

Layla’s home was on Harsank Street.

Compared to the clean and tidy streets near the town entrance, Harsank Street was narrow and filthy, filled with the stench of sewers. Along the street, just like on their first night, homeless refugees could be seen crouching in corners.

Layla led them to a house, where the air was filled with the fragrance of lilies.

After being nauseated by the foul smells along the way, Brian took a deep breath of the lily-scented air as if it were his last gasp of oxygen.

Layla unlocked the door, proudly saying, “Smells nice, doesn’t it? I’m the only one in town who grows lilies. I’m the best florist here.”

She put away her keys and gestured for them to be quiet, whispering, “I don’t know if the landlady is awake. Keep your voices down.”

They nodded.

Layla carefully pushed the door open, but the old door still creaked loudly. She peeked inside.

KP said: “Roll for Luck.”

Shen Lin rolled and succeeded.

The landlady was asleep, and loud snores came from the half-open door on the first floor.

Layla waved them in, and they entered cautiously.

The doorframe was too low, forcing Yan Xiu to duck his head to enter.

Shen Lin looked around. The first floor was small, consisting of a living room, a bedroom, a narrow bathroom, and a kitchen. The entire house was tiny, like a honeycomb tightly packed between its neighbors, leaving no extra space.

To the left of the entrance was a staircase. Layla climbed up and gestured for them to follow: “Walk quietly, you clumsy oafs.”

They carefully made their way to Layla’s room.

Layla closed the door and sighed in relief, warning them in a low voice: “If Mrs. Anne finds out, I’m done for. You can only stay tonight. Tomorrow, you’ll have to find your own place, understand?”

“Understood. Thank you, miss.”

Hearing Shen Lin address her so formally, Layla blushed again. She sat by the mirror, looking at her reflection, then glanced at Shen Lin through the mirror. He was handsome, with beautiful eyes and refined manners, unlike a drifter from George Street.

She thought to herself, Luther was right. He’s handsome and charming.

Just then, she felt a gaze on her face. Shifting her eyes in the mirror, she met a pair of cold, gray eyes that gleamed like metal in the dim light.

She quickly looked away, frightened, and tied her hair into a braid, saying, “I need to check on my lilies. You can find a place to sleep.”

She picked up a small toolbox from the floor and carefully went downstairs.

After she left, Brian whispered, “Can we trust her?”

Shen Lin shook his head.

Brian asked, “Does she really believe we’re locals?”

“At least she seems to.”

“Feels bad lying to her,” Brian said, sitting cross-legged in a corner. “She seems like a kind girl.”

“But this isn’t a kind game,” Yan Xiuyi said coldly. “There were many corpses along the way. The stench comes from them.”

Shen Lin asked Yan Xiu, “Why did you come?”

“I saw you being chased by the guards,” Yan Xiu replied, looking at Shen Lin. “I came to help.”

Shen Lin was momentarily stunned. In those cold, silver-gray eyes, he thought he saw a glimmer of warmth, like moonlight. He murmured an acknowledgment and walked to the window to observe the street.

Behind him, the man let out a soft chuckle.

In the narrow space between the low buildings was a small flower bed filled with lilies. Under Layla’s careful care, these fragile plants had bloomed beautifully, their pure white petals revealing tender yellow stamens.

Layla was watering them, the droplets glistening on the petals under the moonlight.

She muttered something as she worked. Shen Lin held his breath, trying to hear what she was saying, but the KP interrupted: “Roll for Listen.”

Shen Lin rolled the dice expressionlessly.

Success.

Shen Lin: “Tch.”

KP: “…” The disdain from a pro.

Soon, the wind carried the girl’s soft murmurs: “More people died on George Street today! When they dragged out the body, I saw it was Mr. Panderson. He once gave me half a flatbread. Resources in Moonfall Village are dwindling, but the population keeps growing. Do kind-hearted people really die sooner?”

“Everyone dies.”

After hesitating, Layla repeated softly, “Everyone dies.”

Then, Shen Lin heard nothing more until Layla finished watering the flowers and returned to the house. Her footsteps echoed outside the thin door.

---

Morning came early in Moonfall Village.

As the first rays of sunlight streamed in, the noise outside the window grew louder.

Shen Lin opened his eyes and saw a flash of golden hair as Layla hurried past. She opened the door but suddenly remembered something and turned back to say, “Be quiet! Mrs. Anne takes her ugly quail for a walk at 7. You must leave by then! You must!”

“Where’s the library?” Shen Lin asked quietly.

“On Hibiscus Street,” Layla replied, puzzled. “Why do you want to go there?”

“I need to look something up.”

“Do you want to leave too? The books in the library are just tricks by outsiders to lure us away,” Layla warned, her expression darkening. “We can’t leave Moonfall Village! Never! Give up on that idea.”

“Layla!” The landlady’s loud voice called from downstairs. “Who are you talking to?!”

Layla quickly replied, “No one! I’m talking to my lovely flowers! Mrs. Anne, I’ll prepare breakfast!”

“Where’s my millet? Little Pete is starving!”

“We finished it two days ago, don’t you remember?” Layla gestured for them to stay quiet, gently closed the door, and hurried downstairs.

“That damned Benson, giving us so little food!” The landlady’s angry voice was followed by the squawking of her parrot.

“There’s still some breadcrumbs! That ugly—Little Pete won’t starve!”

Layla’s voice returned to the door. She opened it and glared at Shen Lin, her violet eyes unwavering: “You must—not—go out!”