Seeing Jiang Bai sleeping soundly, Hu Tao's lips curled into a mischievous smile as she silently took out a brush.
Dipping it carefully in ink, she licked her lips with anticipation and began to sketch something on Jiang Bai's face.
After a short while, a vivid cartoon turtle appeared on Jiang Bai's unsuspecting face.
Blissfully unaware, Jiang Bai continued sleeping deeply.
Yuyu, the small ghost companion who emerged from Hu Tao's body, covered her mouth, giggling softly at the sight.
Watching another pet enjoying itself so thoroughly at Jiang Bai's expense, Bloop tilted its head in confusion, bubbling quietly in the water basin.
Oh well, it thought, it's best for us pets to stay out of our masters' business.
Before Jiang Bai awoke, Hu Tao quickly cleaned up her mess and slipped away unnoticed.
When Jiang Bai finally opened his eyes, Hu Tao was nowhere to be seen.
He touched his hair—it felt soft and dry. Clearly, Hu Tao had indeed washed it for him.
Feeling rather cheerful, he shifted onto his wheelchair.
Feeling hungry, he hummed softly, ready to get something to eat.
Bloop jumped energetically in the basin, trying to catch Jiang Bai's attention so he wouldn't forget about it.
Indeed, Jiang Bai had nearly forgotten. Leaning over the basin, he fished out his slime companion.
Upon clearly seeing Jiang Bai's face, Bloop's eyes immediately curved into crescent moons, and it smiled so hard that droplets resembling tears appeared at its eyes. Had it possessed a mouth, it probably would have laughed aloud.
Mistakenly thinking Bloop was simply happy to be rescued, Jiang Bai didn't suspect anything.
"So, you didn't leave with the Director, huh? You're surprisingly loyal~"
Jiang Bai affectionately patted the slime's head. The white energy named [Baiyuan] that usually wrapped around his arm crawled upward, forming a shoulder guard.
Placing Bloop carefully on the shoulder guard to avoid soaking his clothes, Jiang Bai smiled. "Stay still and don't fall off, okay?"
Bloop blew a small bubble, letting out a gentle "gudong" sound. Like strong glue, it stuck firmly to the shoulder guard, as if it had grown there.
Humming cheerfully, Jiang Bai rolled out into the courtyard, greeting passing attendants.
With a turtle painted prominently on his face, Jiang Bai received astonished, laughter-suppressed looks from everyone as he entered the dining hall.
By now, mealtime had long passed, so the dining area had only a few occupants. Still, someone burst into laughter upon seeing him.
Noticing people staring, Jiang Bai instinctively touched his face but found nothing.
"Is there something on my face?"
"Hahaha! You'd better see for yourself!"
A female attendant handed him a mirror, barely holding back her laughter.
Finally seeing his reflection clearly, Jiang Bai was stunned.
His previously bright eyes and nose had been painted mostly black with white left behind as patterns on the turtle shell. A lively turtle tail was drawn on his forehead, its four limbs spread amusingly across his face. Worst of all, his mouth was perfectly aligned with the turtle's head, making every word he said look like the turtle itself was speaking—ridiculous beyond belief.
Jiang Bai's mind crashed momentarily.
He didn't even need to guess who was behind this prank.
No wonder Hu Tao had disappeared without a trace. She had obviously fled before he woke up!
"Director Hu!" Jiang Bai ground his teeth fiercely. If he didn't return the favor, he'd swear off his surname!
He immediately whipped out his [Communication Device] to track Hu Tao's location.
As for wiping his face clean, he couldn't be bothered now.
Since he'd already embarrassed himself thoroughly, he decided he might as well make sure the entire Wangsheng Funeral Parlor knew of Hu Tao's misdeed today.
Watching Jiang Bai storm out aggressively in his wheelchair, Uncle Ge, who'd been suppressing laughter until now, finally burst into hearty guffaws.
Ever since Jiang Bai had arrived, Hu Tao seemed to have found the perfect playmate, significantly reducing her aimless wanderings. For someone as young as her to shoulder Wangsheng Funeral Parlor alone, the elders were all deeply aware of her struggles. Seeing her find someone to share playful moments with was something they all warmly welcomed.
Thus, Jiang Bai, face marked vividly with the turtle, wheeled energetically around Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, asking everyone about Hu Tao's whereabouts. Only after nearly everyone knew of Hu Tao's prank did he leisurely follow the device's directions to Zhongli's courtyard.
Yuyu, who had been anxiously keeping watch, immediately dashed back into Hu Tao's arms upon seeing Jiang Bai approach.
Without hesitation, Hu Tao put down her teacup and left behind a single hurried sentence as she rushed inside Zhongli's study, leaving the puzzled consultant staring after her.
"Jiang Bai's here! Old man, don't let him find me!"
Zhongli, bewildered, had no idea what was happening—until he saw Jiang Bai's face.
Usually composed, Zhongli nearly choked on his tea. Under Jiang Bai's deeply resentful gaze, it took him several moments to regain his usual calm demeanor.
"Mr. Zhongli... The Director is here with you, isn't she?"
Without a word, Zhongli pointed decisively toward the room behind him, cleanly selling out Hu Tao.
Hu Tao, stealthily peeking outside, immediately realized her predicament. Unfortunately, Jiang Bai had already pushed open the door, leaving her nowhere to run.
"Director..." Jiang Bai's voice dripped with grievance.
Hu Tao clasped her hands innocently behind her back, gazing at the ceiling and whistling innocently. "Oh my, what brings you here to see me?"
Across the wide desk separating them, Jiang Bai pointed accusingly at his own face. "Director, might you know who's responsible for the turtle currently decorating my face?"
Feigning shock, Hu Tao replied innocently, "Oh my! Who could be so bold as to draw a turtle on your face?"
"I wonder who indeed. Once I find her, I'll be sure to draw an even bigger one on her face!" As Jiang Bai spoke, he picked up a brush from Zhongli's desk.
"Such an atrocious act! Wait right here; this director will surely help you catch the culprit!" Hu Tao exclaimed, spinning around in an attempt to escape.
But instantly, a solid stone wall blocked the doorway, even sealing off the windows.
Holding the ink-laden brush, Jiang Bai approached her menacingly.
He pursued while she dodged, and around Zhongli's desk began a frantic game of cat and mouse.
Clearly disadvantaged by his wheelchair, Jiang Bai couldn't catch up. Hu Tao smugly pulled down her eyelid and stuck out her tongue, taunting playfully.
"Nyeh nyeh! It was me! Come get me if you can~!"
"Oh, the Director admits it herself…" Jiang Bai smirked. Instantly, several rock pillars rose, cutting off all escape routes.
Hu Tao's figure flickered as she phased briefly into the spirit realm, weaving between the rising pillars until she ran out of options and jumped onto Zhongli's desk.
Meanwhile, Zhongli sat quietly in the courtyard pavilion, pondering if he should intervene before they destroyed his belongings. After brief contemplation, he shook his head calmly.
If something breaks, he reasoned, I'll just have Jiang Bai compensate me.
"Caught you, Director…"
Jiang Bai triumphantly grabbed Hu Tao's ankle, pulling her down onto the desk and bringing the brush ominously close to her face.
Feeling the cool ink drip onto her cheek, Hu Tao's eyes widened in panic.
"Stay away from me!"
---
T/N: "Mm. If you've read this far, I suppose you're at least a little invested."
"If you want to support the translator, there's a Patreon here: patreon.com/wisetl. It's optional—think of it as tossing a few extra coins on the counter. Early chapters are just a bonus side-effect of that support."
"This place also has its own strange currency… Powerstones. For every 100 Powerstones the story gets, you'll receive 1 bonus chapter. 100ps = 1 chp, 200ps = 2 chp, 300ps = 3 chp… you can do the math."
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Say thank you to Maomao guys