Chapter 5: The First Move
The next day, Lin Xiao Yan woke up with a determined glint in her eyes. Five years old, yet she felt the weight of two souls within her—two minds working together, one goal: protect her mother, defeat Chen Zehao, and reunite her family.
Breakfast was quiet. Hua Yichen was busy scrolling through her phone, still thrilled by the surge in social media praise for Xiao Yan's performance. The little girl watched silently, calculating. Today, she would push her plan further.
The variety show announced a special episode: a "Mystery Treasure Hunt" across the studio grounds. Xiao Yan's eyes sparkled. This was the perfect cover to plant her evidence and manipulate events to her advantage.
As the other children scrambled, Xiao Yan moved methodically, deliberately dropping hints and guiding participants to places she wanted them to go. The cameras caught only her innocent smiles and occasional frowns of concentration.
She spotted Chen Zehao lurking near the storage room, pretending to check props. Xiao Yan's tiny fists clenched. Quietly, she maneuvered herself close, holding a note in her hand. "Mister… is this yours?" she asked, her voice sweet and trembling just enough to appear childlike.
Chen Zehao bent down, trying to mask his irritation. "What…? No, it's nothing," he muttered, but the way his eyes flickered betrayed him.
Xiao Yan's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "Hmm… maybe you should be more careful next time." She turned and ran, the note slipping between his fingers.
Later, backstage, she opened the envelope she had taken from Chen Zehao's office. Inside were letters and photographs, all pointing to his schemes and the connection between her parents. Her little hands trembled with excitement. Everything was falling into place.
During filming, Xiao Yan subtly guided the cameras toward certain props, ensuring that Chen Zehao's hidden documents were "accidentally" revealed on live feed. The production team didn't notice the significance—they only saw the adorable child placing items carefully. Viewers erupted online, praising her cleverness, calling her the "Strong Loli Detective."
By evening, Xiao Yan had completed the first phase of her plan. Chen Zehao was visibly shaken, unsure how this little girl had uncovered so much. Hua Yichen remained blissfully unaware, thinking her daughter's antics were purely innocent charm.
Alone in her room that night, Xiao Yan held the jade pendant close to her chest. She could feel the twin soul fusion strengthening, giving her clarity, speed, and intuition far beyond her age. The presence inside her whispered guidance, and together, they planned their next move.
Tomorrow, she would take the next step—bring her father into the equation and finally begin the path toward family reunion. The little girl smiled to herself, her tiny frame brimming with silent power. The world thought she was just a cute child star, but in truth, Lin Xiao Yan was preparing to reshape her entire destiny.
Chen Zehao, meanwhile, stared at the footage online, his confidence eroding with every click. He didn't realize that the five-year-old he had been underestimating was already three moves ahead of him.
Xiao Yan whispered to the twin soul within her: "Get ready. Step two begins tomorrow. Daddy will see the truth, and nothing will stop us."
And somewhere in the quiet night, the Strong Loli plotted, smiling faintly to herself. The game had only just begun, and victory was already within her grasp.