The True Master of Crimson Eye

Back in her room, Puff lazily floated beside Li Yue, who was applying a beauty mask on her face. "Mind telling me why you keep on flirting with that Fu guy instead of trying to find the murderer?" Puff asked.

"Didn't she want us to fulfill her wishes for her?" Li Yue's hands paused, and she nonchalantly replied before continuing to massage her face.

Puff raised its brow, "How's that connected to you flirting with Fu Yichen? She never said anything about him in her wishes." Its tone was that of confusion.

She opened one eye and cast a bored glance at it. "Did you forget that she doesn't want to be 'the perfect daughter' of Li family anymore?"

Puff nodded its head in agreement, "Yeah, but-" its words trailed off. "These are two different things!"

On hearing its words, Li Yue let out a resigned sigh. "You wouldn't understand, Puff." She removed her face mask and got up from the vanity table, walking towards her bed.

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you making fun of me?" Puff's digital face scrunched up and it skeptically asked as it followed her.

However, Li Yue didn't bother explaining any further. She simply got in her bed, turned the lights off and closed her eyes, leaving Puff to wonder what she meant.

~~~~~

The next morning, while walking down the stairs, Li Yue suddenly asked, "Can you hack into something for me?"

Puff, who was trailing behind her, came to a halt. Its digital body tensed at her question, and it replied in a serious tone, "I can. But-" its paused briefly before continuing, "Unfortunately, I can't do that right now."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, "And why is that?"

"As you know, I'm just a fraction of the original system. I'm only capable of traveling between dimensions. The part of me with the hacking abilities is currently....." Puff explained, "inside your body."

Li Yue, taken aback by its reply, stopped in her tracks and looked at Puff. "Then, can you connect with that part and use its features?" She asked.

Puff nodded, but then shook its head. "That I can. But I won't."

"And why won't you do that?" Li Yue frowned deeply, her confusion evident as she glared at it.

Puff's gaze locked onto hers. "If I use those abilities without first acquiring the missing part; then, there's a high chance 'they' will detect my presence. This can lead to trouble. They might even kill you, if they found out about me."

Hearing that, her eyes blazed with frustration as she gritted her teeth. A deep frown formed on her forehead. "Them again? Who are they, exactly?" she demanded, her words tumbling out in a rush.

Puff, however, just looked away. It seemed like it didn't want to reveal any further. The feeling of being kept in the dark angered her, and Puff's evasive behavior only added to her irritation.

Suddenly, Puff spoke up. "Don't you want to hack into something? I can help you."

Li Yue's eyes narrowed with confusion and she slowly asked, "What do you mean? Didn't you just reject—"

But before she could even finish her words, Puff cut her off. "I can guide you through the process." Its words brought silence upon the two and for a while, they just quietly stared at each other.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Li Yue shifted her gaze away, her emotions running high. She clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and said, "Fine."

With that, she turned and walked down the stairs, leaving Puff hovering in the air, its expression unreadable as it silently kept looking at her retreating back.

~~~~~

Just as Li Yue was about to leave the house, someone called out to her. "Miss Yue?" She paused mid way and turned around to see Madam Wang standing behind her.

The elderly woman's wrinkled face was filled with warmth, her eyes full of concern as she stepped closer to Li Yue. "Are you head out, Miss Yue?" She asked in a gentle, loving tone.

Li Yue flashed her a cheerful smile and simply nodded her head. Madam Wang held out a small folder in her hand, "Here." She said.

"What is it, Auntie Wang?" Li Yue asked as she accepted the envelope. Her eyes scanning the packet curiously.

Madam Wang smiled and replied, "The things you asked me to get for you."

Li Yue smiled back while nodding her head in response, "Thanks a lot Auntie Wang."

"I'm glad to be of your assistance, Young Miss." She said and waved Li Yue goodbye before leaving.

"What did you ask her to get for you?" After Madam Wang left, it was Puff's turn to ask the questions that it had been holding up until now.

Li Yue walked out of the mansion, "The real Li Yue lost her phone and credit cards when she drowned," She explained. "I asked Auntie Wang to retrieve replacement credit cards for me."

As she spoke, she tore open the folder and checked its contents. Satisfied, she crumpled and tossed it in a nearby trash can before getting in her car and driving away.

~~~~~

Li Yue was vigorously tapping on the keys of the keyboard; the computer screen displayed various codes and numbers as she typed. Puff's eyes glowed with red flashes as it guided her. She was completely absorbed in her work, not paying any attention to the occasional passing of people through her desk.

The internet cafe was very lively due to the live e-sports match that was being held in a corner. A large crowd had already gathered, cheering on their favorite team.

"Clink" The door of the cafe opened, and someone stepped in. "I'll be back after the match. Don't worry about me," a girl's voice rang out as she talked on her cell phone.

As soon as she walked past Li Yue's desk, Puff suddenly stopped giving instructions. Li Yue quietly waiting for a minute, for it to continue; but even after some time, when Puff still didn't speak, she looked up from the keyboard. Her eyes locked onto it, as she called out its name, "Puff?"

"What happened to you? Did you lose your connection with the system shard, or what? Why aren't you talking?" Her brows furrowed deeply, as she stared at it.

The flash in its eyes disappeared and Puff's digital body began to flicker. Li Yue panicked and quickly reached out to grab it, but before she could touch, Puff vanished.

"Puff! Puff?" She constantly called out, but got no response. Just when she was about to give up, she heard a faint voice as Puff reappeared. "I'm here."

Seeing Puff, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. But then, she crossed her arms and arched her brow, apparently demanding for an explanation for its weird behavior. Puff understood and said, "I detected that strange signal again."