Chapter 5: The Terrifying Brat

“Make sure you wash up properly too!” Ling Yun kicked Zhang Yangfan into the washing machine, locked the door, and silenced him.

Before Zhang Yangfan could even collect his thoughts, water began filling the washing machine.

He didn’t want to bathe like this—he wanted out!

He pounded on the door, making the metal bang loudly.

Ling Yun ignored him and gently wiped the dirt off Duoduo’s face with a clean cloth.

Zhang Yangfan was stunned.

Ling Yun always pampered the little runt, but now he had been kicked into the washing machine.

They were both his children—could Ling Yun be any more biased?

Angry, Zhang Yangfan’s little fists pounded one blow after another against the washing machine door.

His lips moved silently.

Duoduo, freshly cleaned, looked at him curiously.

“Big brother, are you trying to talk to me? Speak up, Duoduo is listening!”

Zhang Yangfan opened and closed his mouth, mouthing the words: Let me out.

But Ling Yun had silenced him, and he couldn’t make a sound. All he could do was keep pounding on the door.

Duoduo stared at him for a long while before suddenly realizing something.

She raised her chubby little hand and lightly tapped the washing machine door.

She tapped twice, and Zhang Yangfan tapped twice in response.

Duoduo’s round eyes lit up, and she began to play the door-tapping game.

He tapped inside, she tapped outside.

Duoduo grew happier with each tap, her bright eyes shining with laughter: “This is so much fun!”

‘Stop playing and let me out!’ Zhang Yangfan was about to explode with frustration.

As the washing machine filled with water, he tumbled inside along with the sheets and duvet cover.

Duoduo’s big eyes suddenly grew even brighter.

She leaned in, pressing her soft, plump face against the washing machine door, distorting her features.

“Daddy, look! Big brother’s turning into a twisted dough stick!”

Her innocent, tender voice was full of excitement.

Ling Yun looked down at her.

Seeing her little head tilt left and then right, a faint smile flickered in his eyes.

Realizing he was smiling, Ling Yun frowned and quickly left through Gate One.

Damn it, what had they all done to him?

Not only had they assigned him a little runt, but that little runt was also affecting his mood. He needed to settle the score with them now!

Duoduo’s attention was fixed entirely on Zhang Yangfan.

Watching him blow bubbles inside the washing machine, she puckered her lips, wanting to blow bubbles too.

But after trying for a while, all she could manage was a “puff puff” sound, without a single bubble.

“How does big brother blow bubbles? Duoduo wants to learn too.”

She rested her chubby hands on her cheeks, watching Zhang Yangfan’s “performance” with longing eyes.

Dizzy from the spinning, Zhang Yangfan suddenly noticed a sinister shadow appearing behind Duoduo, snapping him to full alert.

It was a Hanging Wraith of the same rank!

Under Zhang Yangfan’s gaze, the female wraith appeared slowly behind Duoduo.

Her long tongue hung out, blood-red and foul-smelling.

The tongue was nearly touching Duoduo.

Zhang Yangfan stretched out his hand, pounding the door.

He tried to warn Duoduo with his mouth: There’s a Hanging Wraith—run!

Damn you, Ling Yun! You were so fierce when bullying me—why aren’t you here now when I need you?

Zhang Yangfan furrowed his brow, panic rising inside him.

He didn’t even know why he was so anxious.

Just moments ago, he had wanted to swallow Duoduo whole to vent his anger.

But now, when she was in danger, he was even more worried than she was.

He thought it over and convinced himself silently.

He had been bossed around by the little runt for so long; the runt had to die by his hand—he couldn’t let any other wraith get the upper hand!

“Slurp…”

Duoduo’s little head was licked by the scarlet tongue.

She scratched her head and didn’t seem to mind.

“What a tender little baby!” the female wraith said.

Duoduo turned toward the voice.

She lifted her soft, pale face and followed the long tongue upward.

Seeing the female wraith’s face, she wasn’t afraid—instead, she threw her arms around her.

“Mommy, are you my mommy?”

The wraith opened her mouth to deny it.

But by the rules of the game, once she spoke, she had to answer “yes.”

Receiving the clear answer, Duoduo became even happier.

But the next moment, the tongue licked her cheek, tickling her.

“Hee hee hee, so ticklish!”

Duoduo laughed, scratching her face, curious about the dark tongue.

“Mommy, what’s this?”

She reached out her chubby hand, grabbed the tongue, and pulled it down.

With her tug, the tongue stretched longer.

“Huh?”

Duoduo seemed to have discovered a new world, tugging the tongue with all her might.

The wraith’s pale face turned even paler.

She hurriedly grabbed her tongue, trying to pull it back.

Duoduo thought they were playing tug-of-war and pulled even harder.

Back at the orphanage, the headmistress would play games like this with them.

Among all the children, Duoduo was the best at games.

Whenever she was on a tug-of-war team, they always won first place.

Meeting her “mom” for the first time, she wanted to make a good impression!

“Waaah…”

As Duoduo pulled harder, the female wraith suddenly began to cry.

She stopped, looking at Duoduo in confusion.

“Mommy, why are you crying? Is it because Duoduo is too strong and makes you so happy?”

“#￥@#…”

Happy, my foot!

The wraith’s tongue hurt badly, making it impossible to speak clearly.

Tearful, she curled her tongue into a coil and stuffed it into her mouth.

Her cheeks puffed out as if the tongue might burst out again if she opened her mouth.

She wiped her tears and quickly fled.

What a terrifying brat—scarier than Ling Yun!

Seeing the wraith run away frightened by Duoduo, Zhang Yangfan breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Duoduo twice.

No wonder she was the “daughter” of the old wraith—she wasn’t even afraid of an SS-rank Hanging Wraith. Truly impressive!

“Big brother, why did mommy leave? Is it because I’m not trying hard enough? Does mommy not like me?”

Duoduo pouted and sat dejectedly by the washing machine.

Zhang Yangfan glared at her, unwilling to speak.

She wouldn’t let him out, yet she expected him to comfort her.

This little runt was just as annoying as old Ling Yun!

The washing machine spun for a long time, washing and then spinning out the sheets.

As soon as the door unlocked, Zhang Yangfan pushed hard and opened it.

His spirit transformed into a flat “sheet of paper,” sliding out of the washing machine.

“Big brother, why did you get so thin?”

Zhang Yangfan was still silenced and couldn’t make a sound, though he opened his mouth.

Duoduo, unable to hear him, simply lay down and pressed her ear close to his.

“Big brother, what are you saying? I can’t hear you—speak louder!”

Duoduo shouted at the top of her lungs, making Zhang Yangfan’s eardrums nearly burst.

With effort, his spirit returned to its original form, and he raised a hand to cover his ear.

What a noisy little runt.

He was silenced by Ling Yun but could still hear everything!

“Wow, big brother turned back again—so amazing!”

Duoduo blinked in surprise, staring at Zhang Yangfan.

Pleased by her praise, Zhang Yangfan proudly lifted his chin.

Before he could revel in it, he saw the female wraith floating out of the kitchen holding a kitchen knife.

“Duoduo, mommy is hungry…”