Chapter 346 - 343: The Block in Memory

Chapter 346: Chapter 343: The Block in Memory

The little girl slowly grew up.

She lived a life of great wealth.

Her father was the CEO of Yuanxin Technology, while her mother’s family controlled more than half of the tech industry in Dawn City. It was, by all accounts, a union of two powerhouses.

But the little girl had never seen her father smile.

He was always stone-faced and spoke very little, constantly appearing weighed down by some heavy burden.

Her mother, as if to make up for her father’s coldness, doted on the little girl.

"Where did Dad go again?"

For years, it was almost always just the mother and daughter at home. At first, the little girl would often ask where her father had gone.

"He has many urgent, important matters to attend to. He doesn’t have time for us. You have to understand your father."

"Your father is busy with work and bears heavy responsibilities. It’s only natural that he might neglect us at times."

Her mother often told her such things, and after a while, the little girl stopped asking.

"Mom, why are all my toys just these Blocks?"

One day, the little girl looked at her mother and asked very seriously.

For as long as she could remember, all she had ever played with were these building Blocks of various sizes. Although she could build all sorts of magnificent structures and arrange them into all kinds of shapes, she was indeed getting a little tired of them.

Hearing this question, the woman fell silent for a long while.

"Just think of the Blocks as bringing you good luck."

After saying such a baffling thing, the woman wiped her eyes and hurried out.

’What does that mean?’ The little girl didn’t understand.

A few days later, she told her playmate about it—Auntie Lin Nian.

Lin Nian was her mother’s younger sister, so by convention, the little girl called her "Auntie."

"Auntie, tell me, why won’t Mom give me any other toys?"

Lin Nian looked utterly exasperated. She gently tapped the little girl on the head.

"How many times have I told you, don’t call me Auntie! Call me Lin Nian."

"Okay, Auntie Lin Nian."

Hearing this form of address, the Young Lady standing to the side could only sigh helplessly.

She pinched the little girl’s chubby cheeks.

"In school, have your teachers taught you about Relics yet?"

The little girl nodded blankly. "They have."

"Good." Lin Nian glanced around, then leaned in conspiratorially, whispering in the little girl’s ear.

"I heard from the family... your father is cursed."

"A curse? What’s that?" The little girl didn’t understand.

"It’s something from the Abyss. It could be the price for a Relic, or maybe an ability mark left by some creature. Whatever it is, it’s on your father, which is why your family has to follow certain rules."

"Rules? I feel like we have very few rules at home..." the little girl protested.

"Few?!" Lin Nian’s voice suddenly grew loud, but then she felt it was inappropriate and lowered her voice again.

"Do you have any idea how strange your family looks to outsiders?"

"This huge Manor, its gates locked tight all day. The grounds are so gloomy. No guests are ever allowed. You don’t have a single butler or servant. Even your robots are the most basic models, with no real intelligence."

"And your father, always so stone-faced, acting like the whole world owes him money. The family says he’s like a robot at the office too, just working all day and all night."

"And your mom... ever since she married him, she just stays cooped up in this gloomy Manor all day. Who knows what she even does. She used to be the type of person who’d get antsy if she didn’t go shopping every single day."

Saying this, Lin Nian slapped her thigh in frustration.

The little girl, still unconvinced, retorted, "Mom plays with me."

"Playing what?"

"We play with building Blocks, build houses, make little animals..."

As she spoke, the little girl’s voice trailed off, her own confidence wavering.

"And what else?"

"I don’t know." The little girl shook her head. Most of the time, she played by herself; she never knew where her mother had run off to.

Seeing the little girl’s dejected expression, Lin Nian realized her words might have been a bit harsh.

She stroked the little girl’s head and comforted her, "Maybe it’s all just rumors other people are spreading. Don’t worry about it."

Looking at the little girl’s innocent face, Lin Nian’s gaze softened with pity.

"Don’t you get bored, always playing with Blocks?"

The little girl shook her head.

She took a small Block out of her pocket. With a flick of her little hand, the Block began to spin on her fingertip, perfectly steady.

With another push of her fingertip, the Block dropped onto the chair, where it continued to spin steadily. She then cupped her small hands over it before pulling them apart to her sides.

"Auntie Lin Nian, guess where the Block is?"

Lin Nian’s eyes widened, and she pointed to the little girl’s left hand.

The little girl opened her left hand; it was empty.

"Nope." She shook her head.

"Then it’s in this one?" Lin Nian eagerly opened the little girl’s right hand, only to find it empty as well.

"Where did it go?" Lin Nian was astonished.

"Over there." The little girl raised her hand and pointed to a tree in the distance.

Nestled on a branch was a small Block, glinting in the sunlight with a metallic sheen.

Lin Nian stared in shock at the small Block on the tree branch, her face a mask of disbelief.

"How did you do that?"

"Find me another toy, and I’ll tell you."

Hearing this request, Lin Nian laughed.

"Of course." She started rummaging through her bag and, after a moment, pulled out an exquisite robot model.

"I made this in class. Take a look. Do you like it?"

When the little girl saw the robot model, her eyes lit up instantly, and she immediately reached out for it.

"Tell me how you did it first." Lin Nian pulled her hand back and pointed to the Block on the tree branch.

Seeing this, the little girl took out an identical Block from her pocket.

"It’s like this."

As she spoke, the Block danced in her hand—one moment on its back, the next in her palm, then disappearing into the shadows between her fingers.

"You just have to hide the Block so the other person can’t see it. The one on the branch? It’s been there for ages. I accidentally tossed it up there when I was playing a while back, and it’s just been there ever since..."

After the little girl’s explanation, it all clicked for Lin Nian.

She let out a sigh of relief. She had been genuinely afraid the girl had actually been tainted by the power of a Relic.

’It’s just a magic trick, not real Magic.’

With this thought, Lin Nian handed the robot model in her hand to Li Luo.

"I based it on the second-generation intelligent machinery from your dad’s company. I love this series. My favorite part is the lower body—it’s like a spider, so unique..."

Lin Nian explained, her eyes shining with excitement.

The little girl held the robot, listening intently to Lin Nian’s explanation.

Seeing Lin Nian’s excited look, the little girl thought for a moment, then rummaged in her pocket again, pulling out a Block that had been polished clean.

"This one is my favorite. I’ll trade you."

She placed the Block in Lin Nian’s hand.

Holding the Block, Lin Nian was taken aback.

"It’s a gift. You don’t have to give me anything in return..."

The little girl stubbornly shook her head and held up the robot model.

"I’ve received Auntie Lin Nian’s favorite thing, so I must offer something in return."

"This is the cost."