Chapter 3935
It was nearly two in the morning when Fox slipped back into the Du family villa. In the car, she had already transformed herself. Fox never traveled without options; several outfits, human-skin masks, and a full arsenal of cosmetics were always at her disposal. Sometimes, she would disguise herself with just a mask, completely altering her appearance. Other times, she relied on her exceptional makeup skills, although makeup alone occasionally left subtle hints. A mask, however, was foolproof. As she climbed the stairs, Abby—the name she reverted to at home—moved cautiously, her footsteps as light as feathers. She was careful not to wake her family, especially her mother. Despite the festive New Year holiday, her mother had been exhausted from preparing for the celebrations. For Abby, the excitement she once felt for the New Year had long faded. As a child, she had eagerly counted down the days, looking forward to the break from school, the thrill of red envelopes filled with money, and the joy of wearing brand-new clothes. But those memories belonged to a different time. Growing up in the Du family, she and her siblings faced relentless pressure to excel academically and uphold the family’s reputation. Her journey became even more challenging when her master chose her. Training under him required grueling discipline, far more intense than anything her siblings experienced, and it meant leaving home for over a decade. Oddly enough, once she adapted to life with her master, she stopped yearning for home. During her rare visits back, she always found herself eager to return to her master’s teachings. Her parents, resigned to her absence, settled for video calls whenever they missed her. Visiting her master in person wasn’t an option; the man was too private, his…
deliberately elusive about his whereabouts. Even his disciples were bound to secrecy regarding his locations. Many of her fellow apprentices, who were orphans, revered the master as a savior, treating his every word as gospel and remaining unwavering in their loyalty and devotion. However, Abby’s relationship with him was different. As the second daughter of the wealthy and influential Du family in Huyoniville, she did not share the same blind allegiance. Her master often joked that his decision to take her on as a disciple was more about her ability to amuse him than anything else. Nonetheless, she had proven herself, and he had grown fond of her. Among all his students, she knew she was his favorite.
As she tiptoed up the stairs, a voice broke the silence. “Abby, where were you in the middle of the night?” Startled, Abby turned to find her mother standing in the hallway. Mrs. Du was known for being a notoriously light sleeper, easily disturbed by the smallest noise. Tonight had been particularly restless for her due to the earlier chaos at the villa. Just hours earlier, a thief had attempted to break into their property. Although the family’s wolfhounds had chased him off, the incident had left Mrs. Du on edge. When she had gone outside to investigate, the security guards explained that the thief had fled in a car before they could apprehend him. The guards had pursued in a vehicle but found no trace of him on the highway. Adding to her frustration, they discovered that the surveillance cameras in the area where the thief had climbed the wall were conveniently out of order. The negligence of the security team had not gone unnoticed, and while Mrs. Du was furious, she held back from addressing it immediately, considering the holiday season and the staff’s situation.
Although she was short-handed, she had already decided to replace the night’s security detail after the New Year. The fact that the cameras had been broken without anyone noticing was simply unacceptable. Fortunately, the family’s wolfhounds were alert and managed to scare off the intruder. However, Mrs. Du couldn’t shake the unsettling thought of what might have occurred had the dogs not been present. Since then, she had been unable to sleep. So, when she heard soft footsteps in the hallway, she rose to investigate and discovered her daughter attempting to sneak upstairs.
“Abby?” she asked, her voice laced with concern and curiosity. Caught off guard, Abby turned to face her mother, her expression calm even as her mind raced for an explanation.