Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

Fortunately, through Wakaba Mu's attitude and reaction, Kujo Renji quickly determined a key piece of information:

Mortis's "betrayal" seems to have not been discovered by Wakaba Mutsu.

Although Wakaba Mu's attitude towards him was wary and nervous, he did not show any suspicion or anger towards Mortis.

This means she was most likely unaware that Mortis had secretly allied himself with him.

It's more likely that memories aren't fully shared between Ruoyemu and Mortis, or at least that they can be selectively blocked under certain circumstances. This is exactly what Mortis said before, and now it's been further confirmed.

This discovery was crucial to his plan.

If Wakaba Mutsuki cannot access Mortis's memories, then Mortis can become the perfect spy for him in Wakaba Mutsuki's mental world, and Wakaba Mutsuki knows nothing about it.

Silence stretched between the two of them, the only sounds in the room being the ticking of the clock and the faint noise of traffic in the distance.

Finally, Ruoye Mu broke the silence. Her voice remained calm, but there was a hint of determination in her eyes.

"So, who are you?" she asked, without any emotion, as if she was just asking about the weather.

Jiujo Renji admired her calm demeanor. Knowing she was at a disadvantage, Ruoye Mu didn't panic or lose her temper, choosing instead to face the situation head-on. Such composure was rare among her peers.

"Interesting question." Kujo Renji smiled and did not answer the question directly. Instead, he asked, "Who do you think I am?"

Wakaba Mutsu stared at Kujo Renji quietly.

"You're not Xiaoxiang." Finally, she simply stated, "At least not completely."

Kujo Renji nodded, acknowledging her insight.

If Ye Mu is indeed extraordinary, her perception and analytical abilities far exceed those of ordinary people. No wonder she was able to detect the subtle changes after he took over Toyokawa Shoko's body.

"So, where is Xiaoxiang?"

Ruoye Mu finally asked the most crucial question, her voice still calm, but Kujo Renji could see her nervousness and fear from her slightly tense body and slightly trembling fingertips.

Jiujo Renji could sense that Ruoye Mu was afraid of him and his answer, but she still bravely asked the question. This courage made her more valuable in his eyes.

He stared into Ruoye Mu's eyes, and the corners of his mouth slowly rose.

"Xiaoxiang is dead."

His voice was emotionless, as if declaring an objective fact:

"Now, I am Toyokawa Shoko."

"You're the one who died!"

Toyokawa Shoko was furious

"Xiao Mu, don't believe him!"

In her mind, Shoko Toyokawa tried to wave in front of Wakaba Mutsu to interrupt Renji Kujo's words.

It's a pity that everything is in vain.

Wakaba Mu's reaction was even stronger than Kujo Renji had anticipated. Her face instantly turned pale, and a trace of pain and shock flashed in her golden eyes. Her body began to tremble slightly, and her breathing became rapid and erratic.

That calm mask cracked at this moment, revealing the true and strong emotions in his heart.

Seeing Wakaba Mu almost collapsed, Kujo Renji knew that he had hit her most vulnerable spot.

Wakaba Mutsu's feelings for Toyokawa Shoko were much deeper than he had imagined.

"Okay, I lied to you..."

Looking at the rapidly decreasing accuracy above his field of vision, he suddenly changed his tone, his voice becoming softer and more soothing:

"Xiaoxiang's current condition is the same as Mortis in your body."

Wakaba Mu's breathing calmed down a little, but her eyes were still full of vigilance and distrust, as if she was facing a dangerous predator.

Kujo Renji walked forward slowly, shortening the distance between them.

He noticed that Wakaba Mutsu subconsciously took a small step back, but forced himself to stop.

"Like her, I was born from the deepest desires of my heart."

“Ave mujica...”

Jiujo Renji's voice was gentle and magnetic:

"It has always been what Xiaoxiang values ​​most."

He paused, looked into the girl's eyes, and let these words sink into Wakaba Mu's heart:

"At least now, we are a community with a shared future."

Ruo Ye Mu did not respond, but just looked at him quietly, with the vigilance in his eyes not diminished at all.

"You want to protect Xiaoxiang, right?"

Kujo Renji continued, his voice like a devil's whisper:

"You want her to come back?"

These words pierced Wakaba Mu's heart like hooks.

She remained silent, but her slightly trembling hands revealed her inner turmoil.

"Then we can cooperate."

Jiujo Liansi coaxed her with a more alluring tone, "I won't hurt Xiaoxiang, as long as you are willing to help me."

A hint of hesitation flashed across Ruoye Mu's eyes, but then he returned to his calm indifference.

Her lips were pressed into a thin line, as if she was trying hard not to blurt out something.

Kujo Renji knew that she needed stronger stimulation, so he took action directly.

"You don't want anything to happen to Xiangzi, do you, Xiaomu?"

His voice suddenly turned cold, carrying an invisible threat.

This line, which has appeared in many "film and television dramas", was like the last straw, completely breaking Wakaba Mu's psychological defenses.

Her eyes widened instantly, and a trace of naked fear flashed across her usually expressionless face.

Hearing this, the girl struggled a little, but after a moment, she made her choice.

"Just don't let Xiaoxiang disappear..."

Ruoye Mu almost whispered, his voice so soft that it was almost inaudible.

"I'm willing to do anything."

Her expression remained calm, almost wooden, but her golden eyes were filled with bottomless pain and determination.

This contrast makes her look more like a delicate doll, forced to make the heaviest of promises.

Jiujo Renji looked at Ruoye Mu and felt a strange sense of satisfaction in his heart.

This girl, who is usually taciturn and hardly expresses emotions, finally showed such a strong reaction when the safety of Toyokawa Shoko was at stake.

This pure and profound emotional connection is the most powerful tool he can use.

Ruoye Mu has already fallen into his control, and he doesn't even need too much coercion or inducement. Just the name of Toyokawa Shoko is enough to make her surrender.

"very good."

Jiujo Renji nodded with satisfaction, and his voice became gentle again:

"Don't worry, Xiaoxiang will be fine as long as you cooperate."

She took a step forward, gently held Ruoye Mu's head in her arms, and gently stroked her hair with one hand.

This sudden movement made Ruoye Mu's whole body stiff, but she did not struggle, as if she had lost the strength to resist.

"It's okay, Xiao Mu." His voice was as gentle as flowing water, with an almost hypnotic rhythm: "You did well, very brave."

This simple affirmation stirred up strange waves in Ruoye Mu's heart.

She was used to silence, used to being ignored, and used to standing in the shadow of her parents.

And now, someone directly affirmed her value and her existence - even if that person was the instigator of the threat to her.

"Xiaoxiang will be proud of you too." Jiujo Liansi continued to whisper, deliberately mentioning the person Ruoye Mu cared about the most: "In order to protect her, you are willing to take on all this. This courage is worthy of respect."

Ruo Ye Mu's breathing trembled slightly, and these words penetrated into her cold heart like warm sunshine.

She had never received such direct recognition and praise from others, especially regarding her protection of Toyokawa Shoko.

"I know you're scared..."

Jiujo Renji's voice was deep and magnetic:

"The fear of losing her, the fear of being powerless. But now, you are no longer alone. Together we can protect her, together we can defend Ave Mujica."

He accurately touched upon Wakaba Mu's deepest fears and desires—the desire for a sense of existence, the hunger for recognition, and most importantly, the sense of security of not being abandoned.

When people are in a state of extreme emotional fluctuation, their psychological defenses are often the most vulnerable.

This is a phenomenon that has been repeatedly verified by psychology: when a person experiences intense fear, sadness, or helplessness, their judgment will be significantly reduced and they will be more susceptible to external influences. Especially when the threat suddenly turns into a comforter, this contrast will produce a stronger psychological impact.

This is the psychological basis of the so-called "Stockholm Syndrome" - when the victim suddenly receives gentle treatment from the perpetrator after extreme fear, this contrast will establish a distorted dependent relationship in a short period of time.

The brain interprets this sudden tenderness as a "safety signal," prompting the victim to unconsciously cling to the perpetrator.

Wakaba Mu is experiencing this complex psychological change.

Her reason told her that she should be vigilant, and that the existence that occupied Toyokawa Shoko's body was dangerous; but her emotions were eager to grasp this life-saving straw in front of her, eager to believe what Kujo Renji said, and eager to believe that she no longer had to bear it all alone.

"You don't have to face all this alone anymore..." Kujo Renji said softly, his fingers gently combing her hair: "You have already taken on too much alone. Now, let me help you."

Wakaba Mu felt a strange sense of relief, a feeling that made her both confused and frightened.

She should have been wary of the invader who had taken over Toyokawa Shoko's body, so why did she feel so calm in his arms?

Her heart was full of contradictions - vigilance and peace of mind intertwined, fear and greed coexisting.

Part of her wanted to push Kujo Renji away, but another part of her wanted to indulge in the feeling of being understood and recognized.

The most terrifying thing was that she found herself looking forward to his touch, his comfort, and his approval.

This feeling made her fall into deep self-loathing - how could she have become dependent on someone who hurt Xiaoxiang? How could she be so easily moved by a few words?

"I..." Ruo Yemu said softly, his voice trembling slightly: "I shouldn't..."

She couldn't finish the sentence, the feeling of self-loathing surged into her heart like a tide, almost suffocating her.

She felt so weak, so easily manipulated, so vulnerable.

Ruo Ye Mu closed her eyes and let Jiujo Renji's fingers stroke her hair. The resistance in her heart gradually decreased, and her self-loathing also melted away with the caress.

She told herself that all this was for Shoko Toyokawa, and to protect the person most important to her.

But deep down, she knew she was falling, surrendering to this dangerous being.

In this brief embrace, Ruo Yemu felt an unprecedented contradictory feeling - she hated her own weaknesses, but also longed for the warmth of being understood; she was afraid of the unknown fate, but also had a strange sense of relief, because she no longer had to face everything alone.

This complex emotion churned beneath her calm exterior, dragging her into a vortex of self-doubt and self-loathing. Meanwhile, Kujo Renji quietly admired this psychological breakdown, watching with satisfaction as his prey fell into his carefully designed trap step by step.

On the other side, Shoko Toyokawa was watching all this with mixed feelings.

He looks like a victim of NTR.

.....

When Kujo Renji and Wakaba Mutsu returned to the hotel lobby, the other members were already waiting there.

Sankaku Hatsuka waved excitedly, while Hachiman Kairei stood quietly by, surrounded by shopping bags.

The most surprising thing was the appearance of the usually calm and self-contained Hachiman Kailing at this moment: her arms were almost filled with all kinds of bags and boxes, some of which were printed with the logos of well-known brands, while others were packaging from local specialty shops.

Even though she was carrying such a heavy load, her expression remained calm, as if these items had nothing to do with her.

"Hailing, you bought a lot of things."

Sanjiao Chuhua widened his eyes in surprise.

Hachiman Kairei gave her a blank look and said, "Just some necessities and souvenirs."

She replied calmly, without any hint of explanation in her tone.

Sanjiao Chuhua pointed to a bag with the logo of a high-end chocolate shop and asked in confusion, "Is this also a necessity?"

"Yes." Hachiman Kairei answered briefly and firmly, not intending to explain her shopping list further.

Yutenji Wakamushi stood aside, holding only a small paper bag in her hand, in stark contrast to Hachiman Kairei.