Gift

The next morning, two prison guards finally brought her out. It was only when she saw the father and son outside that she realized she had been released on bail.

“You…” Wei Xunzhou never expected that in just one night, Xia Mengge would look so haggard.

Just as he was about to speak, Xia Mengge stared at him with a numb expression and asked, “Why was I released?”

Hearing this, Wei Xunzhou’s expression stiffened slightly. After a long pause, he said, “Someone testified on your behalf, saying they saw… it was Yuntang who stole it.”

Xia Mengge continued, “Then why wasn’t Li Yuntang arrested?”

Wei Xunzhou fell silent for even longer before replying, “I mortgaged the house and bought the bracelet at triple the price, so the jewelry store stopped pursuing Yuntang’s responsibility.”

Xia Mengge was momentarily stunned, then she began to laugh. Her laughter grew louder until tears welled up in her eyes.

Wei Ming watched her cautiously, not daring to say a word, seemingly waiting for her to break down. Wei Xunzhou was the same.

But Xia Mengge said nothing and turned to leave.

Back at home, her eyes immediately caught the cake on the table. Only then did she remember—it was her birthday. How ironic that her birthday was the same day she was released from prison. Perhaps from now on, thinking of this day every year would leave her no mood to celebrate.

Yet Wei Xunzhou failed to notice her unusual demeanor. He helped her sit down and handed her a gift he had prepared long ago. “Madam, happy birthday.”

Wei Ming reluctantly handed over his gift as well, but didn’t say a single word.

Looking at the two gifts on the table, Xia Mengge chuckled softly. It was the first time she had received presents from the father and son. Her laughter grew louder and eventually turned into tears.

The two men looked at her with unease. Just as they were about to speak, Xia Mengge smiled at them and said, “Wei Xunzhou, Wei Ming, I’m glad you prepared gifts for me. I will give you a gift in return.”

“I need a moment to prepare. You two go out and wait. Come back in one minute.”

Perhaps it was to make up for the day and night she had spent locked away, or perhaps they sensed something was off with Xia Mengge today; for the first time, the father and son didn’t argue. They nodded and left the room.

As the door closed behind them, Xia Mengge slowly wiped the tears from her face. Then, she summoned the system.

“System, now. Take me home.”

Suddenly, a halo of light appeared, enveloping her completely.

“Good host, as a reward for your successful conquest, you may choose one of these rewards.”

Xia Mengge glanced at the rewards on the screen and finally chose to erase the memories of everyone except the father and son regarding her.

From now on, only these two would remember her existence; everyone else would forget. No matter whom they asked or where they searched, she would be nowhere to be found.

“Good host, exit procedure initiated. 10, 9, 8, 7…”

In an instant, a flash of white light appeared, and the place where she had been sitting was empty.

—— Time passed by, second after second.

A minute later, the door was pushed open. Wei Xunzhou and Wei Ming walked in.

Wei Ming, already impatient, pushed the door open and exclaimed, “Mom, what gift could possibly take you this long?”

But the moment he stepped inside, he froze in place.

“Mom?”

“Mom?”

Following behind, Wei Xunzhou furrowed his brow.

Looking around the empty room, Wei Xunzhou felt a terrible premonition. “Mengge, where are you?” he called out repeatedly, but there was no response.

The father and son exchanged a glance and saw panic reflected in each other’s eyes.

Before leaving, they had clearly seen Xia Mengge sitting at the table. Now, the house was utterly empty.

“Dad, could Mom be playing hide-and-seek with us? Maybe this is the gift she was talking about.”

“We’re grown-ups, and you want to play such childish games?” Wei Ming scoffed, then went to search the bedroom.

After turning the whole house upside down, there was still no sign of Xia Mengge.

The disdain in his eyes instantly turned to panic.

After all, Wei Ming was still just a child. Seeing someone vanish into thin air, he couldn’t help but cry out in fear.

“Dad, where’s Mom? Where did she go?” he asked, growing more frightened as he clung tightly to the man’s arm.

Wei Xunzhou’s unease deepened, but he remained much calmer than the child.

He refused to believe that anyone could disappear out of nowhere, assuming it was just a prank by Xia Mengge.

“Xia Mengge, stop hiding and come out! You’re scaring the kid.”

He called out as he walked toward the window in the back room, but it was tightly shut with no sign anyone had escaped.

“Xia Mengge, where are you!?” Wei Xunzhou finally panicked completely, rushing out the door and shouting her name everywhere.

No matter how loudly he called, there was no answer—only curious neighbors peeking out to see what was happening.