TFRLTOP Chapter 74 Part 3

His steps felt lighter on the walk back to his quarters.

He’d made up his mind — no more overthinking.

Sorry, brother, he thought, but it couldn’t be helped. You died too soon and left her all alone.

She’s too fragile to make it in this world without someone protecting her. If you really loved her, you’d understand. Better me than some creep in the safe zone.

A dark smile tugged at his lips.
Sorry, brother, I’ve never met — your wife’s mine now.

He unlocked his door… and froze.

As captain, Guan Yi’s apartment was the nicest in the base — a two-bedroom suite, fully furnished.
But now, it looked like it had been ransacked.
The once-luxurious space was stripped bare — raw and minimal like an unfinished apartment.

Before he could even process what he was seeing, Ming Ming’s head poked out from the master bedroom.

“Oh! Captain, you’re back?”

“…Why are you in my bedroom?” he asked.

Her eyes darted guiltily away.

He marched to the second bedroom and pushed open the door — the bed was gone.

His brows furrowed deeply. “Did someone come here and mess with you?”

Ming Ming waved her hands frantically. “No, no! Definitely not!”

He didn’t believe it. A defenseless girl like her, living among ability users with no one to rely on — how could she not have been bullied?

He instantly regretted leaving for so long. Regretted trying to “teach her a lesson.”

Who the hell had the nerve to harass her in his own house?

Ming Ming looked up at him with wide, sad eyes.
“You’re… sending me away, aren’t you? It’s okay. I won’t hold you back. I’m ready.”

He blinked. “Ready for what?”

Truth was, Ming Ming had been very busy these past few days.
While Guan Yi was away, she’d been moving things — bit by bit — into her storage space.
Everything useful: the table, chairs, fridge, cookware, and even the spare bed. She’d been sleeping in the master bedroom ever since.

At first, she thought it was unnecessary. Then a little more each day — maybe I’ll need this too… and that… By the time she realized it, the entire place was practically empty.

She’d even started scavenging around the base, picking up cardboard boxes and old newspapers.

When the system asked why, she’d said, “If I end up in a safe zone without blankets, these will do just fine.”

The system had gone silent.

She hadn’t expected Guan Yi to return so soon.

She’d gotten so used to the gradually emptier apartment that she didn’t even notice anymore. But for Guan Yi, coming home to find his house stripped bare — and someone apparently bullying his little widow — was infuriating.

Whoever it was, once he found them, he’d tear them to shreds.

He tried to calm himself. “No one’s sending you away.”
Then he handed her the two bottles. “Here. Brought these for you — see if you like them.”

Ming Ming eyed him suspiciously.
Why’s he being so nice all of a sudden? Is this my last meal before exile?

Still, she opened one and took a sip — and her eyes lit up.

Delicious.

Seeing her expression, Guan Yi relaxed a little. She clearly liked it.

His gaze softened, but then he remembered — she’d probably been treated badly while he was gone.
His face darkened again as he turned away, already planning to find out who was responsible.

Meanwhile, Ming Ming stared at the drinks lovingly, unwilling to waste a drop.
When he wasn’t looking, she slipped the unopened bottle into her storage space — and, tempted, started to tuck the half-empty one in too.

“Hey—” the system hissed, “maybe don’t do that right in front of him—”

Too late. Guan Yi turned around — just in time to see half a bottle vanish into thin air.

Guan Yi: “…?”

He blinked. The next second, the bottle was back, perfectly intact.

Something wasn’t right.

“Where’d you put that bottle just now?” he asked.

“In… nowhere,” Ming Ming said innocently.

“Don’t play dumb. I saw it.”

“Saw what?”

“Where’d you hide it?”

“Who says I hid it? It’s right here!” she said, holding it up.

“Bullshit! You think I’m blind? I gave you two bottles, now one’s gone. Where’d you stash it?”

“…I drank it.”

“You drank the bottle too?”

“…Yeah!”

“Yeah, my ass.”

He grabbed her under the arms and lifted her straight off the ground — giving her a little shake.

Ming Ming: “…”

She stared at him in disbelief.
“Do you think I’m some kind of loot box? Shake me and see what drops?”

The words had barely left her mouth when — thunk! — The other bottle fell to the floor.

Ming Ming: “???”

Wait. Did… did shaking actually work?!

Before she could recover, Guan Yi narrowed his eyes and shook her again.

This time, out tumbled newspapers, cardboard boxes, compressed biscuits, canned food — even sanitary pads.

“S-stop… stop shaking…” Ming Ming’s voice trembled.

But Guan Yi didn’t stop. One more shake — and out came the fridge, the chairs, and even the bed from the second room.

The table landed neatly on its legs — complete with freshly cooked dishes still sitting on top.

Unbelievable.

“Well,” Guan Yi said slowly, setting her down. “Looks like I’ve caught the base’s mysterious thief.”

He smiled thinly.
“Miss Bai He… care to give me a reasonable explanation?”