C4 Is It Not Good to be a Blacklisted Citizen?

Who would be known by a mere number?

Leh Jiu's eyes, bright and black, brimmed with sincerity as she confessed, "I don't have a name, nor do I remember what it might be. They all refer to me as No.9."

Then it struck her—Leh Jiu did recall one thing: she seemed to have the surname Li.

But her given name?

It was like a nagging headache; she just couldn't recall it.

Upon hearing this, Si Nanzhi's gaze briefly betrayed his astonishment; such an outcome was unexpected.

Pondering for a moment, Leh Jiu spoke up again, "My surname is Li. Perhaps you could call me Leh Jiu?"

She remembered being told that politeness was important, that kindness should be reciprocated.

He had shared his name; it was only right that she share hers.

The name Leh Jiu was quite good—memorable and straightforward.

It seemed he had stumbled upon a little kitten without a memory.

Leh Jiu.

"Little one, from now on, you'll be known as Jiu," he declared.

Si Nanzhi infused the name Jiu with a tender undertone.

Jiu, Jiu.

The sound resonated, delightful and melodious.

Leh Jiu blinked her glossy, jet-black eyes, her pale cheeks slowly warming to a soft blush, delicate and fresh as if brushed with rouge.

What was this feeling? Why were her ears tingling?

Leh Jiu believed she was discreetly scratching her ears, yet her small gestures were as transparent as a child sneaking sweets, amusingly obvious.

During those three years in the lab, the term Jiu had been a cold, mechanical label. Each time she heard it, Leh Jiu couldn't help but shiver uncontrollably.

The name signified the dreaded days of injections—days shrouded in darkness and fear.

But Si Nanzhi was different. The word 'nine' spoken from his lips warmed Leh Jiu from the inside.

His voice had a current, and she felt electrified.

"Could you call me that again?" she asked, her eyes filled with hope and a careful sincerity.

Si Nanzhi's eyes narrowed playfully, his lips curving into a knowing smirk, "Call what?"

"My name."

She longed to hear him call her Jiu once more.

Si Nanzhi gently grasped her chin, leaning in close with a mischievous tone, "Call me 'brother,' and I will."

As soon as he finished speaking, Leh Jiu's soft voice rang out, "Nanzhi."

"..."

With deep-set eyes, Si Nanzhi abruptly straightened up, feeling as though she was toxic.

Otherwise, why would half of his body be numb?

Leh Jiu noticed his sudden change in expression, which was quite frightening.

She shrank back, asking timidly, "Did I get it wrong?"

The darkness lifted, and Si Nanzhi, massaging his numb fingertips, licked the corner of his lips. His smile was wickedly charming as he enticed her, "No mistake, Jiu. You'll call me that from now on."

If she liked it, why did she look so startled?

But she did get to hear Si Nanzhi call her Jiu, which thrilled her every time.

In the silent bedroom, a rumbling sound suddenly broke the quiet.

Leh Jiu's face flushed with embarrassment as she clutched her grumbling stomach; she hadn't eaten all day.

Her eyes, glossy with hunger, fixed on Si Nanzhi unblinkingly as she pleaded, "Nanzhi, I'm hungry."

The little thing was not just pretty; her voice was so enticing it sent shivers down his spine.

He had stumbled upon a gem, and he couldn't let her starve.

"Let's go downstairs to eat."

At his words, Leh Jiu's face brightened with delight. She bounced off the bed and scurried to get ready to leave.

Si Nanzhi's gaze landed on her, and his expression darkened as he commanded, "Stop right there!"

Startled, Leh Jiu shivered to a halt, turning back to look at him with a forlorn expression. "What's wrong?"

"You're planning to go to dinner in that dress?"

Leh Jiu's dress had been twisted into a rag by Si Nanzhi, tattered and revealing her long, slender legs that glowed with a dazzling whiteness.

Who was she trying to allure?

Looking down, Leh Jiu also noticed the sorry state of her clothes, barely covering her thighs.

She muttered under her breath; after all, this was his handiwork.

But at least she was only changing her clothes, not being denied a meal.

Leh Jiu picked up the outfit prepared by the maid and headed into the bathroom.

Si Nanzhi exited the bedroom first.

Outside, Lu Xing waited, shifting his gaze from the firmly shut bathroom door. "Young Master," he began, "this woman appeared out of nowhere at the scene of your incident and now she's lost her memory. Could that be a problem? Perhaps I should look into her background before you decide to keep her close."

Considering the numerous threats to Si Nanzhi's life, Lu Xing couldn't ignore such external factors.

The sudden emergence of Leh Jiu triggered a thought in Lu Xing's mind — a honey trap.

Previously, Lu Xing hadn't been concerned.

But now...

Si Nanzhi dismissed the idea, "No need."

There it was.

Clearly, he was captivated by her charm.

Well, it was about time the young master showed interest in a woman; the matriarch could finally stop fretting over his sexual orientation.

Lu Xing suggested, "Should I arrange a new identity for the lady? Without proper identification, she'll have difficulties going out."

"There's no need."

Why bother with a new identity when being unregistered had its perks?

This way, she would have to stay put, unable to leave.

"…"

What was he implying?

Was he planning on keeping her like a pet canary?

Young Master, since when did your tastes become so eccentric?