Jane Sterling didn't want to blow her cover in front of Drew Thorne, so she resisted the urge to speak to Luna Nash.
She just shot her a look.
Just then, Luna Nash was busy looking Drew Thorne up and down, admiring his exquisite, model-like face. She couldn't resist blowing a puff of air at his neck.
"WHOOSH~"
Drew Thorne felt a chill on the back of his neck. He frowned and reached up to touch it.
Jane Sterling jumped and frantically waved at Luna Nash.
"Don't..."
She whispered, but Drew Thorne still noticed.
"What did you say?"
Jane Sterling quickly lowered her hand.
"Nothing, nothing."
While Drew Thorne wasn't looking, she shot Luna Nash another look.
But Luna Nash was clearly in a mischievous mood.
"You two seem so familiar with each other. This can't be the first time you've met, right? He's the one and only Drew Thorne! Not bad, girl! To think you could snag such a big shot. So you're his type, huh..."
Luna Nash stroked her chin, clucking her tongue.
Jane Sterling raised an eyebrow, tilting her head in confusion.
Luna Nash answered her own unasked question.
"He and my dad go way back. He's considered a mysterious figure in high society."
"You know how it is. Most men who've reached his level of success are either balding old guys or unreliable playboys and rich heirs."
"That makes Drew Thorne a rare gem. Tons of heiresses and socialites are crazy about him and try to get his attention, but he's coldly rejected every single one of them."
"And can you guess why he rejected them?"
Jane Sterling just looked at her quietly and raised an eyebrow.
Luna Nash knew she wouldn't answer, so she continued on her own.
"He said, 'I'm not interested in flashy women like you. Don't waste your time on me.'"
Luna Nash even started imitating Drew Thorne's expression and gestures from that day.
Seeing Luna Nash's imitation, which was about thirty percent accurate and seventy percent ridiculous, Jane Sterling couldn't help but cover her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Drew Thorne glanced back at her, looking baffled. Jane Sterling immediately wiped the smile from her face and put on a serious expression.
"I was standing right near him at the time. The second he said it, the faces of all those socialites and heiresses just fell. They ran out crying, covering their faces!"
"For a while, there were even rumors that he didn't like women at all, that he might be into men. Everyone actually thought he was asexual or something."
Luna Nash playfully tilted Jane Sterling's chin up with her finger.
"But it turns out he's just into you..."
Jane Sterling swatted at her hand in annoyance, but her own hand passed right through Luna's ghostly form. She just rolled her eyes at her instead.
'At most, Drew Thorne and I are strangers who've met three times,' Jane Sterling thought.
'We're completely unrelated. All I know is that he's a private detective with a grandfather named Jasper Thorne; otherwise, I know nothing about him.'
'So how did that turn into some kind of romantic entanglement in Luna's telling?'
'Right now, I really want to pry her head open to see if it's filled with nothing but mush.'
The elevator finally arrived after a long wait. Without saying goodbye to Drew Thorne, Jane Sterling simply pulled out her large black umbrella and opened it.
Luna Nash obediently huddled under the black umbrella with her.
Drew Thorne stood at the entrance of Aethelgard Tower, watching Jane Sterling walk away.
His gaze fell on the large black umbrella sheltering her, and a playful smile touched his lips.
Back at the shipping hub, Jane Sterling clapped her hands together.
She glanced at Luna Nash, who was idly examining her nails.
"Now that your family's issue is taken care of, let's order some food. Then we'll go deal with your problem."
Luna Nash froze, staring at her blankly.
"My problem?"
Jane Sterling nodded. "Yes. You don't want to stay like this forever, do you?"
Just then, Bianca's informative voice chimed in inside Jane Sterling's head.
"Host, listen closely. This system will now explain some things to you, regarding situations like Luna Nash's."
"According to the scientific explanation in your human world, severe trauma caused her consciousness to separate from her body. Her brain failed to integrate her body's position with her spatial self-awareness, leading it to misidentify her own location."
"In layman's terms, her soul has left her body. You just need to use a Soul Revival Talisman to smack it back in."
"Once your abilities grow stronger, I will teach you some Mystic Skills. Then, you'll be able to forgo talismans and use your own power to return these souls to their bodies."
As it spoke, the mental image of Bianca's small hands seemed to be flipping through something as it muttered.
"Hmm... let me check... Yes, you can send this one back. Her allotted time isn't up yet."
Jane Sterling watched its little hands continuously flipping through something and grew curious.
"What are you looking at?"
Bianca pursed its lips and said coolly.
"The Book of Life and Death."
The Book of Life and Death?!
Jane Sterling got excited when she heard that.
"Is that the legendary Book of Life and Death from the King of Hell?"
Bianca shot her an annoyed look.
"Seriously, could you please read less of that trashy fiction?"
"The Book of Life and Death is basically the equivalent of a top-secret file in a library in human society."
"Anyone who needs it can apply for access through the proper channels. It's not like only the King of Hell has a copy."
"However, I only have viewing privileges, not editing rights."
Jane Sterling was thoughtful. She was really learning a lot.
But at the same time, a new thought struck her, and she grew excited again.
"Does that mean I won't have to spend 300,000 M Coins on a Soul Revival Talisman every time? I can save money?!"
Jane Sterling was thrilled at the thought.
After all, the money she had now was all she had. Once it was gone, it was gone.
"So pathetic..."
Bianca shot her a disdainful glance.
Jane Sterling ordered some simple takeout. After she finished eating, she grabbed the black umbrella and headed out.
The two of them went to a hospital together.
As she approached the door to Luna Nash's hospital room, Jane Sterling was stunned to see four bodyguards standing guard.
"Whoa! Quite the entourage!"
Jane Sterling teased. Luna Nash scratched her head, embarrassed.
"Sorry, it's a bit much," she said, looking sheepish. "My grandmother must have arranged it."
At the mention of her grandmother, a gentle look filled Luna Nash's eyes.
"My grandmother spoils me the most. Even when my father's mistress and her two illegitimate sons moved into the house..."
"...my grandmother never gave me an ounce less of her affection. She's always been just as good to me. She truly loves me."
"In fact, when she saw my dad bring that woman home, she got so angry she almost landed in the ICU. Ever since then, she's been cold and distant with him."
"She even moved out of our family mansion and went to live in a small house in the suburbs of Aethelgard. She probably heard I was hurt and rushed back to look after me."
At this, Luna Nash sighed deeply.
She led Jane Sterling toward the hospital room, but just as they were about to reach it, a woman bumped hard into Jane from behind.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry, miss. Are you all right?"
Jane Sterling looked at the woman, who had sharp features but a clearly anxious expression, and shook her head.
"I'm fine."
"Oh, good. I'm terribly sorry, miss. I'm in a rush!"
With that, the woman walked straight up to the four bodyguards, said something to them, and then rushed into the hospital room.