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  • Dear, it’s time for your medicine! 66

    Chapter 66: I Don’t Like Wearing Someone Else’s Hat

    This wasn’t succumbing to desire, Ekaterina told herself. This was to make the Hero stronger. This was for Jie Luo, for the sake of the world. She had to offer herself to Qin Chu for the greater good.

    She clung to this flimsy justification, desperately trying to preserve her fragile self-respect.

    But Qin Chu, malicious and calculating, intended to shatter her completely. At least in his presence, her pride was irrelevant.

    His smile vanished as he looked at her.

    Her position, leaning against him, brought their lips almost close enough to touch.

    “Lady Ekaterina,” he said, his voice cold and distant, “could you move away?”

    “You’re disrupting my cultivation.”

    Ekaterina’s face paled. She had gone so far, only to be met with his icy rejection.

    She stared at him, her eyes wide with confusion, then slowly released her hold on his neck and stepped back, her face ashen, her body trembling with shame and anger.

    She had offered herself, only to be cruelly rebuffed.

    It was as if her body was nothing but worthless trash.

    Her pride, her dignity, lay shattered.

    She couldn’t understand this sudden shift in his demeanor. The man who had been so gentle, so… enamored… was now cold and distant, his demeanor frighteningly different.

    “I apologize if my words were harsh,” Qin Chu said, his expression softening slightly. “But your presence is hindering my progress…”

    “But… you said… you broke through to the second layer after… after last night…” she mumbled, her voice barely audible. “I thought… maybe… it could help you advance even further…”

    Qin Chu stood up, walking towards her. He lifted a strand of her crimson hair, his fingers brushing against her cheek. “Lady Ekaterina, don’t devalue yourself… your body… It’s precious, isn’t it?”

    His fingers traced the delicate curve of her jaw, then moved lower, exploring the smooth skin of her neck, her collarbone, her waist, her legs… His touch, lingering and possessive, seemed to caress every inch of her. But his words contradicted his actions.

    “And besides, I’m not that kind of person,” he said, his voice a soft rumble.

    His words and actions were at odds. His touch, rough and possessive, sent shivers down her spine.

    “Last night was… an accident. But we’re both sober now. I can’t… I can’t be intimate with a woman who calls out another man’s name,” he said, his voice flat. “It feels like… wearing someone else’s hat. You know I don’t like that.”

    Wearing a hat? What did that even mean?

    But Ekaterina didn’t have time to ponder his words. Jie Luo’s name, echoing in her mind, filled her with shame.

    She had betrayed Jie Luo, betrayed Qin Chu, betrayed herself.

    She couldn’t understand how she had become this… this… creature… She loathed herself.

    “If one day… you truly forget Jie Luo… then come find me,” Qin Chu said, his gaze unwavering.

    “I… I need some air.”

    He withdrew his hand, turning away from her, walking away without a backward glance.

    This was the “silent treatment,” leaving her hanging, her emotions raw and exposed.

    He would break her, crush her pride, make her beg for his attention, make her obey his every command like a pet.

    Ekaterina, watching him leave, collapsed onto the ground, her body trembling.

    Sadness, pain, hatred, disgust, shame, longing… a torrent of emotions overwhelmed her. Tears streamed down her face.

    She had never felt so humiliated.

    But what frightened her even more was her own body, the aching emptiness within her…

    She hugged herself, her face a mask of despair… Forget Jie Luo?

    No, she couldn’t. She wouldn’t. He was her only light, her only hope. Without him, her life would be consumed by darkness.

    But no matter how hard she tried, his image in her mind blurred, fading with each passing moment.

    Qin Chu’s image, however, grew sharper, more vivid.

    She was falling for him. The more distant he became, the stronger her feelings grew.

    Her love was shifting, transferring…

    Outside the training grounds, Qin Chu stretched, enjoying the warmth of the setting sun on his face.

    A sly smile curved his lips. It was a shame to leave Ekaterina like that, but he could be patient. He knew what was important.

    “Lady Lena Martithes,” he said, his smile now bright and cheerful, “I’m heading out. Would you care to join me?”

    Lena Martithes, having heard the rumors, despite the Pope’s order for silence, looked at him with sympathy. For the Hero to be… violated… by a drunken Valkyrie… it was a terrible humiliation. She felt she should offer him some comfort, some distraction.

    “Of course,” she said, her boisterous personality similar to Ekaterina’s. She slapped him on the back, her grin wide. “Where are we drinking, brother? I’m buying!”

    They had become quite close over the past few days. He didn’t mind her casual demeanor.

    Her lieutenant, however, paled, frantically signaling for her to show some restraint. Such disrespect towards the Hero!

    “Hmm… let’s go to… The Witch’s Hearth,” Qin Chu said.

    The Witch’s Hearth was Candice’s tavern.

    The name, referencing witches, wouldn’t arouse suspicion of any connection to Demons. After all, Demons lurking within the city wouldn’t be so brazen.

    And the tavern’s menu featured… unusual… drinks, such as “Witch’s Heart,” “Witch’s Blood,” “Witch’s Hair,” and “Witch’s Eye”…

    “Isn’t that in the slums? Why go there?” Lena Martithes asked, her brow furrowed. “There are plenty of taverns in the noble district, with better quality and service…”

    “Well… the glasses in the noble district are too small…”

    Lena Martithes, ignoring her lieutenant’s frantic signals, laughed, slapping his back again. “I see, brother. You have good taste! I hate those tiny glasses they use in the noble district. They ruin the experience.”

    Please, stop hitting me, it hurts.

    She, eager for a night of drinking and camaraderie, dragged him towards The Witch’s Hearth.

    Though she resembled Ekaterina in temperament, Qin Chu knew that, at their core, they were different.

    Lena Martithes was genuine, her heart pure. Her only desire was to restore peace to the Heavenly Continent. She would gladly sacrifice her life to protect him. And now, she just wanted to drown his sorrows in alcohol.

    He felt a pang of guilt for exploiting her kindness.

    After all, he wasn’t going there to drink. He needed information from Candice.

    Lomond, the Eternal Monarch’s seventh son, should be on the move by now.

    Benson, though powerful, was no match for Lomond, especially not alone. Lomond had an army at his disposal.

    But Benson’s defenses were formidable. He could hold out for a while. And when he realized he was outmatched, he would contact Loseweisse for support. He might not be a mage, but he carried a variety of magic scrolls.

    Most powerful and wealthy individuals kept a supply of scrolls for emergencies: communication scrolls, healing scrolls, etc.

    Qin Chu needed to follow Benson, to steal his Ability. False Absolute Defense… it was a tempting prize.

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 70

    Chapter 70: Fate’s Intertwining, Stepping into a Maiden’s Chamber

    The evil ghost in the old mansion was gone, the lingering Yin energy dispersed.

    Lin Tianlu glanced at the translucent figures of the martial artists, who bowed to him in gratitude before turning into wisps of smoke and fading away.

    He returned the gesture, a sigh escaping his lips.

    Whether young or old, skilled or not, these men had been righteous warriors, their hearts filled with courage. They had come here to protect the innocent, regardless of their motives.

    Their tragic deaths were a reminder of the dangers of this world.

    “Brother Guo, we only met two days ago, but we connected like old friends. Allow me to offer you this last drink.”

    Mei Hong’an poured some wine onto the ground, his expression solemn as he bowed, bidding farewell to his deceased companion.

    “…”

    As the last of the souls departed, Lin Tianlu turned to leave.

    “Master, wait!” Mei Hong’an called out, putting away his flask.

    “Is there something else?”

    “Could I… become your disciple?!”

    Mei Hong’an bowed deeply. “Your Diamond Finger Kung Fu is truly powerful and awe-inspiring! I long to learn it!”

    Lin Tianlu chuckled. “There’s no such thing as Diamond Finger Kung Fu. I was just making things up.”

    And that “Golden Touch” nonsense… it was all a joke.

    “But your cultivation is so profound, Master. You defeated that terrifying creature with ease. Even if you just taught me a single move, I would be eternally grateful—”

    “I already have too many disciples. Please, keep your offer.”

    Lin Tianlu waved his hand dismissively and left the mansion.

    He wouldn’t take on a disciple so casually.

    Besides, he had other matters to attend to.

    But…

    “That ghost is gone, brother.”

    Lin Tianlu turned around, a hint of amusement in his voice. “You can go home now. There’s no need to follow me.”

    Ever since they left that nameless mansion, this burly man had been trailing behind him, his face filled with fear.

    His imposing features and his timid demeanor were a strange combination.

    Mei Hong’an shuddered and chuckled nervously, bowing. “Sir, please forgive my rudeness. It’s not that I’m a coward, but that ghost was truly… terrifying!

    I wouldn’t dare to walk alone on this deserted road at night.”

    Lin Tianlu sighed. “I’ll teach you a technique that will banish your fear.”

    “Please, Master, tell me!”

    Mei Hong’an’s eyes lit up with hope.

    Lin Tianlu cleared his throat and shouted towards the distance, “There’s someone here!”

    “Huh?”

    Mei Hong’an was confused.

    He looked back.

    Three night watchmen, carrying heavy wooden staffs, were running towards them.

    “Halt! Who goes there?!”

    “Wandering the streets after curfew! By order of the county magistrate, you’ll receive thirty lashes! Get down on the ground and accept your punishment!”

    “W-wait, I’m here to fight evil—”

    Before he could finish speaking, he was pinned to the ground by two of the men, their staffs raised high.

    Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!

    “M-Master, help me! Eh?”

    Mei Hong’an’s eyes widened.

    Lin Tianlu was gone.

    “Wait, did you see another man with me…? Ah! Stop hitting me!”

    “Another man?”

    The three night watchmen looked at each other, their expressions strange. “You’re the only one here. There’s no one else. Are you trying to trick us?! Beat him harder!”

    Lin Tianlu glanced back, chuckling softly, then continued on his way.

    Thirty lashes would be a good lesson for this reckless warrior.

    Wandering around alone at night was dangerous, even for a skilled martial artist. If he hadn’t intervened, this man would have already joined his dead companion.

    This punishment would teach him a valuable lesson.

    Before worrying about those scary ghosts, he should first consider the strength of those wooden staffs.

    As for now…

    He walked through the silent streets, soon reaching his destination.

    The Spring Surge Workshop.

    The brothel’s doors were closed at this hour.

    But a faint Yin energy emanated from the building, making the air around it feel cold and eerie.

    “Sneaking into a brothel at night… this could ruin my reputation.”

    Lin Tianlu rubbed his chin, muttering to himself. “Should I cover my face so no one recognizes me?”

    But he didn’t know anyone in Ganchang Village. It probably wouldn’t be a problem.

    “Forget it, that would make me look like a thief.”

    He shook his head with a chuckle and, without further hesitation, jumped over the wall.

    Looking around, he noticed the elegant decorations and spacious courtyard.

    As he entered the building, he was greeted by a lavish interior, adorned with silk curtains and beaded drapes. The red stage in the main hall was particularly striking, seemingly designed to highlight the beauty of the performers.

    “This Spring Surge Workshop has put a lot of effort into their ambiance.”

    He could faintly hear the sound of a xiao flute.

    Lin Tianlu followed the sound, his brows furrowing slightly as he noticed the Yin energy emanating from the upper floors.

    He ascended the stairs, taking advantage of the late hour when everyone was asleep.

    “On the top floor… It’s the woman I saw earlier.”

    He reached a room at the end of the hallway.

    As he was about to knock, the door opened silently, a creaking sound that echoed through the quiet night, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

    Lin Tianlu was startled, then chuckled softly.

    It seemed that the occupant was expecting him tonight and had even prepared a “welcome.”

    “I apologize for intruding upon you so late, Miss.”

    He stepped inside and bowed slightly.

    Bang!

    The door slammed shut behind him, and a chilling wind swept through the room.

    “Hehe~”

    A soft, seductive chuckle echoed through the air.

    Lin Tianlu turned his head and saw that the room was larger than he had expected, divided by screens and draped with gauzy curtains that fluttered in the night breeze. A woman’s figure was faintly visible behind the curtains. It was the beauty he had seen at the restaurant.

    But unlike before, when she had been clad only in a silk robe, she was now dressed in an elegant green dress, a thin shawl draped over her shoulders, her black hair styled in a bun with a golden hairpin. She looked refined and dignified, but her attire still couldn’t hide her alluring curves, her figure accentuated by the moonlight.

    She put down the jade xiao flute she had been playing, turned to look at him, and smiled faintly.

    She sat down gracefully in front of a guqin, her slender fingers plucking the strings, creating a sound like rippling water.

    “I didn’t expect to meet someone as extraordinary as you in this remote place, Sir. It’s truly my fortune.”

    Her voice was soft and ethereal, with a hint of seductive charm.

    Lin Tianlu bowed respectfully. “I also didn’t expect to encounter a… female ghost in this small village.”

    The music stopped abruptly.

    The woman behind the curtains said softly, “You already knew my true nature when we met earlier, Sir?”

    “Such a strong Yin aura, only a ghost could possess it.”

    Lin Tianlu smiled. “And the brothel is filled with Yin energy, even woven into a subtle spell formation to cloud the minds of the guests. It’s all quite clear to me.”

    “Since you already know, there’s no need for explanations, Sir.”

    The woman chuckled seductively.

    Before Lin Tianlu could speak, the music resumed, its tempo quickening.

    “Since I allowed you to enter so easily, Sir, I’ve naturally made preparations.

    You seem to be just a scholar, although with some unusual abilities. But I wonder… have you ever experienced true pleasure?”

    Zheng—

    The sound of the guqin echoed through the air, and the room seemed to ripple like water.

    Chilling Yin energy condensed into threads, weaving a strange and seductive illusion around him.

    Unlike Xiao Lanzhu’s crude and superficial techniques, this woman’s approach was far more subtle and insidious, targeting his mind and soul.

    Those with weak willpower, even those with great strength, might succumb to this strange Yin energy without even seeing her beautiful face, their minds slowly poisoned and controlled.

    —This is quite interesting.

    Lin Tianlu observed the illusion with a thoughtful expression.

    After a moment, he casually pulled up a chair, sat down, and grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from a nearby bowl.

    The music was quite good. He would enjoy it for a while longer.

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 95

    Chapter 95: Adele’s Apology

    “You bad dog… bad dog!” Adele picked up the messy skirts and clothes from the bed and threw them at Celeste, who had already gotten out of bed, venting the shame she felt in hindsight.

    But what harm could it do to hit the girl’s plump and slender body?

    It was nothing more than a playful act of coquetry.

    A look of “satisfaction” appeared on Celeste’s face.

    At the same time, she looked at her Master with gentle, forgiving eyes.

    It was this look of hers that… made Adele angry!

    A smug look, as if she wanted everyone to know what she had done.

    Did it feel good?

    Did it feel good to overstep your bounds!

    Ugh… this bad dog!

    Adele finally threw everything she could find on the bed at Celeste.

    And Celeste endured it all silently, with a blissful expression on her face.

    Until her Master’s delicate body lost its strength, and she started panting weakly and seductively.

    At the same time, she continued to scold Celeste relentlessly.

    “Ha… huff, bad dog…”

    But this title, which should have been humiliating, sounded like a

    great compliment to Celeste.

    And for some reason, the more her Master called her that, with contemptuous eyes and insulting words, the more a strange excitement surged in the depths of Celeste’s heart.

    Please… please insult me more, Master~

    Adele was tired from scolding, her body exhausted from the previous activity.

    Celeste seemed to have sensed this and crawled back onto the bed towards her Master, clutching something in her hand.

    “Eep!”

    Adele noticed Celeste’s movements and intentions and let out a cute exclamation.

    She was the Master, and Celeste was the subordinate.

    But after that… embarrassing activity that she couldn’t even talk about, Adele suddenly felt an inexplicable fear towards Celeste, as if she had realized the difference in their physiques and strength, and had completely despaired, no longer able to resist.

    When Adele saw Celeste crawling towards her, her first thought wasn’t to order her to stop.

    Instead, she shrank back towards the corner, looking weak, pitiful, and helpless.

    “What… what are you going to do…”

    Adele’s face turned red and then white as she imagined what was about to happen.

    She murmured, her shoulders huddled together, trembling constantly.

    “N-no more, my body can’t take it anymore… sob…”

    If they continued, her body really wouldn’t be able to handle it…

    It would break!

    “Celeste… d-don’t do that…”

    But Celeste seemed to not understand Adele’s words.

    She pried open Adele’s knees and lifted one of her slender, white legs.

    “Eek…!”

    Adele subconsciously closed her eyes tightly.

    She could order Celeste to stop, but she instinctively didn’t.

    She only pleaded softly…

    After Adele closed her eyes, an unknown amount of time passed.

    There was no… strange feeling from her body.

    Neither comfortable nor painful.

    Nothing at all.

    So she finally felt relieved and opened her eyes in confusion.

    She saw Celeste carefully putting a soft, white cloth on her leg.

    “…?”

    “Let me help you get dressed, Master.”

    Celeste seemed to see Adele’s confusion and told her her original intention with a smile.

    She didn’t know that Adele’s expression instantly turned disappointed.

    As if saying, “That’s it?”

    This was something Celeste hadn’t expected.

    What was even more unexpected was that Adele suddenly stomped on her face with her fragrant foot.

    “Ouch…”

    Celeste fell back, and Adele took off the soft cloth that was halfway on.

    Then she threw it at Celeste’s face, who was lying on the other side of the bed.

    “I overestimated you, stupid dog.”

    Adele sighed helplessly.

    But then, a genuine smile appeared on her face.

    “But it’s enough, Celeste, you did very well today.”

    This was praise from her Master, and Celeste trembled with excitement upon hearing it.

    “You have to be this smart next time, but don’t be too smart for your own good! Do you hear me!”

    Adele instructed.

    What else could Celeste do but nod vigorously in response?

    As for what her Master meant by smart and too smart for her own good… Celeste thought about it for a moment and instantly understood.

    Being smart meant understanding and realizing her Master’s needs, and then satisfying her Master.

    And “being too smart for her own good”…

    “I understand, Master!”

    Adele nodded, her face slightly flushed.

    “That’s more like it. Now… carry me to the bathroom for a bath.”

    “C-can I!?”

    Celeste’s expression was full of surprise.

    It made Adele want to grab another pair of panties and throw them at her face.

    “It’s not a matter of whether you can or not…”

    “It’s a matter of my legs being too weak to walk!”

    “You stupid dog, bad dog, idiot dog!”

    “Do you have to make me say it so embarrassingly before you’re satisfied!”

    However, Celeste happily accepted her Master’s scolding and “insults.”

    Because the more “angry” her Master was, the more it proved her “ability”~

    Although this was Celeste’s first experience in her life, she unexpectedly possessed a talent.

    A talent that was too embarrassing to talk about…

    And unlike Adele, who was exhausted, Celeste was still full of energy.

    She stood up respectfully, then bent down and picked Adele up in a princess carry.

    She left the bedroom and walked towards the bathroom on the first floor.

    Her steps were steady, Adele barely felt any bumps.

    She indulged in the warmth of Celeste’s embrace, her eyes slightly narrowed, as if enjoying it.

    But suddenly, her gaze paused.

    Then, Adele blinked, her eyes following the stairs upwards, landing on the door next door that was always closed.

    “…”

    The soundproofing of this apartment, to be honest, wasn’t good enough to make Adele feel at ease.

    Thinking that poor Sharon might be inside… hearing some inappropriate sounds, Adele’s heart couldn’t help but ache.

    If possible, Adele would of course prefer to… with Celeste at a more appropriate time.

    But at that time, her emotions had reached a point where they had to be released.

    Naturally, she couldn’t be considerate, couldn’t consider Sharon’s feelings.

    But to say that Adele didn’t feel any guilt about this was impossible.

    She felt sympathy, care, and mostly closeness towards Sharon.

    There was also a little bit of love, like a budding flower, waiting to bloom, needing a warm spring and a fruitful autumn to blossom and bear fruit.

    Soon, Celeste’s footsteps landed on the first floor, and Adele slowly looked away.

    They arrived at the bathroom, the light inside dim.

    After Celeste put Adele down, she turned on the heater.

    There was no bathtub in the bathroom, so Adele had no choice but to sit on a pitiful little stool, hugging her arms.

    Soon, Celeste turned on the shower, and the sound of water spraying filled the air.

    After adjusting the temperature, the golden-haired girl dared to spray the water on Adele’s body.

    First her smooth, white shoulders and back, then the rest of her body.

    Adele closed her eyes, letting the warm water wash over her tired body, feeling a sense of rejuvenation.

    Celeste didn’t pay attention to her own body, she was just immersed in the task of cleaning her Master’s delicate body, or rather, serving her.

    By the time she finally finished washing Adele, both her hair and every part of her body, Celeste herself was drenched by the splashing water, her whole body cold. She gasped for the first time.

    As a vampire who controlled the fire element, her reaction at this moment was a bit embarrassing.

    But Adele didn’t care about that, she only cared about Celeste’s feelings.

    Adele suddenly turned around and hugged her tightly, burying her face in Celeste’s chest.

    Trying to convey warmth to her in this way.

    There was a lovely height difference between Celeste and Adele.

    They stayed in this position in the bathroom for a long time.

    Until Adele took the initiative to let go of the embrace, wrapped herself in a towel, and silently left the bathroom.

    Celeste finally came back to her senses, wondering if she was being too clingy to her Master.

    She looked at her Master’s back, her eyes soft and smiling.

    Because… she couldn’t help it.

    She couldn’t change her love for her Master.

    A new round of showering began in the bathroom, Celeste enjoying the temperature her Master had just experienced.

    Could this be considered hugging her Master?

    Outside the bathroom, Adele walked up the stairs wrapped in a towel. When she reached her bedroom door, she suddenly stopped.

    She turned around and looked at the door next door.

    Mustering her courage, Adele walked towards Sharon’s bedroom.

    She stood at the door, her eyes wandering, her hand raised slightly, then hesitantly lowered.

    In the end, she didn’t try to knock on her roommate’s door.

    She perfectly portrayed the image of a young girl who felt deeply troubled, full of guilt and embarrassment.

    Or maybe this was reality.

    When pretense becomes reality, reality becomes pretense.

    Adele adjusted her tone and spoke softly, with the nervousness of facing a “stranger roommate,”

    “Excuse me… is anyone in the room?”

    “If there is, please allow me to apologize!”

    “I’m sorry, I brought a girl into the dorm without your permission, and… and did that kind of thing.”

    “I’m really… sorry!”

    “Perhaps you’ve heard rumors about me from other parts of the academy.”

    “Maybe some people think I’m pitiful, some say I’m a green tea bitch, some say I’m promiscuous, some say I seduce Sequence Ones…”

    “I’m powerless to clarify these things, good or bad.”

    Adele showed a bitter smile that was so extreme, it was hard to imagine how she could swallow it down.

    “But only today’s matter… I don’t want it to spread.”

    “Although I know I might not be qualified to ask this, especially since I caused you so much trouble today.”

    “But I really have no other choice, I’m the weakest vampire, I can only beg…”

    Tears welled up in Adele’s eyes.

    If someone looked out through the peephole on the door, they would be able to see Adele’s pitiful state clearly.

    And no one could be so cold-hearted as to not feel for her, right?

    “So please!”

    “Please… please keep this a secret for me, okay?”

    “Even though I’m so incompetent, I still want to protect her reputation, I don’t want others to find out that she’s with someone like me…”

    “I don’t want her to be hurt by the Sequence Ones…”

    When Adele talked about “her,” meaning Celeste, the tenderness and attachment in her eyes were touching.

    Of course, it would also make those who liked her feel incredibly heartbroken.

    And Adele continued, because she hadn’t received a clear answer from Sharon yet.

    “I’ve always believed that feelings are the only thing in this world that is equal.”

    In the past, people said it was lifespan, but in fact, there were long-lived species in this world.

    Even within the same race, there would be different lifespans due to different qualities and abilities.

    Therefore, even lifespan and time weren’t fair and equal.

    “As a Sequence Five, I can like a Sequence Two, I can like a Sequence One, isn’t that interesting?”

    “If I could happen to be liked by them too, that would be the happiest thing in the world.”

    “I’m not afraid to tell you this, even if you might laugh at me.”

    “I like Ice Queen Hermione. Her elegance and nobility, her warm heart beneath her cold exterior, are very attractive to me.”

    “I also like Celeste, who’s willing to work hard for me. She’s a genius, her goal is to surpass that Hermione… although it’s very difficult, I like that she works hard.”

    “Oh, and I also like that… Sequence One you probably don’t know, Sharon, the cute girl with beautiful silver-gray short hair.”

    “She’s too low-key and quiet, even I was shocked when I found out she was a Sequence One.”

    “She’s not arrogant and scary like the other Sequence Ones, on the contrary, she’s a very gentle and shy person.”

    “I like being with her, it feels like bathing in the warm, soft sunlight.”

    “She’s a bit too insecure. If possible, I hope she can be more lively and smile more.”

    “Because she looks really beautiful when she smiles.”

    “Ah, sorry… I said so many irrelevant things without realizing it, I’m really stupid, my heart is always involuntarily drawn to them.”

    “Actually, what I really want to say, and what I hope you can understand is,”

    • “I like them, it has nothing to do with them.”

    “It was my actions that were wrong, so I’m willing to apologize for it.”

    “Please don’t blame them, don’t spread any rumors that are harmful to them.”

    “As for my own reputation…”

    Adele gave a bitter smile, looked up at the peephole, and said sincerely,

    “You can trash it however you want, that kind of thing, compared to them, is worthless.”

    Having said that, Adele was ready to use her real trump card.

    The tears she had been holding back finally flowed from the corners of her eyes, drawing delicate, sad, and beautiful trails down her cheeks.

    “If you’re still not satisfied with my apology,”

    “I’m willing to move out of this dorm and give you peace and quiet!”

    • “N-no!”

    An unexpected response came from inside the door!

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 94

    Chapter 94: I Want… Master!

    Celeste blushed furiously.

    The suggestive words that came out of her Master’s mouth…

    She vaguely understood “to serve in bed.”

    After all, living in an Eastern city, Celeste had watched some historical dramas.

    She knew that when a concubine slept with the Emperor, it was called “serving in bed.”

    But what did “supermarket” mean…?

    Why did her Master want to “supermarket” her…

    Although she didn’t understand what it meant, her heart still started to race with anticipation.

    “Yes, Master.”

    Celeste didn’t hesitate much before taking off her extra skirt and climbing onto her Master’s bed.

    Shy as she was, her Master’s orders were always her top priority.

    Celeste could overcome anything for them.

    That’s why Adele said – Celeste had been successfully trained by her.

    Although this success was now starting to show its troublesome side.

    Because if she didn’t just treat Celeste as a tool, as a useful dog, Celeste’s obedience would make their relationship a little strange.

    Adele might be troubled by the uncertainty of whether Celeste truly loved her, or if it was just the modification of the subordinate’s magic pattern, driven by orders to love her.

    The girl turned around, annoyed and frustrated, meeting Celeste’s eyes as she climbed onto the bed.

    “…Master?”

    Celeste immediately stopped, kneeling obediently beside Adele.

    Her face was also flushed, and she didn’t dare to look directly at Adele at this moment.

    Because she understood the meaning of “serving in bed.”

    So she took off her dark skirt, revealing her soft, white body and the black lace lingerie that perfectly matched Adele’s preferences.

    The cleavage formed by her arms pressed against her body made one wonder if they could really bury their face in it.

    Seeing Celeste’s timid and hesitant appearance, Adele was instantly furious.

    If she had to take the initiative every time, how could she prove that this relationship was meaningful!

    Celeste, how could you prove your love and desire for me!

    That’s why…

    “Celeste, you’re an idiot!”

    She grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at Celeste forcefully.

    But the girl’s strength was limited, especially for a delicate girl like Adele. The pillow was soft, and it didn’t hurt when it hit someone.

    But even though it didn’t hurt, Celeste didn’t even dodge, this was an attitude problem!

    What kind of problem…?

    The problem of being too well-behaved!

    You’re a Sequence Two vampire noble, a capitalist heiress, an elemental genius!

    You… you… be more arrogant!

    Even subordinates could be close to their masters…

    The “disappointment” in Adele’s eyes made Celeste completely confused.

    She didn’t understand what she had done to displease her Master.

    But her Master’s emotions made her even more afraid.

    She blinked her emerald green eyes helplessly.

    Then she lowered her head and apologized sincerely.

    Even though the girl didn’t know what she had done wrong at all.

    But apologizing… should be fine, right?

    “I’m an idiot, I’m sorry, Master.”

    Adele looked like she was about to cry from Celeste’s behavior.

    So, to be a master like her, it was really embarrassing.

    It was said that in a relationship, whoever truly falls in love first is the loser.

    Adele didn’t have any real feelings for Celeste at first.

    She might even dislike and fear her a little.

    Because Celeste had tried to do something terrible to her.

    If it weren’t for Hermione’s intervention, perhaps Adele’s body would have already been defiled by Celeste.

    And if it had really come to that, Adele and Celeste would have been impossible.

    But since Celeste was willing to give her entire body and soul to Adele, becoming her devoted subordinate, and after spending time together, Adele gradually found that she could no longer simply treat Celeste as a useful tool.

    Force was reciprocal.

    Then what about feelings? Wasn’t it the same…

    Celeste, like the element she adapted to, possessed the warmth and heat of fire.

    She melted the ice in Adele’s heart that held prejudice against her.

    But Celeste built a high wall called loyalty in her own heart.

    On one side of the wall was Celeste’s self-suppressed feelings and desires for Adele.

    On the other side of the wall, it actually blocked Adele’s love from entering.

    It was as ridiculous as a loyal knight rejecting the queen’s coronation.

    But as Adele laughed, why did she feel sad?

    “You’re an idiot, of course you are.”

    “There’s no bigger fool in the whole world than you!”

    Celeste heard a hint… no, far more than a hint of sadness in her Master’s tone.

    It wasn’t just through hearing, Celeste’s magic pattern finally came into play again.

    Connecting her to her Master with trembling pink eyes, almost like a spiritual connection.

    Adele bit her lip lightly. If she hadn’t held back, she might have shed tears of shame in front of her subordinate.

    Unlike Celeste, whose eyes were red and unhidden.

    She seemed to be empathizing with Adele.

    Even the most insensitive person would have noticed something unusual in Adele’s words and attitude at this moment.

    But it contradicted Celeste’s original intention of serving her Master.

    Making her afraid to confirm…

    The atmosphere between them suddenly became silent.

    Celeste’s heart was in turmoil, she didn’t dare to look into her Master’s eyes.

    She also yearned for and desired her Master in her heart.

    Adele was like the most beautiful flower on a branch, the honey-colored fruit it bore, fragrant and tempting.

    If only she…

    If only she was qualified to pick it.

    Celeste’s pupils trembled slightly, and she couldn’t help but recall the scene in the locker room that day.

    At that time, she had committed an unforgivable crime against her Master… Her body and soul were stained black as ink, she had already lost her qualifications as a person.

    It was her Master’s forgiveness, her tolerance and love, that cleansed the filth from her body and soul, giving Celeste a chance to redeem herself.

    But Celeste still didn’t think she was qualified to touch her Master on her own initiative.

    If it was her Master’s order, she would resolutely carry it out.

    But without an order, Celeste became a puppet without a clockwork, hesitant and at a loss.

    But in Adele’s heart… she no longer treated her as a puppet!

    Why was Celeste so stupid?

    Even with Adele’s obvious hints, she was still hesitant.

    Ultimately, it was precisely because she also had deep feelings for Adele.

    There was a kind of love that was a hand reaching out but afraid to touch.

    Fate always played jokes on those who loved each other.

    It was precisely because Adele liked Celeste that she hoped Celeste would reach out to her, that was something she allowed.

    But on the other hand, because Celeste loved Adele deeply, she could do anything for Adele, regardless of the consequences.

    • Except for reaching out, touching, and caressing.

    Adele suddenly felt very sad.

    Even after figuring this out, she still felt very sad…

    The sadness of her feelings not being reciprocated.

    The sadness of Celeste being an incredibly stupid dog.

    She turned away, burying her head under the covers, her petite body seemingly trembling, faint sobs could be heard.

    “…Leave!”

    “I don’t want to see you anymore… Celeste!”

    But the true words in her heart were often the opposite of reality.

    You stupid dog, if you really dare to leave…

    But the sound of picking up a skirt and then the “creaking” of the door opening could be heard from behind the door.

    Only Adele was left in the room again.

    All this indicated that Celeste had really left.

    Obeying Adele’s orders.

    At the very moment when she didn’t want Celeste to show her loyalty.

    Boundless sadness and sorrow overwhelmed Adele’s body and soul.

    The dam in her heart burst.

    She cried, sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face…

    As if she wanted to shed all the tears she should have shed in the past three days.

    Her heartache was unbearable, she had never felt such pain before…

    She felt like she was blind to have fallen for this stupid dog, Celeste!

    Stupid dog! Stupid dog, stupid dog!

    Stupid dog… sob…

    The girl cried until she was exhausted, her tears soaking the pillow.

    Exhausted from crying, she fell asleep.

    Unaware of north, south, east, or west, unaware of day or night.

    She didn’t know how much time had passed.

    Adele finally struggled to open her sore eyes, which felt like they had been punched twice, aching as if they had been filled with chili water.

    Her mind was blank, and life seemed meaningless.

    It was a bit like waking up after a hangover, the whole world felt illusory and meaningless.

    What was the point of being the protagonist?

    The person she liked was an idiot.

    What was the point of becoming a witch and becoming stronger soon?

    The person she liked was an idiot.

    What was the point of being so beautiful, delicate, and easy to push down?

    The person she liked was an abstinent idiot.

    She was tired, this idiotic world could just end.

    Adele’s eyes were as dull as ashes from burned flowers, she turned to look at the emptiness in the room.

    But she didn’t know if it was because she was too sad that she was hallucinating.

    Why was there a blonde, big-breasted idiot kneeling in this emptiness…

    Idi… Celeste’s illusion seemed to notice that Adele had woken up and slowly looked up at her.

    It was only at this moment that Adele noticed that Celeste’s eyes were red and swollen.

    The tears she shed… were probably no less than Adele’s.

    And Adele had fallen fast asleep.

    But Celeste had to suppress her voice, crying silently so as not to disturb Adele’s rest.

    Not to mention that she had been maintaining this kneeling posture for who knows how long.

    “…”

    Adele stared at Celeste blankly.

    For a long time, she didn’t know what to say, she couldn’t even think, her mind was blocked.

    And Celeste also looked at Adele, with eyes that Adele had never seen before, filled with bone-deep tenderness.

    With a slight blink of her eyelashes, a crystal clear teardrop fell.

    “Plop…”

    It was as if it had fallen onto Adele’s heart, making her ache for no reason.

    Then Celeste, supporting herself on the edge of the bed, stood up with her legs that had become stiff from kneeling for too long.

    Adele didn’t know what she was going to do.

    The only thing she knew was that it wasn’t under her orders.

    The girl’s eyes widened slightly, a mixture of nervousness and a strange, trembling anticipation.

    She watched as Celeste took a deep breath and approached her.

    Closer and closer, closer and closer.

    At first, there was a distance between them that made Adele feel lonely, then it was as if Celeste was within reach, and then she could vaguely smell the other’s body fragrance and the soft scent of her hair.

    Celeste stopped her movements once, but then, as if after a great mental struggle, she chose to follow her heart and leaned towards Adele again.

    Finally, she even straddled Adele, who was lying flat on her back, kneeling on either side of Adele’s waist, her hands reaching out to support herself beside Adele’s ears…

    Adele was at a loss, her legs involuntarily clenching together, the sensation almost making her cry out.

    But even if she didn’t moan, it couldn’t change the fact that Adele’s face was flushed red like the sunset.

    “What… what are you doing?”

    Her weak voice sounded pitiful, not intimidating at all, but rather endearing.

    Where was the demeanor of a heroine, where was the awareness of being Celeste’s master?

    Hearing Adele’s question, perhaps even Celeste herself thought it was an interesting question.

    An interesting, but meaningless question.

    What… was she doing?

    Although it was already obvious.

    But if she disappointed her Master again and again at this moment, even Celeste wouldn’t forgive herself.

    What her Master needed was a serious answer, a decisive answer.

    An answer that… wasn’t because of her orders, but came from the depths of her own heart.

    Celeste gripped the sheets on both sides of Adele’s body so tightly that they wrinkled, almost tearing.

    At the same time, she took a deep breath.

    The scent of her Master, the fragrance of a young, innocent girl, was intoxicating, maddening.

    Celeste’s lips were thin and beautiful. At first, they parted slightly, then closed shyly, like a flower bud, and finally opened again, as if to kiss.

    As if she had made a great determination.

    “I want to…”

    Time seemed to stand still, the air solidified.

    The world contained nothing but the two of them.

    Adele’s heart leaped like a fish out of water.

    She looked at the cloud that had been drifting in the sky for a long time, a cloud that was once a shadow, waiting for the seasonal rain.

    The gentle, sweet, and nourishing seasonal rain.

    Celeste gritted her teeth and finally uttered the words that had been hidden in her heart for so long, drowned by tears and anxiety time and time again, but still surfaced in the end.

    — “Adele, I want to supermarket sweep you!”

    — “My Master, I love you!”

    The cloud, filled with rainwater, finally released… a torrential downpour!

    The straightforward words were like a storm of wind and rain, slapping Adele in the face.

    Leaving her dazed and confused.

    “Eh…”

    “Eh? Eh? Eh!?”

    Adele’s face instantly turned incredibly red. After she understood what kind of bold words Celeste had just uttered, it was like a snowball rolling down from the mountaintop.

    A small snowball at first, after merging with the snow and ice along the way, finally gained unstoppable momentum and power.

    Like a truck.

    Running over Adele!

    Before Adele could react or answer, her slightly parted pink lips were sealed with a kiss.

    A deep and suffocating kiss, making her brain hypoxic, forgetting all thoughts.

    Only acting on instinct, to possess… or to enjoy.

    It was like a scene of spring, with flowers blooming and birds singing, a scene of love and affection.

    Clear streams flowed, and it was their destiny to quench the thirst of those who were parched.

    A pure and elegant lily bloomed quietly by the stream.

    ………………

    In short.

    Celeste had a great time afterward.

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 93

    Chapter 93: Celeste… Come and Serve Me!

    In the morning, a cry of surprise came from Adele’s room.

    “Whoa! Why are my panties wet!”

    The one who exclaimed was, of course, Adele herself, who had just woken up from her sleep.

    As for First Snow, she had already flown away… or rather, “winged away” early in the morning.

    But as for the reason why her panties were wet, Adele should know it herself.

    About that crazy dream.

    Adele had never had such a realistic dream in her life!

    Of course, except for the times when Sharon invaded her dreams and she became conscious.

    It was so strange…

    In the dream, Adele remembered that she was first on a date with Hermione.

    Then, for some reason, Celeste barged in, and the bad puppy didn’t listen to her at all… disobeying her orders and acting boldly towards her master!

    Finally, Dorothy found them and caught them in the act.

    Fortunately, Adele woke up early, otherwise, she felt that she would have been hanged and whipped, or even drowned in a pig cage by Dorothy in the dream.

    But why couldn’t she forget such a dream the moment she woke up?

    Adele blushed and went to the bathroom to wash up.

    She also changed into a new pair of panties, because the sticky feeling was uncomfortable.

    She didn’t know if Sharon had gone out, or if she had stayed with her silently for a few days while she was on leave, without disturbing her in her dreams.

    Because when Adele went downstairs, she saw that the door next door was still closed.

    But for Adele, who had such a strange dream, it was better to go on a date and have fun with Sharon in her dreams at night, at least it was good for her physical and mental health.

    It was worth mentioning that when Adele woke up in the morning, First Snow, the cat girl, was no longer by her side.

    Perhaps First Snow woke up and left as a cat.

    But there were no signs of the door being opened, and the windows were tightly closed, making it seem like First Snow could walk through walls.

    “Wall-walking technique”… there seemed to be such a magic spell.

    First Snow, as a rare magical creature of the long-lived species Cat-Bird, was naturally gifted with magic.

    And she had been following the legendary mage, the principal.

    After so many years, even if First Snow had only learned a little bit, it would be enough for her to walk sideways in the magic world.

    But with First Snow’s gluttonous and playful personality, Adele thought it was better not to have high hopes for her magic skills.

    Anyway, she could get away with anything just by acting cute, meow.

    And she had the principal as her strong backing.

    Why bother learning magic?

    In other words, just slack off, sleep in a big mansion, and meow meow meow in the magic world.

    Adele deeply felt that “life is better as a cat.”

    Some cats were born in Rome, while some Adeles were born as workhorses!

    “Pfft!”

    The girl spat out the foamy water in her mouth and wiped her mouth with a tissue.

    “Why do I always feel like I’ve forgotten something?”

    Adele muttered to herself as she walked out of the bathroom.

    Five minutes later.

    “Ah—!”

    The girl screamed and ran back to the bathroom.

    She lifted her skirt in front of the full-length mirror.

    If someone asked Adele at this moment, “Where’s your tattoo?” Adele could only answer in confusion,

    “I don’t know!”

    That’s right, what Adele had overlooked, what had truly disappeared, was the chastity curse Dorothy had cast on her!

    But after the initial shock, Adele thought carefully.

    “Wait… isn’t this a good thing!”

    “Could it be that the chastity curse Dorothy cast had a time limit?”

    “And it disappeared when the time was up?”

    “Or…”

    Adele stroked her chin, putting on a cute thinking expression.

    Images and words like “white hair, cat ears, loli, tail, unremovable” flashed through her mind…

    Could it be that First Snow helped her break the “chastity curse”!?

    But the chastity curse could only be lifted by the caster themselves, or someone whose magical skills were far superior to the caster, right?

    That basically ruled out First Snow herself.

    Little First Snow was gluttonous and playful, she didn’t seem to have anything to do with a great mage… oh wait, she did, because her master was a legendary mage.

    Since even First Snow was ruled out, Adele was truly puzzled.

    About why her chastity curse suddenly disappeared.

    But since it was a good thing, she decided not to think about it anymore.

    Adele’s mood changed quickly.

    Just like a few days ago, when she was terrified by the twin sisters and swore to be a good woman, she had completely forgotten about it, and only felt that it was great to be on leave at home~

    And she continued to enjoy the care from Hermione, Celeste, and Tang Linlang with peace of mind.

    They sent her good morning and good night messages every day, as well as all kinds of luxurious takeout desserts.

    Just because she complained to Celeste that she didn’t get the character she wanted in a mobile game, Celeste immediately recharged her account with ten 648 yuan!

    In the end, Adele lived up to expectations and successfully got her desired character to max level!

    So the “fate” in “max fate” actually meant “changing your fate with money”!

    Speaking of Celeste, the loyal puppy must have missed her terribly these past few days, unable to eat or sleep well.

    And it just so happened that her chastity curse had mysteriously disappeared from her body today.

    Thinking of this, Adele returned to her room and quickly lay down on the bed in a comfortable position, then opened her phone and sent several messages to Celeste.

    Adele: Celeste, I miss you.

    Adele: Come and keep me company today.

    These were straight balls that even straight girls couldn’t catch.

    One of the biggest lessons Adele learned in her limited experience of flirting was:

    • Don’t mess around with fancy tricks, just go for it!

    Women who couldn’t express their feelings directly deserved to end up alone!

    Hermione: I feel personally attacked…

    It was conceivable how excited Celeste was when she received these messages from Adele.

    She replied with several messages in a row, but unfortunately, Adele was busy leveling up her mobile game character, so she didn’t have time to read or reply.

    But it didn’t matter, because about ten minutes later, a supercar roared its engine and arrived downstairs at Adele’s dormitory, waiting for someone.

    Celeste had obeyed her master’s order from last time and changed her original car to this one.

    Anyway, what happened in the parking lot that day must never be revealed.

    Especially not to Hermione!

    The supercar stopped, and Celeste got out of the car.

    The golden-haired girl’s face was full of anticipation, but if you looked closely, you could still see the exhaustion under her delicate makeup, which even foundation couldn’t completely hide.

    While Adele was complacent about her legitimate leave and enjoying her leisurely life at home every day, someone was worried sick about her, unable to eat or sleep well.

    She didn’t know if others would be like this, but Celeste was always like this.

    Fortunately, vampires had a good foundation, plus there was makeup, so it wasn’t noticeable unless you looked closely.

    Otherwise, she would have blamed herself for appearing before her master in such a tired and haggard state.

    Celeste looked up at the window of her master’s bedroom and saw the closed curtains.

    Then she looked down at her phone, there was still no reply.

    But the girl was very patient, she didn’t feel discouraged, and she didn’t do anything more ostentatious that might trouble her master.

    Celeste just stood downstairs at Adele’s dormitory, waiting devotedly.

    Ignoring the scorching sun, she could only smell the fragrance of flowers and grass.

    “Ding!”

    Suddenly, her phone rang, signaling a new message.

    Celeste’s eyes lit up, and she quickly flipped to the chat interface with her master.

    Adele: The key is under the second flower pot on the window sill of the left window by the door. Remember to put on shoe covers when you enter.

    Adele: My bedroom is on the left side of the second floor. Be quiet when you go upstairs, don’t disturb my roommate.

    Celeste’s breathing quickened as she received permission from her master.

    She immediately followed Adele’s instructions and found a key hidden under the second flower pot.

    She didn’t know if others had this habit, but Adele didn’t have confidence in her ability to be prepared, but she was very confident in her ability to be forgetful.

    So she would hide a spare key somewhere by the door.

    This way, if she ever forgot her key, she wouldn’t be locked out and homeless.

    This habit had its advantages, but the disadvantage was that if someone discovered it, it could cause big problems.

    But Celeste was allowed to know this secret.

    Adele peeked out from the window, quietly observing Celeste’s movements.

    Seeing that Celeste had opened the door and entered the apartment, Adele quickly returned to her bed and curled up into a pitiful posture.

    About thirty seconds later, a soft knock came from Adele’s bedroom door.

    “…Come in, Celeste.”

    Adele’s voice sounded weak, and when Celeste heard it, her heart tightened.

    She knew that her master was still deeply trapped in the shadow of that day’s events, unable to extricate herself.

    But as her master’s subordinate, she couldn’t do anything to help her master, she couldn’t even share her master’s sadness.

    Every time she thought of this, Celeste’s heart felt like it was being pierced by needles and swords.

    It hurt so much that she almost bled.

    “Creak…”

    The door opened softly, and Celeste entered her master’s bedroom for the first time, her expression and movements stiff.

    Compared to novelty and anticipation, she felt more nervous and apprehensive.

    The lights weren’t on in Adele’s bedroom, even though it was daytime, but for a room that wasn’t particularly well-lit, sometimes it was better to turn on the lights, to make one’s mood brighter and more positive.

    Apart from the lights being off, the rest of the room’s furnishings were no different from those of an ordinary academy girl.

    It could be seen that Adele was a rather simple girl.

    There were no luxurious elements in the entire room.

    The most luxurious thing was her love.

    But she always shared it kindly and gently.

    Celeste was so envious… she had also thought about how good it would be if she could have it all to herself.

    But later, she gave up on that thought.

    This was her awareness as a subordinate.

    What right did she have to interfere with her master’s preferences and life?

    Apart from silently supporting her master and becoming her strength, she shouldn’t be greedy for more.

    It sounded a bit humble and pitiful.

    But sometimes, it was precisely because of this that Celeste could receive Adele’s extra attention and care.

    Celeste gently closed the bedroom door, trying not to make any sound as she walked in.

    Then, she came to Adele’s bed and knelt down obediently, always maintaining a lower position in front of Adele, and said softly,

    “Master, I’m here to take care of you.”

    On the bed, which wasn’t big, not a double bed, but not as small as a single bed, a small figure curled up, seemingly still resting, came into view.

    It made people worry, feeling a pang of heartache and bitterness.

    Celeste couldn’t help but sniff.

    It was said that… the subordinate’s magic pattern could share the master’s emotions.

    But why couldn’t she feel her master’s sadness…

    She hadn’t felt it at all in the past three days.

    This made Celeste fall into deep self-doubt.

    She knew that the problem couldn’t be with her master.

    That would be like saying that Adele had been having a blast these three days, not feeling depressed or sad at all, and spending every day enjoying her vacation.

    How was that possible!

    Therefore, the problem could only be with herself.

    Celeste deeply realized this.

    She was an incompetent subordinate, an incompetent puppy.

    She couldn’t be with her master when her master was sad.

    She couldn’t share her master’s sadness, couldn’t bear this sadness and sorrow for her master when she was grieving.

    She felt incredibly guilty and self-reproachful for this.

    But her tolerant and benevolent master, Saint Adele, was still willing to forgive her.

    Allowing her to come to her side and serve her.

    Celeste realized even more that she had almost lived a meaningless and empty vampire life.

    Fortunately, under the redemption of her master, Saint Adele, she had already walked onto the right path.

    Next, it was time to “walk the path and follow the way.”

    Adele didn’t respond to Celeste’s words at first.

    She just tried to maintain a pitiful posture, especially like a vulnerable herbivore, exposing her defenseless back.

    If the other party was a carnivore, and saw her as “prey,” she would definitely pounce on her.

    That would fulfill Adele’s vague expectations.

    She occasionally had the desire to be forcefully possessed.

    To be held tightly…

    Unfortunately, Celeste was more than just clueless.

    She was incredibly clueless!

    Adele really didn’t know what was going on in Celeste’s mind!

    Adele couldn’t help but complain inwardly, but she was still willing to give Celeste another chance.

    Until another long silence passed, except for the dust particles in the air changing positions, the positions of both people and objects in the entire room remained unchanged.

    Adele’s fist hardened!

    She had to admit the fact that was making her extremely unhappy at this moment.

    That was, she had successfully trained Celeste.

    So successfully that it was infuriating.

    It was conceivable that without Adele’s order, Celeste wouldn’t even move half a step.

    Even though Adele had made it so obvious, almost writing the word “seduction” on her forehead.

    At this moment, there was only one sentence that could describe Adele’s feelings.

    Adele: Celeste! I hate that you’re like a piece of wood!

    Since that was the case, Adele wouldn’t pretend anymore.

    She was laying her cards on the table!

    “Celeste… come and serve me!”

    “I’m going to supermarket sweep you!”

    ***

    T/N:

    “侍寝” (to attend to one’s bedchamber) : Serve

    Supermarket “超市” is a chinese slang meaning f*ck basically

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 92

    Chapter 92: The Pure First Snow, Meow

    About the kitten I’ve been feeding recently suddenly turning into a cat girl and crawling into my bed to repay my kindness

    If she wrote this story, it might not become a bestseller, but it should be enough to make a living, right?

    But when such a light novel plot unfolded before Adele’s eyes, her feelings were a bit complicated.

    Especially when First Snow looked at her with those pure and clear eyes, like the purest jade, blinking innocently.

    Adele’s heart was filled with guilt.

    Why?

    Because in Adele’s eyes, First Snow’s body was completely exposed before her, without any defense or cover.

    Just like when she was still a cat.

    Only lacking fur to cover her petite and adorable body.

    The cat ears on her head and the tail behind her were still as lively and agile as ever.

    Adele’s no longer pure heart formed a stark contrast with the cat girl’s pure beauty, both in heart and body.

    Not to mention, First Snow smiled cutely, her eyes narrowed.

    She even purred softly.

    Rubbing against Adele’s body, using her little head to nuzzle her chest, her palm…

    “Meow~”

    “Meow meow!”

    With her subconscious act of acting cute, Adele felt a warm rush of blood to her nose.

    The kitten’s body was so soft and fragrant…

    But in this situation, if she had a nosebleed, or rather, triggered the “chastity curse,” Adele would probably be greeted with silver bracelets and join “Orange” and some unpleasant seniors!

    So she quickly covered her nose and turned her face away.

    “Stop, stop, First Snow!”

    The girl grabbed First Snow’s shoulders, pushing away the young cat girl who was clinging to her.

    This made the pure and sincere First Snow feel incredibly aggrieved.

    Her soft, white-furred ears drooped, and her tail curled up.

    The little creature’s big, pitiful eyes welled up with tears.

    As if they could fall at any moment, leaving wet marks on the pillow.

    “Meow…”

    She didn’t understand what she had done wrong…

    Why did the big sister she liked suddenly push her away?

    Did the big sister… hate her?

    Just thinking about this terrifying possibility made First Snow start sobbing.

    Her small, round shoulders trembled slightly, and her delicate nose turned red.

    Her cherry lips were like fallen petals, even if they remained at their most beautiful moment, they would soon fade and turn into fragrant mud.

    Seeing First Snow’s appearance from the corner of her eye, Adele’s heart almost melted, aching as if it was being squeezed tightly.

    But First Snow’s eyes were still full of longing.

    No matter how Adele rejected her, pushed her away, there was still light in her eyes.

    There was still a thought, unwilling to believe that the big sister would abandon her, hate her…

    It was the most innocent and pure trust.

    Adele couldn’t let her down.

    She finally couldn’t bear the guilt and torment in her heart.

    Gritting her teeth, she thought, whatever!

    Chastity curse… if you have the guts, electrocute me to death!

    If you can’t, I’ll be back in eighteen years!

    This cat girl, I’m petting her today!

    With a clear mind, Adele mustered her courage and faced First Snow’s pure and clear eyes once again.

    It was said that the older people got, the more they knew, the more complicated their thoughts became, the less lively and gentle their eyes would be, eventually becoming deep and gloomy.

    At this time, when they looked at a pair of truly innocent, childlike eyes, people would subconsciously want to avoid them.

    Because they were afraid of seeing their own filth and dirt in those pure and flawless eyes.

    For Adele…

    She was afraid of seeing her lewd self in First Snow’s eyes!

    With a “death wish,” Adele responded to First Snow, the cat girl transformed from a Cat-Bird.

    She no longer hesitated, hugging her tightly.

    Sharing each other’s warmth, feeling each other’s heartbeat.

    Thump, thump…

    First Snow’s tears fell like pearls.

    But it was because of joy, because the big sister she trusted and adored had accepted her.

    “Adele… sister, meow~”

    Adele’s body trembled, for a moment, she even forgot about the chastity curse, she was more incredulous about what she had just heard.

    “First Snow… was that you talking?”

    “Meow, First Snow… talking, meow!”

    First Snow’s voice was like that of a cute and clever little girl, soft and sweet, with a hint of a cat’s coquettishness.

    Adele’s heart skipped a beat.

    Oh no, if she continued to stay with First Snow like this, she was afraid she would switch from being a big sister lover to a lolicon!

    If she experienced the joy of “raising a daughter” at such a young age…

    Adele was really worried that she would never be able to go back!

    Fortunately, this feeling, which was also a form of “heart flutter,” didn’t trigger the chastity curse.

    This further proved that the trigger condition for the “chastity curse” was likely related to the hormones released by the human body when experiencing lust.

    The magic and science of this world could actually be integrated…

    And Adele obviously didn’t have any sexual impulses towards First Snow, the cat girl transformed from a Cat-Bird.

    She just thought First Snow was so soft and cute that she was almost melting from her cuteness.

    “Love” and “love” were different.

    Adele’s “love” for First Snow was probably the kind of love that wanted to protect, care for, and cherish.

    And her love for Celeste, Hermione, and the others… was a more advanced, sublimated love that wanted to possess them.

    Since being with First Snow wouldn’t trigger the chastity curse, Adele could finally relax.

    She could finally do whatever she wanted to the cute little cat girl!

    Ahem…

    She let out a long breath under the covers in the darkness and finally began to seriously examine First Snow, the Cat-Bird loli with a very petite and childish body, whom she was hugging.

    The principal’s Cat-Bird…

    Although she had heard that magical creatures had the ability to shapeshift, like the legendary Zouwu(legendary creature ) that could transform into an orange cat, this was her first time witnessing it with her own eyes.

    Her nervousness dissipated, and curiosity filled Adele’s heart.

    After all, it was a cat girl transformed from a Cat-Bird. Her original fur had disappeared, and she was completely naked, to the point where Adele was worried that she would be sent to “jail” if she looked at her too much.

    Her distinctive features were her long silver-white hair that reached her waist, and her soft cat ears and tail, which were no different from before.

    In fact, while Adele was observing First Snow, First Snow was also looking at Adele with her clear and pure big eyes.

    Adele was wearing a thin, soft nightgown, her chest flat, and there seemed to be some mysterious, magical patterns engraved on her lower abdomen.

    First Snow didn’t like those patterns, but Adele didn’t seem to mind, so she didn’t dwell on it.

    “Can I… touch First Snow’s ears?”

    Adele suddenly asked.

    First Snow’s soft body shrank back slightly.

    “Meow… Meow.”

    She instinctively responded in her usual language.

    As for human language, it was her second language.

    She could use it, but because she lacked spoken practice, she would stutter a bit.

    But Adele should be able to understand the general meaning after a little thought.

    “It tickles… but Adele, you can, meow.”

    First Snow translated for herself, her voice still sweet and childish.

    She seemed to be still a juvenile Cat-Bird, far from reaching maturity.

    But it didn’t matter, for Adele, it was cute enough.

    A real cat girl! And she even let people touch her!

    This fulfilled one of her past wishes!

    Her outstretched hand even trembled with excitement.

    Finally reaching First Snow’s cat ears, Adele gently stroked and kneaded them, feeling satisfied.

    And First Snow, under Adele’s skillful petting technique, closed her eyes and revealed a comfortable expression, even extending her little paws.

    This was the so-called “mangosteen blooming.”

    It meant that when cats were comfortable, they would open their paws, revealing the pink pads inside, which looked like a “blooming mangosteen.”

    First Snow was like this at the moment, so comfortable that she spread her palms and cute little toes.

    It seemed that whether it was a Cat-Bird or a cat girl, they were no different from ordinary kittens~

    Thinking of this, Adele’s movements became even more skillful and bold.

    At the same time, Adele noticed that on First Snow’s fair and slender back, below her shoulder blades, a pair of golden wings were curled up obediently, still emitting a holy light in the dark night.

    This should be the biggest difference between Cat-Birds and the “beast-eared race” among other foreign races.

    There was a race called “beast-eared race” among foreign races.

    There were “beast-eared girls” who looked like humans with smooth skin, but with fluffy ears on their heads and tails on their butts.

    There were also those covered in fur and scales, who looked like beasts in every way, but walked upright like humans.

    In human terms – “furry lovers, huh!”

    Adele was a firm supporter of the “beast-eared girl” faction. She respected furries, but couldn’t quite accept them.

    Unfortunately, times had changed, and it seemed that more and more people liked furries now.

    Adele couldn’t understand this.

    If the “cat girl” that First Snow transformed into was the kind covered in fur, Adele wouldn’t be surprised, but frightened!

    Fortunately, First Snow’s shapeshifting as a Cat-Bird was a cute little cat girl.

    And she even took the initiative to get into her big sister’s bed to warm it up!

    You’re my little warm blanket, aren’t you~

    Hehe, rub, rub!

    First Snow felt that Adele was clearly closer to her after she transformed into a human.

    Based on this, the little girl thought to herself,

    Then I should try to appear in this form when I’m with Adele, meow.

    It could be seen that First Snow was a simple and approachable little angel cat.

    As for Adele…

    If she continued to rub against First Snow like that, even First Snow would treat her as a “weird older sister” and fly away, never to talk to her again!

    Adele seemed to realize this too, and quickly restrained her perverted side, pretending to be a gentle lady.

    “First Snow, do you want to stay and sleep with me tonight~”

    “Meow… it’s not impossible, meow.”

    First Snow seemed to hesitate for a moment, but eventually gave an affirmative answer.

    “Won’t the principal worry about First Snow?”

    Adele quickly asked.

    “Principal?”

    “Y-you mean Principal Winona.”

    Adele hesitated and felt nervous when she directly addressed Principal Winona by name.

    What if this big shot in the magic world could sense her calling her true name?

    And then she discovered that Adele was abducting her cute little Cat-Bird, and even tricked her cute little Cat-Bird First Snow into bed!

    Then Adele would be doomed. She wouldn’t be able to stay in this school, let alone the entire magic world.

    Although the truth was that First Snow herself felt that Adele’s bed was soft and fragrant, so she went to sleep in it on her own initiative.

    First Snow seemed to react when she heard the name from Adele’s mouth, her blue crystal-like eyes suddenly lit up.

    “Is Adele talking about… Xiao Wei, meow?”

    “Li-li-li… Xiao Wei!!?”

    Adele was instantly shocked by First Snow’s words.

    That was the principal of Cromwell Academy, the “Stargazer,” one of the Twelve Pillars legendary mages in the magic world.

    The one who had fought against the Vampire True Ancestor in the original novel.

    But in the mouth of the little Cat-Bird First Snow… she became Xiao Wei?

    Adele didn’t know whether to call First Snow “innocent” or something else.

    Seeing Adele’s shock and fear, First Snow was a little at a loss.

    “…Xiao Wei is Xiao Wei, meow.”

    “I grew up watching Xiao Wei, meow…”

    First Snow said, feeling a little aggrieved, thinking that Adele didn’t believe her, her eyes glistening with tears.

    Adele hurriedly comforted the little Cat-Bird.

    “Okay, okay, Xiao Wei is Xiao Wei, there’s a girl in the village named Xiao Wei…”

    At this moment, Adele didn’t care if she was offending the principal.

    After all, compared to the cute silver-haired cat-eared loli, what was the distant principal?

    But she then realized that there seemed to be even more shocking news in First Snow’s words besides Xiao Wei!

    “Wait… hold on, First Snow, did you just say… you grew up watching Xiao Wei!?”

    “Meow.”

    First Snow’s eyes were clear and innocent, she couldn’t possibly be lying!

    It was precisely because of this that Adele felt a sense of dizziness, as if her worldview had been overturned.

    After calming down, she swallowed hard and asked First Snow nervously, her voice trembling,

    “Then… First Snow, how old are you now?”

    First Snow tilted her head, her cat ears twitching.

    “I don’t remember, meow…”

    “But Xiao Wei is a dummy, meow!”

    “She never plays with First Snow… Adele will play with First Snow, meow! And there’s delicious food, meow! Purr~”

    “…”

    So did she just trick a legal Cat-Bird loli, who might be several times older than her but still looked like a child, into her hands with just “food, drink, and fun”?

    But just like “a mushroom that lives for a day doesn’t know about the waxing and waning of the moon, and a cicada that lives for a season doesn’t know about spring and autumn,” humans, as creatures with a lifespan of at most a hundred years, were indeed like ignorant insects compared to the long-lived foreign races and magical creatures.

    The innocent First Snow probably wasn’t lying.

    Cat-Birds were such long-lived creatures.

    First Snow, who hadn’t even finished her juvenile period, had already witnessed the rise of a legendary human mage, accompanying Principal Winona for an unknown number of years, and still calling her by the name she used when she was a child.

    When Principal Winona grew old, or when Adele herself grew old, only First Snow would still be young, her eyes as pure and dust-free as ever…

    Sob, lifespan comparisons were the worst!

    Adele quickly shook her head, determined not to think about such messy things.

    She just needed to know that First Snow was a very cute cat girl.

    Most importantly, she let people touch her!

    Adele hugged First Snow again.

    First Snow giggled, as if Adele had touched her ticklish spot.

    It was a beautiful and heartwarming scene.

    Until they were tired from playing, Adele and First Snow cuddled up and fell asleep.

    First Snow hugged one of Adele’s arms and rubbed her cheek against Adele’s shoulder.

    Even her soft, white tail was restless, wrapping around Adele’s thigh.

    It was said that “a cat and its tail are actually two different creatures.”

    This was evident in the way the tip of First Snow’s tail, as if possessing its own consciousness, occasionally swayed back and forth.

    Like a soft little brush, it brushed against Adele’s thigh.

    Occasionally touching the girl’s sensitive areas.

    The strange sensation seemed to make Adele fall into an indescribable dream.

    She could be heard letting out soft gasps and mumbling in her sleep.

    “Ugh… n-no more~ Hermione… ah~”

    “…Celeste? What do you want to do to your master… ugh, bad… bad dog!”

    As the dream deepened, the atmosphere of lust around Adele became stronger.

    Even without a real partner, she was almost reaching the trigger condition for the chastity curse, causing the magic attached to it to burn and release.

    If that happened, Adele might wake up from a shock-like pain in her dream.

    And the originally beautiful night would become terrible!

    But at this moment, First Snow suddenly opened her still sleepy eyes and murmured in a small voice,

    “No… disturbing Adele and First Snow sleeping, meow.”

    The moment her voice fell, the chastity curse mark on Adele’s lower abdomen suddenly burst into a dazzling light.

    After the light faded, Dorothy’s magic completely dissipated like smoke.

    Adele’s lower abdomen was once again smooth, white, and clean as new.

    But First Snow suddenly felt that… Adele, without the patterns on her lower abdomen, seemed to be lacking something…

    “I’ll give Adele a new one next time, meow~”

    First Snow, who made this decision entirely based on her heart, showed a pure and innocent smile once again.

    But if Adele saw this smile with her own eyes, she would probably only feel terrified, like falling into an ice cellar!

    What was wrong with this world!

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 91

    Chapter 91: The Meow Meow Who Repays Adele’s Kindness

    Lewd things…

    Adele tossed her phone aside and fell into deep thought after a long time.

    On the surface, it just looked like an ordinary daydream of a pubescent girl.

    But in reality, Adele was thinking about something very important to her life.

    It was also the legendary argument between Adam and Lilith.

    As everyone knew, in Western legends, Adam was the first human created by God.

    And Eve was the first woman created by God from Adam’s rib.

    However, there was also a legend that the first woman, before Eve, was actually Lilith.

    Adam and Lilith had a huge fight over who should be on top during intimate moments.

    In the end, neither could convince the other, and Lilith ran away in anger, becoming the ancestor of the so-called succubi in later generations.

    Hiss, thinking about it this way, who was on top and who was on bottom was indeed a matter of profound significance.

    However, Adele wasn’t as stubborn as Lilith in myths and legends.

    She was a typical example of someone who “adapted to the situation,” a cowardly little green tea.

    But at this moment, she was rarely not thinking from her own perspective, not following her usual selfish habit of doing whatever she wanted.

    Adele was thinking, if it was Tang Linlang, would she prefer to be on top, or on bottom?

    If it was Hermione, what would it be like?

    Would Hermione compromise to take care of her?

    Should she also show some response to Hermione’s gentleness?

    If it was Dorothy, well… this woman would definitely not be willing to wrong herself.

    And Celeste…

    And Sharon…

    The figures of the girls passed through Adele’s mind one after another.

    This became the root of Adele’s current dilemma.

    Should she cater to their preferences?

    Or should she stick to her own preferences and be the proud one?

    Sigh, it was so troublesome.

    Indeed, being a heartless bad girl was much easier than being a good girl.

    This was a rare occasion for Adele to think about others.

    It could almost be said that she was about to transform into a “good woman.”

    It was a pity that no one seemed to know.

    Even Adele herself would soon forget about this and start her happy otaku life.

    Not having to go to school was so great!

    She could sleep in, play games to her heart’s content, and order takeout whenever she wanted. It was Adele’s ideal life!

    After three days of rest, Adele no longer looked depressed and pitiful.

    She thought she would be down for a long time, but her amazing body quickly adjusted.

    Perhaps it was when her stomach was growling and the snacks she ordered were delicious and appetizing.

    Perhaps it was when she felt lonely and bored, tried playing games, and then couldn’t stop.

    Perhaps it was when she realized that many moments in daily life were beautiful, and she shouldn’t just focus on those painful and sad memories.

    Although Adele was still very weak now, optimism was an inexhaustible treasure for her.

    ………………

    It was worth mentioning that during these three days, Adele didn’t just reject Tang Linlang’s request.

    In fact, she rejected Dorothy, Hermione, and even Celeste, all with the reason of “wanting to be alone.”

    Celeste was both heartbroken and absolutely obedient to her master’s orders.

    Dorothy and Hermione, on the other hand, rarely forced their way into Adele’s room.

    In other words, they both actually respected Adele’s feelings.

    Adele didn’t know if there was any competition between Dorothy and Hermione in this regard.

    It was like a competition where “whoever couldn’t help but use force on Adele first would lose Adele’s love in a sense.”

    As for Sharon, who secretly became Adele’s roommate, although she was always by Adele’s side next door, during these three days, she never invaded Adele’s dreams, not even for a moment.

    The more a girl had experienced pain, the more she knew how to be gentle with others.

    With Sharon guarding next door, Adele actually felt much more at ease.

    As for why she was neglecting them, firstly, Adele really just wanted to be alone and wallow in her emotions at that time.

    Other people’s concern might only cause more harm during this time.

    Secondly, when Adele’s mentality had almost recovered, she suddenly felt that this was a good opportunity to practice the “absence makes the heart grow fonder” theory.

    As everyone knew, couples being together all the time wouldn’t necessarily deepen their feelings.

    But being apart for a short period of time might have a miraculous effect, making it easier to break through certain psychological defenses and achieve a “home run in love.”

    That’s why there was the saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

    It could be said that this was Adele’s multi-layered strategy, take it or leave it~

    But unlike the other girls who tacitly and gently chose to respect Adele’s feelings, there was a willful little creature who would always barge into Adele’s room for no reason in the middle of the night, making her helpless.

    Tonight, it came again, carrying the bright moonlight and gentle breeze, stopping at the window of Adele’s room.

    It formed a cute and light shadow on the closed window, and at the same time, a soft and delicate meow could be heard.

    “Meow~”

    The principal’s Cat-Bird! Its name seemed to be “First Snow.”

    Ever since they met that day under the noses of Amaterasu Kuro and Tsukimi Shiro, this little female cat seemed to have taken Adele as her short-term meal ticket!

    Every night, it would come on time for food and petting.

    It was like treating Adele as a servant who provided food and massages!

    If Adele deliberately delayed and didn’t open the window for it, it would act so aggrieved.

    How could a kitten be so “cutely manipulative”!

    Well, you know what, it seemed like it really could…

    In the end, Adele couldn’t refuse the cuteness of the little Cat-Bird, First Snow.

    “Coming, coming, you little glutton!”

    Although Adele complained, she never shortchanged First Snow on cat food.

    And also because of this little creature, Adele’s bedroom was now fully equipped with cat food, cat toys, scratching posts, and other pet essentials.

    It made her already small space even more cramped.

    Adele opened the window, and the snow-white kitten with golden wings instantly flew in, excitedly circling around Adele.

    It even made cute “purring” sounds.

    Finally, it landed on Adele’s shoulder, rubbing its fluffy little head against Adele’s soft cheek.

    “Hehe… it tickles, little cutie~”

    Adele walked towards the small bag of cat food in the corner, squatted down, and poured the cat food into the small bowl that First Snow usually ate from.

    With a “clatter,” the small bowl was instantly filled with fragrant and expensive cat food.

    Adele was the type who, if she had a bite to eat, would definitely share it with those around her.

    Her recent days weren’t tight, with Celeste’s “intimate payment limit,” as long as Adele didn’t buy luxury goods, she could basically eat and drink well every day.

    It was no problem to support a kitten.

    The cute First Snow let out an excited meow, jumped lightly from Adele’s shoulder, and then started munching on the cat food.

    First Snow had a slender and well-proportioned figure, she wasn’t the kind of “chubby kitty” that was popular on the internet now.

    But looking at its gluttonous appearance, Adele started to worry that in a few months or half a year, it might really become the legendary “chubby kitty.”

    If the principal came to her for trouble then, she would be doomed.

    But Adele was curious, since First Snow was the pet of the legendary mage “Stargazer,” a very rare juvenile Cat-Bird, why did it come to her place every day for food and petting?

    Couldn’t it eat its fill at home?

    This puzzled Adele.

    But she just had to change her perspective to understand.

    What did First Snow eat at her real master, Winona’s place?

    Precious dried monster meat, rare magic plants, and various magic materials that mages dreamed of.

    Winona had her own alchemy lab, and First Snow could go in and out freely, okay?

    She was used to delicacies and nourishing soups, so she actually loved Adele’s “junk food.”

    Yes, it was very clear that the so-called “high-grade cat food” that Adele could provide was junk food for First Snow, the Cat-Bird who had lived a luxurious life since childhood, comparable to snacks like spicy strips and potato chips.

    If Adele realized this, her blood pressure would definitely skyrocket.

    The imported cat food she bought at a high price was actually junk food…!

    But for now, let Adele enjoy the warm moment of watching the kitten eat.

    As long as she didn’t ruin this warmth herself…

    “If you have a conscience, considering I feed you every day, steal me some magic scrolls from the principal!”

    “Or at least some high-level potion formulas~”

    Adele said greedily as she stroked First Snow’s arched, fluffy back.

    “Meow?”

    What scrolls and formulas?

    First Snow didn’t understand these things, meow.

    But if Adele was talking about those parchment scrolls that she often used to sharpen her claws, it wouldn’t be a problem to bring them to Adele~

    “Meow!”

    This meow meant: Okay!

    Adele wasn’t sure if First Snow could understand her words.

    But just feeling the emotions conveyed in its meow was enough to make Adele happy.

    Anyway, she wouldn’t lose anything, and if First Snow really understood her words and brought her some good stuff, it would be a huge profit!

    Investment, starting from kittens, no… not even sparing kittens!

    It was getting late, Adele petted First Snow for a while, then opened the window.

    Then she went to the bathroom downstairs to wash up and get ready for bed.

    The meaning was clear, the cute little kitten should go home after eating, Adele couldn’t keep her company all the time.

    And when Adele finished washing up and returned to her bedroom, First Snow was indeed gone.

    As for the window, it was gently closed by First Snow, along with the curtains.

    “Click!”

    The light went out, and the entire bedroom instantly became pitch black.

    Only after her eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness could she see the faint moonlight filling the room.

    In the quiet night, it had a calming magic.

    Adele exhaled leisurely, and at the same time, took off her camisole dress.

    The dress slid down her fair skin, piling up like petals, picked up by Adele, and finally hung on the hanger.

    In the white moonlight, Adele, wearing only cotton underwear, got into her warm bed, a natural allure in her purity.

    Closing her eyes, it was comfortable and cozy~

    She reached out and hugged the pillow beside her.

    Usually, Adele would hug a pillow to sleep depending on her mood, she didn’t have any particular habit.

    But why was the pillow so soft and warm today?

    It felt like hugging a slender, soft little girl who hadn’t fully grown yet.

    But how was that possible~

    She didn’t have a little girl hidden away, how could there be a little girl here?

    Adele tried her best to convince herself that it was just an illusion.

    But the involuntary silence and her gradually stiffening body made Adele realize that she could no longer ignore…

    The fact that something was terribly wrong!

    Adele’s mind suddenly went haywire, wondering if she had lost her memory!

    Had she forgotten about kidnapping a little girl and bringing her home!

    But that couldn’t be!

    Although she did think little girls were really cute…

    But weren’t big sisters more appealing!

    Of course, the process of raising a little girl into a big sister was also very exciting…

    Ahem, anyway, take a deep breath first to ease the current tension.

    Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…

    Calm down, calm down!

    Adele started to comfort herself.

    At least the little girl she was hugging was still warm, right?

    If it were cold, Adele would have fainted from fright.

    Then tomorrow, she would be greeted with a pair of silver handcuffs, and the second half of her life would probably be spent in prison.

    But it seemed that in her current situation… she was also going to spend it in prison!

    Finally, after a series of mental struggles, Adele slowly opened her eyes towards the little girl in front of her.

    But she didn’t expect that the other party had been staring at her all along.

    Even in the darkness, her light blue, crystal-like eyes still emitted a natural brilliance.

    So pure that it seemed to wash away all the filth in Adele’s heart.

    Adele was stunned.

    Because she suddenly felt like she had seen these eyes somewhere before.

    Especially the distinctive “vertical pupils” that were impossible to ignore.

    The next moment, Adele’s heart skipped a beat.

    An almost whimsical thought, along with the little girl’s exclamation, turned into an undeniable reality, slapping Adele in the face.

    • “Meow~”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 56

    No. 56 Walking Away, Back to Back

    March 18th, Friday.

    Five days had passed since Xiaodie and I had raided Shadow’s warehouse.

    During those five days, I’d been monitoring online activity and noticed an interesting development.

    Shadow had broken ties with their partners in the government.

    As expected, the official whose phone I’d used had died in the car crash. The flames had devoured his vehicle, leaving nothing but a charred skeleton, including the crucial smartphone inside. There was no way they could recover any data, let alone trace the hack back to me. They were lucky if they could even salvage the phone chip from the ashes.

    That’s why I could have easily hacked the phone from home. There was no need to go through the trouble of hiding my identity at the internet cafe or using foreign servers as proxies.

    The same went for our little operation with Xiaodie. I had meticulously erased our tracks, but it turned out to be completely unnecessary. That afternoon, Shadow had stormed the city government building, causing a massive scene. The officials, caught off guard, feigned ignorance. After all, the only one who could contradict their claims was dead. The whole debacle played out live on television.

    The news footage showed several young men in bizarre attire wielding hammers and axes, kicking down the doors of the city government building.

    “Lu Zhaowei, get out here!”

    Their voices were filled with a raw fury, like cornered animals.

    “W-what do you think you’re doing?”

    A man at the front desk seemed to recognize them but maintained a facade of composure for the cameras. “We have armed guards here. Don’t do anything rash.”

    “Rash? Ask Lu Zhaowei if he summoned us for a meeting! You took advantage of the situation and robbed us blind! Is this how you treat your allies?”

    The man sputtered, confused. “Robbed you? I’ve never robbed anyone in my life!”

    “Who else would know the layout of our warehouse so well? Just get Lu Zhaowei out here!”

    “Lu Zhaowei is dead.”

    “Dead? You’re trying to tell us you silenced your own man to cover your tracks? That’s it! You asked for this! Get them, boys!”

    And with that, all hell broke loose.

    Although the thugs were eventually apprehended for inciting a riot, Shadow’s retaliation had already begun.

    On March 15th, the city government was attacked again. The attackers claimed that most of the evidence against Mayor Huang Zhiqiang had been fabricated, admitting to a conspiracy with certain officials and taking responsibility for several other incidents.

    On March 16th, Shadow organized a small protest, urging people to distrust the current administration.

    On March 17th, the detention center where Huang Zhiqiang was being held was attacked, and the trial was postponed to the 20th.

    After reviewing these reports, I came to a conclusion:

    Shadow was nothing more than a glorified street gang, a bunch of overgrown delinquents with no real organization or strategic thinking. They were all brawn and no brains, incapable of achieving anything significant.

    I couldn’t fathom how such a group could have orchestrated the chaos of 2017.

    “That’s why, from now on, we either follow Liang’s lead, go to another city, study hard, and get decent jobs, or end up like those idiots—used and discarded without ever knowing why.”

    It was seven in the evening. I sat with a few members of the Black Dragon Society at a nondescript street food stall.

    We were regulars here, so we didn’t have to worry about hygiene or watered-down drinks. Plus, the prices were reasonable.

    This was Liang Zhenyi’s farewell dinner. He was leaving the city to focus on his studies.

    “Hey, enough about those losers. This is about Liang!”

    Hua She drained his glass and sighed. “How long has it been since we last hung out like this, just the brothers, sharing a drink?”

    Silence.

    “Almost two months, right? Ever since that Pai Ge joined us, things haven’t been the same…” He refilled his glass. “Don’t get me wrong, Luo Wei is a good guy. He’s loaded, always treating us to expensive drinks and food. But it’s just… different, you know? Remember when we were kids, roasting peanuts we dug up ourselves, sharing a single bottle of cheap liquor? Those were the days… Now, even if I had mountains of peanuts and rivers of beer, it wouldn’t be the same.”

    “Yeah, I miss the early days of the Black Dragon Society. Just us, a few brothers, following Dragon’s lead, raising hell in the streets. Haha, remember that time you got drunk and tried to marry a tree, Hua She?”

    “Dude, not cool. There’s a lady present.”

    “Who? Yi Yao? Yi Yao is one of the guys! Right, bro?” Liang Zhenyi slung an arm around my shoulders, laughing. “By the way, remember when I first met Yi Yao? I asked Dragon, ‘Hey, is this your girl?’ You’ll never guess what he said.”

    “What?”

    “He goes,” Liang Zhenyi took a swig of his beer, puffed out his chest, and mimicked Dragon’s voice, “‘Show some respect, kid. She’s not my girlfriend. She’s your sister.’”

    “Hahahaha!”

    “I was speechless! So I told him, ‘Alright, alright, I’ll take a penalty drink. Let’s go all out tonight!’ And Dragon goes, ‘You want me to waste my hard-earned money on your mistake? Did you pay your dues today?’”

    “Hahahahaha!”

    Some things never changed. They were still the same lovable idiots I remembered from Yi Yao’s past.

    The laughter subsided, replaced by a contemplative silence.

    “Old…”

    “New…”

    “You first.”

    “So, Yi Yao is the new leader of the Black Dragon Society, right?”

    “Yeah, apparently Dragon asked Ouyang Dati to appoint her.”

    “Who cares who’s in charge? Dragon’s gone. There’s barely anyone left in the Black Dragon Society anyway.”

    “Dragon’s gone, and now you’re leaving too, Liang. What’s going to happen to us?”

    “Don’t be so dramatic. It’s not like he’s never coming back. Right, Liang? Which university are you planning to apply to?”

    “Seriously? Jinghua University, of course.”

    Jinghua University. One of the most prestigious universities in the country, a dream destination for countless students.

    “Dude, with your grades, you’ll be lucky to get into a second-tier university.”

    “I still have two years to catch up.”

    Liang Zhenyi chugged his beer, a grimace of pain morphing into a look of satisfaction. “Once I get into Jinghua, I’ll get a good job and make sure you guys never have to worry about money again.”

    His grades were abysmal. That much was true.

    But seven years from now, he would graduate from Jinghua University. That was also true.

    As he had said, he would achieve his dream through sheer determination.

    “Hey, Yi Yao, say something. You’ve been awfully quiet lately. What happened to that cheerful, carefree girl we used to know?”

    The speaker was the one who had taken a beating for Yi Yao a while back, shielding her from a blow during a brawl with a rival gang.

    He probably didn’t even remember the incident. Such occurrences were commonplace in their line of work.

    I took a sip of my juice. “Just thinking about some things.”

    To be honest, I was considering dissuading Liang Zhenyi from pursuing Jinghua University.

    Because that meant he would be walking the same path as his counterpart from the other world.

    He would graduate from his dream university full of hope, only to be chewed up and spat out by a ruthless society. He would be burdened by the expectations of family and friends, overworked, underpaid, and constantly stressed. His health would deteriorate, and he would die a bitter, disillusioned man.

    “What kind of things? You’ve been spending a lot of time with that mayor’s daughter lately. What’s up with that?”

    “Nothing. We were enemies, and now we’re friends.”

    I finished my juice and pulled out my phone. “Can I ask you guys a favor?”

    “Come on, we’re brothers. Don’t be a stranger. Just say the word.”

    “I need you to buy some lottery tickets for me.”

    I showed them my phone screen. “03.” I flipped it around so they could see the number clearly. “I’ll give you the money. Buy any lottery ticket with the number ‘3’ on the blue ball. 2000 yuan total, split evenly. I’ll transfer 400 to each of you.”

    Hua She hesitated. “Is this for your mother’s medical bills?”

    “Yes.” I nodded. “I’m desperate.”

    “Why the number ‘3’?” Liang Zhenyi asked, picking up a skewer of grilled meat.

    “Just a hunch,” I said casually.

    Returning to the past and buying lottery tickets was the easiest way to make money.

    The problem was, I had been too focused on my studies back then to pay attention to such things.

    The only reason I remembered this particular lottery was because of a sudden craze that had swept through my class. I had overheard a classmate shouting in excitement about the number ‘3’.

    Each ticket cost 2 yuan. Matching the ‘3’ on the blue ball would win you 5. I couldn’t buy thousands of tickets at once—that would raise suspicion. This was the best I could do for now.

    “Buy two hundred tickets each. If the winning number is ‘3,’ you’ll win 1000. Give me 800, and keep the rest. If I’m wrong, then consider it a gift.”

    That way, I could turn 2000 yuan into 4000. Combined with what I had saved up, it would be a decent sum.

    “Alright.”

    They agreed without hesitation, trusting me implicitly.

    I transferred the money through Alipay.

    Just then, Liang Zhenyi’s phone rang.

    “Hello? … Okay… Yeah.”

    He hung up and gave us an apologetic bow. “My dad wants me to go home and pack.”

    “Alright, man. Stay in touch.”

    “Take care of yourself, and eat well.”

    “Okay, okay, enough with the mushy stuff.”

    “Liang.”

    I stood up.

    “Yi Yao, what’s wrong?”

    I looked at him, his youthful face etched in my memory. I wanted to say so many things, to warn him, to guide him, to protect him from the cruel hand fate had dealt him. But the words caught in my throat.

    “Study hard, take care of yourself, and remember what you said today. If you don’t get into Jinghua University, I’ll never forgive you.”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 55

    No. 55 Flames to Consume All Darkness

    It wasn’t just Windows; Android had its share of fatal flaws too. Being an open-source system built on Linux meant its vulnerabilities, both present and future, were practically universal.

    Like the Queen Bee algorithm, Android phones would face a massive security breach in a few years. Countless users would have their data stolen, their phones hijacked, their online banking compromised.

    People’s dependence on their phones had been steadily increasing since 2015 and would peak around 2017. Forum accounts, game accounts, bank accounts, credit cards, transportation cards—everything would be linked to their phones. And while phone security improved with features like pattern locks, GPS tracking, and fingerprint scanners, no one seemed to care about the operating system’s security.

    I hadn’t paid much attention to the political turmoil in Upper Capital City. From my perspective, these people were all destined to fall anyway.

    Huang Tianhai, son of the provincial party secretary, would return from abroad in two years. His arrival would trigger a massive reshuffling of power in Upper Capital City and even Yixian Province. Those who had schemed and manipulated their way into positions of power would face their reckoning.

    The information I gathered from the Queen Bee hacker alliance revealed two factions behind this current political storm. One was a shadowy underworld organization codenamed “Shadow,” responsible for instigating social unrest and framing Xiaodie’s father. Unlike the Black Dragon Society or the Jiangnan Association, which were basically glorified street gangs, Shadow was a genuine criminal enterprise, involved in all sorts of illegal activities, including murder.

    The other faction consisted of Huang Zhiqiang’s political rivals, who were leveraging public sentiment to seize the mayor’s seat.

    With the backing of corrupt officials, Shadow’s ambitions had grown unchecked. Comparing the data, I realized these were the same people responsible for the city-wide panic that would grip Upper Capital City in June 2017.

    I had no interest in the power struggles of adults, but they had messed with my friend, and I wasn’t about to let that slide.

    Gathering information was crucial. I went to my usual internet cafe, got a temporary pass from the friendly owner, and settled in, playing League of Legends while sifting through data. Finally, I formulated a foolproof plan for retaliation.

    Technically, people under eighteen weren’t allowed in internet cafes, but most turned a blind eye for profit. No one questioned me, especially since I was a regular and friends with the owner. The internet cafe provided anonymity. Even if they tried to track me down, they wouldn’t find anything. I never used my ID, and I routed my connection through several proxies, making it seem like I was accessing the internet from a foreign country.

    Besides, I doubted these thugs even considered the possibility of a phone hack. Such technology was practically nonexistent in their minds. And even if they consulted a hacker, they’d be told it was impossible.

    My plan was simple: hack one of the corrupt official’s phones, send a message to summon all of Shadow’s members to a meeting, then storm their headquarters while it was empty.

    It was risky, to say the least.

    Even if we managed to infiltrate their base, avoiding suspicion afterward would be a challenge.

    But I had it all figured out.

    The owner of the phone I hacked would be involved in a car accident at 6 PM, a little over two hours from now.

    “Deputy Secretary of Municipal Party Committee Involved in Fatal Drunk Driving Accident on Highway.” That headline would be plastered all over the news soon.

    Initially, I considered saving him. But no matter how many times I made his phone ring, no one answered. He was probably passed out drunk.

    “Bring everyone to the plaza on Longyi Road, number 18. Important matters to discuss.”

    I sent the message and immediately received a call, which I promptly ignored.

    “Can’t talk, driving. Bring the others. Regarding the Tiger Stripe operation and your payment.”

    I had no idea what “Tiger Stripe” was. I found the term in his message history. Mentioning payment sealed the deal. They didn’t call again, simply replying with a message: “Understood. See you in 2 hours.”

    Longyi Road was on the opposite side of the city from Shadow’s headquarters. It would take them at least two hours to get there, giving us ample time.

    After finishing up at the internet cafe, I took a taxi to the park where I had arranged to meet Xiaodie.

    She was sitting on a swing, a small backpack beside her, fiddling with her phone. She looked relieved when she saw me.

    “I thought you went to fight those thugs yourself.”

    “As if I could take them on.”

    I waved her over. “Let’s go.”

    She grabbed my sleeve. “Wait, it’s almost four o’clock. You still haven’t told me what we’re doing.”

    “You bought an M200 from Ouyang Dati, right?”

    “Yeah.”

    “Do you know how to use it?”

    “It’s for my collection. I don’t even have any bullets.”

    “That’s why we’re going to get some other weapons.”

    I led her through a maze of hidden paths in the park, my memories guiding us toward an inconspicuous building in a remote part of the city.

    It was a three-story structure, resembling an unfinished office building. The windows were bare, lacking even security bars. A low wall, barely a meter high, surrounded the property. The trees that once stood there had been chopped down, leaving the area exposed.

    “What is this place?”

    We crouched behind some bushes a good distance away. Xiaodie eyed the building with curiosity.

    “On June 10, 2017, a new virus will break out in Upper Capital City.” I pulled my cap lower and checked the time on my phone. “It’s transmitted through bodily fluids. Within 24 hours of infection, the victim’s skin turns a bluish-purple, sometimes even reddish-black. Like zombies in the movies. But apart from dizziness, hallucinations, and fever, it’s not fatal. A vaccine will be developed by July 30th. There won’t be a single casualty.”

    “What does that have to do with this place?”

    “Let me finish. Although the virus isn’t deadly, someone will spread rumors, creating mass hysteria. People will believe it’s a zombie apocalypse. The infected will think they’re doomed and riot in the streets. By June 20th, the city will be paralyzed. I was trying to escape the chaos with some friends when we stumbled upon this place.”

    I stood up, my gaze fixed on the building’s entrance, where shadowy figures flickered in and out. “This is one of Shadow’s warehouses. It’s full of weapons.”

    “Are you crazy?” Xiaodie exclaimed. “There are people there! We can’t just barge in!”

    “Don’t worry. The higher-ups are gone. I know this place like the back of my hand. Those are just low-level thugs guarding the entrance. They probably don’t even have permission to go inside… Let’s go.”

    “B-but… promise you’ll protect me if something happens…”

    She clung to my arm, her backpack bouncing nervously against her back.

    “Nothing’s going to happen.”

    “But what if it does? You can’t just leave me behind!”

    I patted her head reassuringly.

    “Okay, okay, I promise.”

    I had spent over a week hiding in this building. I knew every nook and cranny.

    We bypassed the main entrance, where three thugs were engrossed in a card game, and slipped through a hidden passage at the back. Once we were sure the coast was clear, we made our way to the top floor.

    “Yi Yao… are we sure about this?”

    The third floor was filled with exercise equipment—sandbags, dumbbells, the works. There were also some mattresses, a sofa, a table, and bags of rice and oil, making the place look like a makeshift living space.

    “These people are a plague on this city. They’re partly responsible for what happened to your father, and they’re the ones who instigated that mob outside your apartment.” I spotted a wooden chest hidden under a tarp in the corner. “They want to play dirty? Fine. We’ll play dirty too.”

    Perhaps out of overconfidence, the lock on the chest was a simple three-digit combination. It had taken me and my friends less than fifteen minutes to crack it back then.

    I lifted the lid, and my eyes widened at the sight of guns and ammunition, neatly arranged inside.

    “Holy…”

    Xiaodie gasped, her jaw dropping. “What are all these? I don’t even recognize half of them…”

    You’ve only been studying for a few months.

    “Take what you can carry.”

    I slipped on a pair of gloves, picked up a canister of liquid, unscrewed the cap, and made my way around the floor, pouring the contents liberally.

    “What are you doing? It stinks!”

    “It’s gasoline.”

    I tossed the empty canister aside and grabbed another full one. “Ready?”

    “Why… how did you know there would be gasoline here…?”

    She stared at me, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and confusion.

    “I told you, I’ve been here before.”

    Once every inch of the floor we had touched was drenched in gasoline, I double-checked for anything that could incriminate us.

    “Wait for me in the bushes.”

    “O-okay…”

    At this point, she was practically treating me like a superhero, obeying my every command. “Be careful.”

    “I will.”

    I waited three minutes to make sure she was gone, then hopped over the wall, noting the drainage pipe that would serve as my escape route. I pulled out a box of matches, struck one, and tossed it behind me. Then, I slid down the pipe.

    As I descended, I glanced back at the three thugs still absorbed in their card game. They were completely oblivious.

    I landed safely and melted back into the trees, my heart pounding in my chest.

    “Yi Yao… I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

    “What is it?”

    “Why… why do you always wear that hat?”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 54

    No. 54 A Lily in the First Light, Waiting to Bloom

    “Do… do you even understand what you’re saying?”

    Bathed in the warm sunlight, the girl in the thin sleepwear wouldn’t meet my gaze. Her small frame was almost swallowed whole by the loose fabric, the outline of her youthful curves barely discernible.

    Just like last time, she wasn’t wearing anything underneath.

    “Xiaodie, I don’t like it when my friends lie to me, even if it’s meant to comfort me. And that includes you.”

    Besides, I didn’t need any comforting.

    It’s true that I had kissed her impulsively, but it was a desperate attempt to calm her down. And even if there were some fantasies, some vanity lurking in the back of my mind, they were just that—fantasies.

    I would bear the weight of my sins alone.

    “Do you really think I’m trying to comfort you?”

    She finally looked up, her clear eyes reflecting a mixture of sadness and something akin to resignation.

    I didn’t answer, choosing instead to draw the curtains, shutting out the sunlight. “I think you need to understand that life is not a game. If you choose this path, you’ll face constant scrutiny from the world. You’ll face challenges and hardships that ordinary people never have to deal with.”

    It was a path with no end in sight. Xiaodie was only fifteen, an age where curiosity could lead to impulsive, even reckless decisions. As her friend, I couldn’t condone it.

    “I… I’ve never had many friends. The ones I had were only interested in my family’s money and influence. When I lost those things, I lost them too.” She took a step closer. “You’re different, Yi Yao. I don’t care about the difference between boyfriends and girlfriends. Call me selfish, call me a fool clinging to the first sign of warmth… Yi Yao, if you didn’t hear me before, I’ll say it again. I like you. Please, let me be your girlfriend.”

    Slivers of sunlight pierced through the gaps in the curtains, casting a soft, ethereal glow around her.

    I turned to face her, meeting her gaze head-on.

    Her eyes were bright, unwavering, devoid of any deception.

    This was a side of Xiaodie I had never seen before.

    She was usually either standoffish and aloof, playing the cool girl, or prone to childish tantrums and princess-like demands. This was the first time she had met my gaze with such unwavering determination.

    I hesitated. “If this is about the kiss, I apologize.”

    “Your emotional intelligence is abysmal!”

    She lunged at me before I could react. I instinctively stepped back, but my foot caught on the edge of the bed, and I fell backward with a yelp. Xiaodie, anticipating my move, landed on top of me.

    “What are you doing?”

    She was wearing only a thin sleepdress, and our bodies were pressed together. I could feel the warmth of her skin through the fabric.

    And then, her lips were on mine again.

    This kiss was different. It was deliberate, almost desperate, her inexperience betraying her as she clumsily probed my mouth with her tongue. I tried to push her away, but my body wouldn’t respond. A strange tingling sensation spread through me, rendering me momentarily powerless.

    “Mmm…”

    The kiss deepened, lingering for a heartbeat longer than before. She pulled back, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “Yi Yao, you asked me if it was unpleasant before. Well, it wasn’t. I didn’t hate it. In fact, it felt… right.”

    Her words, tinged with a strange confidence, left me speechless. It took me a moment to gather my wits, my lips still tingling from the contact. “Are you saying…”

    “Yes, I’m serious. I meant every word. I want to be your girlfriend. Not as a joke, not as a fling, but as real partners.” She leaned closer, resting her hands on my chest. “And speaking of being straightforward, why are you being so hesitant now? You’re usually so decisive.”

    “I’m worried about your future.”

    “My future? I think I’m capable of deciding that for myself.”

    “We’re both girls…”

    “That’s why I’m giving you the choice. I’m the one confessing, not you.” A playful grin spread across her face. “You know, Yi Yao, I always thought you were perfect. Your grades, your personality, your looks… you were infuriatingly flawless. But now, I’ve discovered something you lack.”

    “Something I lack?”

    “Yes, you lack faith.” She rolled off me and sat up, her gaze sweeping over the stacks of manga lining the walls. “When I moved here, I only brought these and the teddy bear my grandmother gave me. Everything else is gone.”

    “My father’s arrest broke me. I don’t have a mother. When my grandmother passed away, I cried until I lost my voice. The next day, I locked myself in my room and read manga all day. It sounds strange, but it actually helped.”

    “Out there, just now, I felt utterly hopeless. I even thought that maybe dying wouldn’t be so bad. I had nothing left to lose. And then, you…”

    She blushed. “Since we’re both girls, I thought about those yuri anime I’ve seen, where they kiss all the time. And then, it just clicked.”

    “No parents, a girlfriend, and a place to call home. That’s the classic setup for a lot of protagonists in anime. It might sound heartless, but that’s my reality now. I can’t change what happened to my father, and dwelling on it won’t do me any good. So why not embrace life and move on?”

    “You have your own burdens to bear, Yi Yao.” Her eyes held a knowing look. “But I’ve liked you for a long time now, probably since that kidnapping. If you need time to process this, I understand. I can wait.”

    Wait. Why did the conversation suddenly take such a strange turn?

    Could it be that Huang Yingdie, from the very beginning…

    “I…”

    I was completely flustered by her confession.

    “Well? What’s your answer?”

    “I… before I answer, I need to tell you something.” I sat up, my head spinning, and looked at her. “I’m a boy.”

    “Please, don’t use such a ridiculous excuse to reject me. And your voice is way too girly for that to be convincing.”

    I met her gaze, my expression serious. “It’s true. I’m from fifteen years in the future, a parallel world just like this one. I know what’s going to happen to all of you.”

    She stared at me as if I were an alien. “And I thought I was the delusional one.”

    “This isn’t delusion. I’m Yi Yao from another world. I was dying, and the Yi Yao of this world saved me. But two months ago, I became a girl. I saw the future—yours, mine, this city’s. That’s why I always seem to know what’s going to happen. That’s the answer to your question.”

    Perhaps it was the trust we had built, but I found myself revealing everything.

    I knew it sounded unbelievable.

    But after everything we had been through, I felt obligated to tell her the truth.

    “That’s incredible…” Her eyes widened in fascination. “So you’re saying… you’re actually attracted to girls?”

    “Well… you could say that.”

    “Yes!”

    She launched herself at me, burying her face in my chest. “I’ve been wanting to do this for ages! I was afraid you wouldn’t be okay with it. Mmm… so soft… so comfortable…”

    Taking inspiration from who knows what anime, her hands began to roam, trailing down my waist.

    “Hey, does this… bother you?”

    The unfamiliar sensation sent a wave of heat through me, and I averted my gaze.

    “Not at all,” she chirped, her eyes sparkling. “It’s perfect that you’re a boy. Besides, I like you for who you are now, not for who you were before.”

    “But I still have those memories.”

    “I don’t care. Now, answer my question.”

    “…”

    I sighed, turning away. “I’ve told you everything. What more do you want?”

    “So that’s a yes?”

    I nodded.

    “Yes! We’re officially dating then! Tell me, Yi Yao, what does the future hold for me?”

    She beamed, oblivious to the fact that her sleepdress had slipped, revealing a generous amount of cleavage.

    “I don’t know.”

    “What? But you said…”

    “Yes, I know bits and pieces about most people’s futures in this city. But yours… I don’t.”

    “Why not?”

    “Because…” I hesitated. “In the other world, you died during that kidnapping.”

    “Why?”

    “Because… I suppose… in that world, our paths never crossed.”

    “You make me sound special.”

    “You are special, Xiaodie. To me, you are.”

    I stood up and headed for the door.

    “Where are you going?”

    “To pay a visit to those people who harassed you today.”