An hour passed, and the number of customers in the cafe gradually thinned.
Mahina hurried over, fine beads of sweat still clinging to her hair. Her face carried a hint of exhaustion, yet it could not hide the joy of seeing Lorevil. If they hadn’t been inside the shop with other staff members and a few lingering customers nearby, Mahina likely would have thrown herself directly into Lorevil’s arms.
“Mahina, aren’t you going to drink some coffee?” Lorevil asked with concern as she looked at the girl’s dry, cracked lips.
“Coffee is too bitter, and it’s very expensive. I’m not used to it,” Mahina replied, her expression tightening as she shook her head.
“Are you hiding something from me again?” Lorevil sighed.
She knew Mahina all too well. The young girl was habitually prone to hiding her true thoughts due to her deep-seated inferiority complex.
“As far as I know, coffee is free for the employees here, isn’t it?” Lorevil stared into her eyes, her tone certain.
Mahina hesitated for a moment before nodding.
She had indeed tried coffee once. It was on her second day of work when, out of curiosity, she brewed a cup for herself. She hadn’t added any sugar, and it was so bitter she nearly gagged. However, Mahina had forced herself to finish it and secretly paid for the drink — all because she was afraid the other employees would think she was taking advantage of the shop.
After all, she had been introduced by Lorevil. She always felt different from the others, and her innate insecurity made her exceptionally sensitive to how others perceived her.
“Do the other employees have to pay for coffee?” Lorevil asked again.
“No,” Mahina shook her head, whispering softly.
“Then why not drink the free coffee?” Lorevil found it a bit strange, but as she observed Mahina’s slightly awkward expression, she understood instantly.
She remembered Mahina mentioning that she had experienced friction with other female workers back at the workshop. Now, the girl was being extremely cautious, not wanting to be misunderstood or marginalized by her new colleagues over any trivial matter.
“Come with me.”
Lorevil took Mahina’s hand, stood up, and walked to the counter.
Many employees in the cafe looked over curiously. Mahina instinctively shrunk behind Lorevil’s back, appearing somewhat uneasy.
“She is a staff member here and would like a cup of coffee. Add plenty of sugar and a good amount of milk.” Lorevil pointed to the condiments on the counter and turned to ask the employee in charge of brewing, “The extra ingredients aren’t charged, right?”
“That’s correct. When we drink coffee here, condiments like sugar and milk are free of charge,” the employee explained politely, though they seemed a bit puzzled.
“Good.”
Lorevil squeezed Mahina’s small hand and turned back to their seats.
Soon after, a cup of coffee with a rich milk aroma was brought over and placed on Lorevil’s table.
“See? Isn’t it a very simple matter?” Lorevil pushed the coffee toward Mahina and explained gently. “You are an employee here; it’s only natural for you to enjoy the employee benefits. You don’t need to feel embarrassed.”
“Don’t go out of your way to be an outlier regarding things that everyone else accepts as the norm. Just integrate yourself well.” Lorevil paused, looking into Mahina’s eyes, and spoke seriously. “Those who dislike you won’t change their attitude just because you drink or don’t drink coffee. Those willing to accept you won’t hate you for such a small thing. There’s no need to wrong yourself just to please others.”
“Mhm.”
Mahina held the warm coffee in her hands and took a small sip.
‘So sweet!’
Mahina’s eyes crinkled into thin slits. This cup of coffee had plenty of sugar; it was deliciously sweet without a hint of the previous bitterness. The warm liquid slid down her dry throat, soothing her tension and unease.
Mahina lowered her head to take another sip. A small trace of white milk clung to her tempting red lips, making her look exceptionally adorable. Lorevil subconsciously pulled out a tissue and carefully wiped the corner of the girl’s mouth.
When she touched Mahina’s soft lips, the girl’s body stiffened slightly, and a crimson flush spread across her pretty face. Once she finished wiping, Lorevil looked up and found Mahina staring at her with a lingering, almost obsessed gaze, as if she wanted to devour her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Lorevil felt a bit uncomfortable under that gaze and grew restless.
She didn’t know why she had suddenly felt the urge to wipe Mahina’s mouth. Lorevil even began to doubt her own original intentions. It was Mahina she had seen first when arriving in this world; it would be a lie to say she disliked her. If Noxia weren’t at home, she might have gradually fallen for this resilient girl because of that initial good impression.
At that thought, a trace of struggle flickered in Lorevil’s burgundy eyes.
“Lorevil, the way you looked when you were speaking just now was so beautiful. I really like your tone, too,” Mahina said with obsession, making no effort to hide her adoration.
At the same time, Mahina leaned closer and closer. Lorevil could feel the enticing heat radiating from her body.
“I’ll be leaving after you finish your coffee. I’ll come see you again next time,” Lorevil said, decisively changing the subject as she couldn’t handle Mahina’s overly fervent gaze.
“Wait — wait, Lorevil. Why did you spend so much money buying clothes for me last time?” Mahina suddenly asked, a hint of doubt and unease in her eyes. “You said before that you were just an ordinary student at Holy Blood Academy. How could you have so much money?”
Lorevil cursed inwardly. She had completely forgotten about that.
Her original self had told Mahina that she was just an ordinary student at Holy Blood Academy with very little money. But last time, in a moment of impulse to make Mahina comfortable, she had bought many expensive clothes. This clearly did not fit the status of an ordinary student.
Lorevil scrambled to find a reasonable excuse in her mind. As she watched the suspicion in Mahina’s eyes grow deeper, she even noticed the **Blackening Value** above the girl’s head rise by a fraction. Lorevil grew anxious, feeling like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.
To cover this small lie, she could only tell a much larger one.
“That… that is my parents’ inheritance.”
After saying this, Lorevil felt a pang of guilt. Even though she didn’t want to deceive Mahina, her identity was too unique. Whether it was the secret of being a transmigrator or the situation of the Lorevil family, neither could be easily revealed. She could only apologize silently in her heart.
Besides, since the current Lorevil had never met the original body’s parents, saying they had passed away shouldn’t be a big deal.
Mahina froze upon hearing the words “parents’ inheritance.” The chilling suspicion in her eyes instantly transformed into deep pity for Lorevil’s tragic background.
“So that’s how it is… Lorevil, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have questioned you. I didn’t mean to open your wounds.”
Mahina felt a deep sense of self-reproach for offending Lorevil. Her fingers involuntarily gripped the hem of Lorevil’s clothes as she pleaded for forgiveness.
“It’s okay,” Lorevil managed a forced smile.
She felt a trace of guilt for betraying Mahina’s trust, but she immediately suppressed it with her sense of caution. One lie required countless others to bridge the gaps. Lorevil understood this principle clearly.
She only hoped that the existence of her wife at home would not be easily exposed, and she hoped Mahina could maintain her current positive state of life.
The wisp of black mist representing suspicion above Mahina’s head dissipated completely. Lorevil did not know what kind of terrifying, blackened girl Mahina would become if her trust ever truly collapsed.