After devouring who knows how many desserts, Lisiluo was completely immersed in the happiness they brought.
Her silver eyelashes trembled along with her cheeks, and her eyes had long since curved into happy crescents.
She scooped up a piece of cake with her spoon and brought it to her mouth.
Coming to a dessert shop really is wonderful. If only I could eat things like this every day—
The thought had barely formed when she heard two girls talking in the booth behind her.
“Ugh, I’m doomed. I haven’t prepared anything for next week’s assessment…”
“Are you serious? The principal is going to be watching next week. You’re really going to fail, huh?”
“Yeah, didn’t I just say that? I’ve been so anxious lately that I can barely finish half a dessert.”
“No no no, now’s not the time to be eating desserts, is it? You should hurry up and hug some upperclassman’s thigh while you still can…”
Lisiluo’s spoon froze in midair.
She stared at the amber surface of the pudding, her mind starting to wander.
To be honest, she had been really happy during their time in the dessert shop.
Normally she could only squat in the classroom and nibble on bread. But now she was sitting in a soft booth with countless delicate desserts to try. It felt like a dream.
But… this was reality. And reality had a price.
Right now, she was Mu Wan’s lover.
No.
Her fake lover.
It was a lie she had been forced to admit in order to protect the secret of her crush on Yu Weian-senpai.
It was easy to imagine that in the future, she would continue to be teased by Mu Wan-senpai and live in constant anxiety.
Occasionally, like today, she might get to experience a lifestyle she had never dared to imagine before, all thanks to the young lady of the merchant family.
She poked the spoon into the pudding and watched the syrup slowly ooze out from the hole.
Then…
What about Yu Weian-senpai?
Even though Mu Wan had brushed her off with the excuse that they were “just friends,” the words Yu Weian-senpai left behind before leaving — telling her to choose her friends carefully — showed that she was still very worried about her.
Maybe right now, she was still flipping through materials, trying to find a way to help her with her magic that refused to improve.
Did I… make the wrong choice from the very beginning?
The desserts that had tasted so delicious just moments ago suddenly became bland and tasteless.
Lisiluo put down her spoon and hid her expression behind her glasses and bangs.
“Junior.”
Mu Wan’s voice suddenly cut in, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Mu Wan was staring straight at her. In her eyes, besides the usual mischief, there was also a hint of amusement — as if she had seen right through her.
“Wh-What is it?”
Lisiluo instinctively shrank further into the corner.
“I just remembered something. Maybe I have a way to help you with your magic stagnation problem.”
“Really?!”
Lisiluo snapped her head up, her eyes lighting up.
“Mm… It’s just some of my personal insights. I can’t guarantee the results, though~”
“It doesn’t matter! As long as there’s a method, I’m willing to try anything!”
“Aiya~ Junior is really working hard. But—”
Mu Wan dragged out her words and leaned back against the booth in a relaxed manner, crossing her legs. Her black-stocking-clad calf swayed gently.
“I’ve been talking so much today and walked such a long way. I’m a little tired.”
“It would be nice if someone could feed me some dessert—”
Mu Wan placed another untouched fruit mille-feuille on the table and patted the seat beside her.
Lisiluo froze for a few seconds before finally understanding.
Mu Wan-senpai wanted her to… sit over there? And feed her by hand?
The booth seats weren’t very wide. If two people sat together, they would definitely be pressed close.
And this was a public place. If other customers or the staff saw them…
Just imagining that scene made Lisiluo’s cheeks burn.
This is obviously a trap.
Either she moved over and fed Mu Wan dessert like a real lover, or she gave up on the method Mu Wan had just mentioned.
Lisiluo gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.
But… if it could actually help…
Then she wouldn’t have to keep dragging Yu Weian-senpai down. She could stop making her worry so much.
In that case, feeding her a few bites of dessert is nothing!
Lisiluo took a deep breath, walked around the table, and sat down beside Mu Wan.
The cushion sank under their combined weight. Their shoulders pressed together, and the same feeling from under the parasol returned.
“Junior is so kind. Here.”
Mu Wan grinned mischievously as she stuffed the spoon into Lisiluo’s hand and pushed the mille-feuille in front of her.
Lisiluo hesitated for a few seconds, scooped up a small piece, and carefully brought it to Mu Wan’s mouth while leaning sideways.
“Ah~”
Mu Wan opened her mouth and took the bite, then licked the corner of her lips.
“Mmm~ It really does taste different when someone feeds you. Give me a few more bites~”
Hearing Mu Wan’s spoiled, coquettish request, Lisiluo’s face turned so red it looked like steam might come out of her ears.
Mu Wan-senpai had always acted so domineering before. Suddenly acting cute like this created an overwhelming contrast.
Lisiluo felt like her heart was being put through an unprecedented challenge.
She quickly glanced around to check if anyone was watching.
Thank goodness. No one’s paying attention to us.
For the sake of getting stronger, for Yu Weian-senpai’s sake… even if I faint in the next second, I have to keep going!
Suppressing her shame, Lisiluo continued feeding her.
“Ah~ Ah~”
Mu Wan chewed with puffed cheeks. After swallowing, she suddenly spoke in a mysterious tone.
“In my opinion, what you’re lacking isn’t effort or talent. It’s 【emotion】.”
Lisiluo paused mid-feed and blinked.
“Emotion?”
“That’s right. The most important thing in magic is the resonance between your heart and your mana. Only when you pour your entire being into calling out to it will magic respond.”
“But… what if someone lacks emotion? What should they do?”
Lisiluo looked confused. After all, emotion was something invisible and intangible. It wasn’t like a skill you could practice and master.
“Ah~” Mu Wan opened her mouth again, signaling for more.
“Eh? Oh, right.”
After feeding her a few more bites, Mu Wan continued.
“If you lack emotion, then you need to supplement it from the outside before casting. Like adding fuel to a furnace.”
“Like that… and it’ll work?”
“Exactly~” Mu Wan nodded proudly.
“Umm… I don’t really understand… So how do I supplement emotion?”
“It’s simple. Just do what I say right now.”
As she spoke, Mu Wan suddenly leaned in close to Lisiluo’s face.
“Come on. Close your eyes and open your mouth.”
Lisiluo frowned and hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to obediently follow the instructions.
The moment she closed her eyes, her vision went dark. At the same time, her other senses became sharper.
She heard rustling sounds beside her, as if Mu Wan was shifting her body.
Then a warm presence slowly approached her face.
Closer and closer, until it was right in front of her.
“U-Um… Mu Wan-senpai? Is that you?”
“Shh. Don’t open your eyes until I say so.”
Mu Wan’s mischievous voice was especially clear beside her ear. Lisiluo could almost picture the smug grin on her face as she said it.
Realizing that, Lisiluo’s heart began to pound faster and faster.
Mu Wan’s earlier words flashed through her mind.
Lacking emotion… supplement it… and now she’s telling me to close my eyes and open my mouth…
Wait. Don’t tell me she’s planning to—
They were still in a “lover” relationship in Mu Wan’s eyes. It wasn’t impossible for her to have that kind of idea.
I have to refuse!
If she really took this step, then she would be cheating for real.
“Senpai? This is still too early for something like this—”
Before she could finish, something sweet entered her mouth.
It tasted exactly like the mille-feuille Mu Wan had been eating.
Boom.
Lisiluo’s mind went completely blank.
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