Dear Yu Weian-senpai,
I have some urgent matters to handle outside the academy recently, including today’s tutoring session and the ones after. I’m afraid I’ll have to cancel them for now. I’m very sorry!
—From your junior, Lisiluo.
After writing the final word, Lisiluo’s pen tip lingered on the letter paper for a long time, unwilling to leave.
Mu Wan reached out and deftly pulled the letter out from under her hand.
Lisiluo had wanted to stop her, but in the end she slowly withdrew her hand.
“Mm. This is enough.”
Mu Wan glanced over it once, then slipped it into an envelope and walked over to the window.
Outside, a pure white messenger bird was quietly waiting.
The bird tilted its head toward the approaching Mu Wan and let out a short chirp, allowing her to tuck the letter into the small tube attached to its leg.
“Go on.”
The messenger bird spread its wings and disappeared into the sky as a white streak.
Lisiluo had been staring out the window the entire time. Only when Mu Wan sat back down beside her and spoke did she return to reality.
“You’re that worried she’ll get angry?”
There was a hint of teasing in Mu Wan’s tone. She clearly knew exactly what Lisiluo was thinking.
“…Yeah.”
Lisiluo didn’t deny it.
After all, what she feared most was seeing the gentle Yu Weian-senpai’s disappointed expression.
Now she had overturned everything they had previously agreed on with just one letter. Senpai was definitely going to be angry.
“You can relax about that.”
Mu Wan picked up a piece of candy from the table, crossed her legs, and peeled off the wrapper.
“Once we get back, I have a way to help you deal with Yu Weian.”
“…Really?”
Lisiluo looked up. Mu Wan didn’t continue. She simply winked at her and brought the unwrapped candy to Lisiluo’s lips.
“Ah—open wide.”
Lisiluo frowned, but ultimately obeyed. She opened her mouth and accepted the candy.
The sweet candy melted on her tongue, but the bitterness in her heart remained.
In the end, she had still agreed to Mu Wan’s request—all for the sake of that storybook.
But she never expected…
That the compensation Mu Wan wanted was for Lisiluo to accompany her shopping.
Right now, the two of them were sitting in a lavishly decorated guest room.
Unlike Mu Wan’s own resting room, which had a much more lived-in feel, every inch of this space reeked of wealth.
Gemstone chandeliers hung from the ceiling, woven carpets covered the floor, and artworks were displayed everywhere.
Lisiluo sat on an exquisite velvet chair. Even the quill and ink she had just used to write the letter were high-end. She was practically surrounded by money.
Unlike the cautious Lisiluo, the young lady Mu Wan looked far more at ease.
She picked up another candy, popped it into her own mouth, and swung her legs while seated, looking completely in her element.
Lisiluo swallowed the candy and couldn’t help but ask the person beside her in a low voice:
“Senpai… is it really okay for us to suddenly show up in someone else’s luxurious guest room like this?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Relax. This room was originally set aside specifically for special guests like me.”
Mu Wan waved her hand, then suddenly thought of something and added:
“The manager of 【Falling Star Pavilion】 has probably already received the message and is on her way here. Just wait.”
Lisiluo had already been nervous, but after hearing Mu Wan’s explanation, she became even more tense.
【Falling Star Pavilion】 was a well-known magic stone trading chamber. For students aiming to become mages, it was of utmost importance.
She looked down at herself.
She was wearing her ordinary academy uniform. Thankfully she changed into a fresh one every day, so there shouldn’t be any issues.
She secretly straightened her collar and skirt, and had already combed her hair neatly in front of a mirror before coming. Her appearance should be fine… probably?
After finishing all that, Lisiluo turned her head—only to find Mu Wan resting her chin on her hand, watching her every move with great interest.
Lisiluo’s hand froze in midair. Her face turned red.
“Pfft. It’s fine. I didn’t see anything.”
Mu Wan couldn’t hold it in and accidentally laughed out loud.
She then turned away and pretended she hadn’t noticed anything, continuing to eat the snacks on the table.
“Uuu—”
Lisiluo let out a small, miserable whimper and covered her face.
So embarrassing.
Perhaps noticing how nervous Lisiluo was, Mu Wan started chatting casually.
“Don’t worry. This place was also founded with investment from the Mu family. All the employees, including that manager, are direct retainers of the Mu household.”
“Eh? All of them? Even the manager?”
“Of course. So you can act however you want. Just treat it like you’re at my house.”
“No no no, as a guest I should still be polite. Otherwise I’ll embarrass the academy and you, Senpai.”
Lisiluo waved her hands in a panic.
Shocking.
The Mu family was actually the backer behind Falling Star Pavilion? She had never heard anything about that.
No wonder Mu Wan-senpai didn’t look nervous at all.
Lisiluo was starting to feel like she had stepped into an incredibly impressive circle.
“Besides… wouldn’t treating it like Senpai’s house make me even more nervous?”
“Hmm? Actually, I meant it in another sense.”
“Another sense?”
“Of course—the lover sense. Since you’ve become my lover, those little things don’t matter anymore.”
“Eh?! But—but…”
“Relax. Whether it’s the servants or the employees, they’ll all keep their mouths shut. You can just tell them directly.”
Mu Wan gave Lisiluo an OK gesture.
Just as Lisiluo was about to say “That doesn’t feel right,” a knock sounded at the door, cutting off their conversation.
A young girl’s voice came from outside, polite and respectful:
“Miss Mu Wan, I am the general manager of 【Falling Star Pavilion】. May I come in?”
Mu Wan set down the snack in her hand and turned toward the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
The person who entered looked only a few years older than Lisiluo, but her appearance and bearing were clearly much more mature.
She wore a well-fitted deep-purple suit uniform, with gold star patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar. The skirt reached just below her knees, revealing a stretch of calf wrapped in white stockings.
Her long brown hair was neatly tied back and secured with a silver hairpin.
The most eye-catching feature—
Was the pair of fox ears on her head. Their fur matched her hair color, standing upright with the tips occasionally twitching slightly.
The fox-eared girl first clasped her hands in front of her and gave the two of them a standard, respectful bow.
Then she straightened up, wearing a perfect professional smile, her gaze locked firmly on Mu Wan.
“General Manager of 【Falling Star Pavilion】 Main Store, Luo Ling, on behalf of all 【Falling Star Pavilion】 employees, extends our most sincere welcome to Miss Mu Wan of the Mu family.”
“At the same time, please pass along my regards to your mother, the head of the Mu household. I wish her good health and ever-growing prosperity.”
The entire greeting flowed smoothly—polite yet respectful.
Lisiluo found herself a little entranced watching it.
So this is what a mature, important person is like. She has such presence!
However, Mu Wan simply waved her hand, her tone sounding somewhat unappreciative.
“Alright, alright, that’s enough. You’re being too long-winded. She’s not an outsider, so just use the usual private manner.”
Luo Ling’s smile froze for a moment.
She closed the door and glanced left and right, confirming there was no one else in the room.
Then—
The professional smile on her face vanished completely.
In its place was an undisguised look of disgust, along with cold, icy words.
“I believe I’ve said before that you’re not welcome here, Master.”