“Meow…”
Big Orange twisted restlessly in Su Lingling’s arms, all its fur standing on end, its round eyes full of terror.
Su Lingling gently stroked its back, her fingers sinking into the soft orange fur, smoothing it down again and again.
“It’s okay, Mommy’s here.”
Her voice was soft and lazy, just woken up.
“It’s just a nightmare, Big Orange. Don’t be scared.”
The Miao Heavenly Emperor completely ignored her comfort.
It struggled out of Su Lingling’s arms, jumped down to squat by the bed, its tail swishing restlessly.
‘Big trouble meow! Qin Huan has been brainwashed meow! I can’t contact her at all meow!’
It tried to call out to Qin Huan in its mind.
【Qin Huan, wake up meow! You’re in danger meow!】
【Qin Huan! You can’t be brainwashed meow! You still need to save the world meow!】
But there was no response.
Big Orange’s tail drooped.
‘It’s over meow. This is completely over meow. The Gal Game expert I worked so hard to pick has been turned into a toy that only goes “ohohoho” by the Brainwashing APP meow… In three months, this world will be ruled by lewdness meow, and I can’t do anything meow…’
“Big Orange?”
Su Lingling tilted her head to look at it, then reached out and scooped it back into her arms.
“Why are you so strange today?”
The Miao Heavenly Emperor looked up, staring at Su Lingling’s cute face still carrying traces of sleep.
‘And then there’s this meow. Su Lingling’s Golden Finger development level is already 25% meow. It could completely spiral out of control at any time. Even if Qin Huan can shake off the brainwashing, facing Su Lingling… meow…’
The Miao Heavenly Emperor let out a powerless meow.
It was just a cat.
What could it do?
“Meow…”
The Miao Heavenly Emperor let out another weak howl and buried its face in the crook of Su Lingling’s arm.
Su Lingling’s fingers gently scratched Big Orange’s chin.
“Good kitty, good kitty. Go to sleep now. We have to get up early tomorrow.”
She turned off the bedside lamp, curled Big Orange in her arms, and lay back down.
In the darkness, Su Lingling’s eyes were still open.
‘Huanhuan…’
Her fingers sank into Big Orange’s fur, unconsciously applying a bit too much pressure.
Big Orange let out a pained “meow.”
‘It’s been days since I’ve seen Huanhuan. Even though I heard from Ju Zhenli that Huanhuan is forming a band, and I know she’s been busy lately… but… I still want to see her!’
‘I want to see her, want to hear her call me “Lingling,” want to see the happy expression on her face when she eats the desserts I make, want to smell that faint fragrance on her, miss the adorable way Huanhuan cuddles up to me…’
Su Lingling buried her face in Big Orange’s back fur and took a deep breath.
Big Orange smelled of Huanhuan.
Very faintly—it must have been left over from when Huanhuan used to pet Big Orange.
“Huanhuan…”
She murmured softly, closing her eyes.
Tomorrow, she needed to make new desserts.
Ju Zhenli had said she would send a butler to pick up desserts once a week.
The cookies from last time had already been delivered.
What should she make this time?
Cheesecake?
Tiramisu?
Or…
A small smile curled at the corner of Su Lingling’s lips.
That’s right, I’ll make macarons!
After all, macarons never lie!
And…
Macarons need a filling.
Just like her and Huanhuan: a crispy shell on the outside, a soft heart on the inside.
Put together, they make a complete dessert.
Su Lingling’s smile grew even gentler.
“Good night, Big Orange.”
—
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains.
Su Lingling stood in the kitchen, wearing that red apron, her hair tied up in a bun, revealing the fair nape of her neck.
The counter in front of her was covered with various ingredients and tools.
Macarons—one of the most finicky French desserts.
The degree of whipping the egg whites, the technique for folding the batter, the time for drying the shells, the temperature for baking—not a single step could afford the slightest mistake.
But Su Lingling didn’t find it troublesome.
She gently separated the egg whites and slowly whipped them with a hand mixer.
“Need to whip to stiff peaks…”
She murmured to herself, lifting the mixer.
The meringue formed a firm little peak.
“Mm, that’s good enough.”
She added the mixture of almond flour and powdered sugar and began to fold.
This step was the most critical.
Su Lingling’s movements were very gentle, as if handling something precious.
What color would Huanhuan like?
She thought for a moment, then divided the batter into three portions.
She added pink food coloring to one to make a cherry-blossom pale pink, light yellow to another to make a bright lemon color, and left the last portion plain, a pure creamy white.
The pink was the color of Huanhuan’s cheeks when she blushed.
The light yellow was the warm feeling of Huanhuan’s smile.
The white was Huanhuan herself—clean, simple, adorable without any embellishment.
Su Lingling’s lips curved up.
She loaded the three colored batters into separate piping bags and piped evenly sized little rounds onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
After piping, she picked up the tray and tapped it gently on the counter a few times to release air bubbles.
Then she carefully used a toothpick to pop any remaining surface bubbles, making the top of each little round smooth and even.
While waiting, Su Lingling started preparing the filling.
She softened cream cheese at room temperature, added butter and powdered sugar, and whipped it into a light buttercream.
Then she divided it into three portions.
She added strawberry jam to one for a pink strawberry filling, lemon zest to another for a light yellow lemon filling, and vanilla extract to the last for a creamy white vanilla filling.
Pink macarons with strawberry filling—when Huanhuan ate them, would she think of herself?
Light yellow macarons with lemon filling—sour, just like her own mood when Huanhuan wasn’t by her side…
White macarons with vanilla filling—the most classic flavor, as simple as Huanhuan herself.
Su Lingling loaded the fillings into piping bags and waited for the macarons to come out of the oven.
With a ding, it was finally time to take them out.
Su Lingling put on oven mitts and carefully took out the baking tray.
She nodded in satisfaction and placed the tray on a cooling rack.
After the macarons had completely cooled, she picked up a pink shell, piped strawberry filling onto it, topped it with another shell, and pressed gently.
One macaron was done.
She arranged the macarons in neat rows on a plate.
Su Lingling picked up a pink macaron and took a small bite.
The shell was crisp, the inside soft.
The sweet and sour strawberry filling melted on her tongue.
Delicious.
Huanhuan would definitely love it.
She imagined the expression on Huanhuan’s face when she ate the macarons—eyes lighting up, cheeks puffing slightly, then that heart-racing smile as she said, “Lingling’s skills have improved again.”
Then Huanhuan would reach out, wanting another one, and she would gently tap her hand away and say, “Nope, you have to wait until President-sama’s butler takes them away. The leftovers are for you.”
Huanhuan would pout, looking at her with that coaxing gaze.
And then she would…
Su Lingling’s face turned slightly red.
No, no, what was she thinking?
These macarons were for Ju Zhenli.
Whether Huanhuan could eat them depended on Ju Zhenli’s mood.
But…
If Ju Zhenli was willing to share with Huanhuan, then Huanhuan would get to taste them.
It didn’t matter if Ju Zhenli wasn’t willing to share.
Because when the Culture Festival came, she would make lots and lots of desserts and set up a stall.
Ju Zhenli would definitely be attracted over, and then she would have a chance to be alone with Huanhuan.
In the bustling crowd of the Culture Festival, in the gap after Huanhuan’s performance ended, in that little corner where only the two of them would be.
“Huanhuan, long time no see,” she would say.
“Lingling…”
Huanhuan would look at her with a mix of surprise and guilt.
“It’s okay.”
She would show her gentlest smile.
“I know Huanhuan has been busy, so I’m not angry.”
Then she would take out a macaron.
“I made this especially for Huanhuan. Want to try it?”
Huanhuan would take it, take a small bite, then show that smile she loved the most and say, “It’s delicious.”
And then she would say…
“Huanhuan, do you want… to eat desserts like this every day?”
“If you want…”
“Then stay by my side, okay?”