Erica watched Liliana clearing the table. After confirming no one else was around, she leaned close to Liliana's ear. "Lili-chan, why are you acting so differently today? You were actually bold enough to confess!"
The night before, there had been a confession too... but Liliana hadn't said much - it was all Erica talking.
Yet this morning, Liliana had been surprisingly brave.
"What are you talking about? Don't distract me while I'm cleaning." Liliana's face immediately flushed red as she pushed Erica away.
"There's no need to hide it now. It seems Lili-chan really does like the King's male disguise! I never imagined she'd look so handsome in it. Don't you feel like you've hit the jackpot? Becoming the King's girlfriend means having such a handsome boyfriend..."
"How does the King compare to the male lead in your novel?"
Forget Liliana—even Erica was smitten by Phoenix's appearance today.
Previously, Erica had wanted to become "one of us" with Phoenix because of her Campione status, because she was the King of Italy.
After all, Erica wasn't into yuri, nor had she ever considered such things.
It was simply that the King preferred women. If she could become the King's true "one of us," then she would be his most important subordinate.
After spending these days with Phoenix, Erica discovered that although she was female, her mannerisms were completely masculine.
Combined with her occasional "dominant" demeanor, she truly felt... "safe" around her.
Today, Phoenix appeared in the guise of a perfect, incredibly handsome male, and Erica was genuinely smitten.
The King was basically identical to her ideal partner, except... except for lacking one particular part. But since they could still have children, it didn't matter.
Moreover, as Magicians, they weren't ordinary humans. What was missing could be compensated for with magic.
-
"What... even if I've fallen for the King, what's the point if she... won't accept me?"
Liliana no longer denied her feelings for Phoenix; she truly was smitten.
"Don't worry about that. Haven't you noticed? The King really likes your legs... That's your advantage."
Erica leaned close to Liliana, whispering softly into her ear.
Erica knew she couldn't win Phoenix's heart alone, so she didn't mind sharing "the King" with Liliana.
As a Campione standing at the world's pinnacle, wasn't it natural to have multiple partners?
Besides, Phoenix was a girl too... Who could say for sure who's the one being claimed here?!
"My legs..."
Liliana glanced down at her legs but couldn't see anything unusual.
"Does King really like my legs? But... I don't feel anything special about them. They're not even as good as King's own legs," Liliana said, feeling her long legs seemed quite ordinary.
As for King...
"Lili-chan, even though you're like King with no chest, your legs are truly perfect. So don't be sad about yourself; be confident."
"..."
Hearing this, Liliana looked at Erica's chest...
"Big chests aren't impressive! Only shallow people like big chests."
"Sorry, big chests are impressive. As for the shallow people... King is one of them too. Ha ha ha..."
After saying this, Erica deliberately puffed out her chest.
"..."
Liliana was silent for a moment, then suddenly grabbed Erica's chest, turned around, and quickly left with the plate.
Soon, it was time for the flight to depart, and Phoenix and her three companions had already boarded the plane.
They had booked business class seats—Erica had handled all the arrangements, while Phoenix couldn't care less about such details...
However, several hours later, Phoenix felt somewhat disappointed.
She hadn't encountered any dangerous hijackers. In the typical novels, the protagonist always faced plane hijackers every time they flew.
The hero would then step forward, single-handedly take down the hijackers, and win the affection of a whole group of beautiful young women. Then, inevitably, something would go wrong with the plane's pilot.
At this critical moment, the protagonist would step forward again, facing everyone's disbelieving gazes. Using their years of motorcycle driving experience, they would successfully pilot the plane to a safe landing at the destination.
What a face-slapping twist.
After what felt like an eternity, Phoenix and her companions emerged from Shenzhou Capital International Airport. It was already late in the evening.
"King, where should we go now? What should we do?" Liliana asked, gazing adoringly at Phoenix as if she might strip naked and climb into bed with her at any moment.
"It's late. Let's find something to eat first, then book a hotel room."
Phoenix scanned their surroundings. Even in the dead of night, Shanghai remained brightly lit.
"Chinese food?" Erica's eyes lit up.
"What else..."
With that casual remark, the four of them set out to find a place to eat.
Though it was late at night, Shanghai - the city that never sleeps - still bustled with life. Passersby couldn't help but pause and stare as the striking Phoenix led two beautiful European girls and an adorable young girl past them.
"Would you... like hot pot?"
After taking only a few steps, Phoenix spotted a still-open hot pot restaurant, her eyes lighting up. It had been ages since she'd last enjoyed this dish.
Though this wasn't Shuangqing, it wouldn't be too different.
"Hot pot? That spicy thing?"
Erica and Liliana seemed intrigued by the suggestion, yet also a bit apprehensive.
"There are mild options."
The two Italian girls were essentially spice-averse...
"Then... let's try it!"
"We can eat with King."
Upon hearing there were non-spicy options, Erica immediately nodded.
"Eating hot pot..."
Higokumaru gazed at the restaurant before her, her eyes lighting up.
Higokumaru wasn't afraid of spicy food at all.
Although her favorite dishes were fried tofu and grilled meat, she also enjoyed barbecue and hot pot. It was just that these things didn't exist in Japan five hundred years ago.
"Alright, let's go in!"
-
Of course, when Phoenix and her three companions entered the restaurant, they found it completely empty. The late hour must have been the reason!
They quickly found seats and began ordering...
Phoenix held the menu handed by the server, with Higokumaru standing beside her. The dense list of dishes immediately lifted her spirits.
"Phoenix-nee, order eight portions of this fried tofu, plus this beef, and that meat too..."