Yanfei led Qin Yu, whose expression remained calm, to a quieter street.
"What do you want to eat?" Yanfei asked, hands on her hips and a bright smile.
"Anything's fine with me. You can choose."
Yanfei nodded, her gaze sweeping over the shops before finally settling on a meat pie.
Just one? That makes sense. Yanfei just finished eating, so she must still be full.
If she ate that much regularly, she'd definitely have some extra weight around her waist... right? Wait, does she?
Her exposed abdomen boasted a perfectly defined curve.
Where is Qin Yu staring...? At my stomach? Does she want to touch me there? That's not okay... Well, maybe it is... No, definitely not!
Yanfei's thoughts spiraled into chaos. Clinging to the last shred of her composure, she forced a smile and handed the meat pie to Qin Yu.
"Thank you. Aren't you going to eat any?" Qin Yu asked casually.
"Me? I'm not very hungry. You can have it all. If you can't finish it, just give it back to me," Yanfei replied with a smile.
"Wow, that's quite the statement..."
"I'll finish it all," Qin Yu declared. "Not a single bite left for you."
Yanfei raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Quite the appetite... but that's a good thing!"
"I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
I think she misunderstood.
Qin Yu had initially assumed Yanfei wanted her leftovers, but quickly dismissed the idea as unlikely. Just because Yanfei had acted like a large dog when being petted earlier didn't mean she should be treated like one.
Yanfei wanted to ask why Qin Yu was suddenly apologizing, but seeing her already digging into the pie, she abandoned the question.
"Did you skip lunch?" Yanfei asked, her tone concerned.
I did. I was in too much of a hurry to eat.
Normally, Qin Yu would have lied and said she had eaten. But since she was "in character," she figured she should behave differently than usual—even if Yanfei couldn't see through it.
So Qin Yu admitted, "No, I didn't."
"Is it because of me?"
Half true. I wanted to get the food to you before you started cooking or went out to eat... but there's no need to say that.
For Points? Right now, it's more about how I feel.
Qin Yu sighed. "How could you think that? I just forgot to eat."
"I see... Well, if you're still hungry, just let me know. Oh, let's grab another drink. What would you like?" Yanfei said awkwardly.
The feeling of having her advances rejected after presuming too much made her want to crawl into a hole.
But then Yanfei thought, If this were the Qin Yu I know, she wouldn't have said it like that, would she? What would she have said instead?
Something like, "No, I just forgot to eat"?
Or maybe, "Yes, it was all for you, Yanfei"?
Neither of those sounded like something Qin Yu would actually say.
The Qin Yu Yanfei knew was always careful with her words, trying her best not to hurt anyone's feelings or cause them unnecessary worry.
But the Qin Yu before her now was different.
She spoke bluntly: "No," "I don't want to," "That's just how it is"...
While still softer than usual, this new, more assertive demeanor, with its sharper edges, paradoxically made Yanfei feel even closer to her and found her even more endearing.
"Apple juice is fine, thank you."
Yanfei ordered their drinks, took one in each hand, and started walking back to their table. Before she could reach it, she spotted Hu Tao sneaking up behind Qin Yu.
"Gotcha!" Hu Tao exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Qin Yu in a playful hug.
"Eek?!" Qin Yu yelped in surprise, letting out an adorable squeal.
Realizing it was just Hu Tao's prank, she grumbled, "Don't scare me like that!"
"Hmm?"
Hu Tao blinked, her gaze drifting away momentarily as if deep in thought. Then, as if suddenly understanding something, her smile widened even further.
"What's wrong with that? I slack off, you get to fondle peaches. I have abundance year after year, you're as lovely as peach blossoms—isn't that wonderful? So let me pinch your cheeks a few times, and you can pinch mine! Heh heh!"
Hu Tao began playfully kneading Qin Yu's face.
"Stop it," Qin Yu protested, likely honoring her promise not to revert to her usual demeanor.
Fortunately, it was Hu Tao who had approached them. She seemed utterly unfazed—no, rather, she appeared deeply intrigued. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, as if she'd discovered something fascinating.
Yanfei, watching from a distance, felt a prick of discomfort.
Qin Yu had only adopted this persona for her sake... But wasn't that a childish way to think? Besides, there was nothing wrong with friends teasing each other.
Lost in thought, Yanfei quickened her pace.
"Good afternoon, Director Hu Tao."
Hu Tao grinned. "Oh, just call me Hu Tao! We're practically family by now—no need for formalities. Besides, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is counting on your business someday!"
Same as always, Qin Yu thought to herself.
"I've told you I'm a half-adeptus with a long lifespan. I probably won't need your services for centuries. By the way, can I call you 'Treasure'? I believe Qin Yu used to call you that." Yanfei's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Hu Tao chuckled. "Oh dear, that won't do at all. That name is reserved for Fishy Treasure, isn't it?"
I don't want to be called that, Qin Yu thought.
Yanfei wasn't surprised by Hu Tao's response. She'd only asked casually.
"Hu Tao, want a drink? It's on me!" Yanfei offered.
"Oh? How generous! But no thanks, I just stopped by to snag a fish," Hu Tao said, placing her hand on Qin Yu's shoulder and giving it a playful squeeze.
Qin Yu grumbled, "Couldn't you have just walked past normally?"
Hu Tao grinned. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't say hello? Besides, Fishy Treasure, you're acting a bit different today. While I quite like it, are you sure you're alright?"
Hu Tao likes this version of me? Qin Yu's heart skipped a beat.
Evaluation: D (Hu Tao)
No, she's definitely teasing me. That's just her style, Qin Yu thought. I won't fall for it.
Still, she had to cut her impromptu act short.
Qin Yu quickly switched back to her usual persona and smiled. "Just kidding! I'm delighted to see you, Hu Tao! Though I'd prefer if you didn't greet me like that next time."
"Hehe, I just wanted to give you a little surprise!"
What kind of surprise is that? More like a shock! Qin Yu inwardly fumed before Hu Tao asked again.
"So, what was that all about?"
"What do you mean?" Qin Yu replied.
"Fishy Treasure, why are you acting... so different?"
The pause was subtle, as if Hu Tao had wanted to say something else entirely.
Could it be that Hu Tao already knows?
That she's realized I'm lying? Qin Yu felt a sudden wave of discomfort, the hand Hu Tao had placed on her shoulder now heavy as a stone.
Yanfei quickly offered a brief explanation.
Hu Tao's eyes widened in understanding. "Oh, so it was an act! No wonder you seemed so different, Fishy Treasure. You're quite the performer! I think you should consider exploring this side of yourself more."
"Ahaha..."
Is she saying I'm good at deceiving people? Qin Yu couldn't stop the negative thoughts from spiraling.
Hu Tao suddenly turned to Yanfei. "You said you requested this performance. Does that mean you really like Fishy Treasure this way?"
Qin Yu and Yanfei both froze, stunned.
Impossible.
She probably just found it amusing. If Yanfei suddenly acted cold and aloof, Qin Yu would find that entertaining too, but she'd likely grow tired of it after a day.
That was all there was to it.
Meanwhile, Yanfei thought, Hu Tao's question is so tricky. Saying she prefers Fishy Treasure like this implies a comparison to her usual self—that she likes her better when she's acting...
Deep down, that might be true, but there's no way I could admit it.
But simply saying it was "amusing" felt wrong too.
"Well, for me..."
Yanfei was about to answer when Qin Yu interjected, "I really like both of you."
Don't even think about answering that question.
If I affirmed it, admitting she liked me as I am, what would be the point of all the effort I've put into creating and maintaining this persona? Could anyone truly like someone with a personality as flawed as mine?
If I denied it, implying she preferred the fabricated version of me, that would be even worse.
I maintained this facade precisely to be liked, so it's understandable that she might.
But I'd still hate it.
Yanfei's mind raced.
Qin Yu said she likes me? No, she said "both of you," including Hu Tao. There's nothing special about it. I almost misunderstood.
Still, Yanfei couldn't suppress her happiness.
"I like you too, Fishy Treasure!" Hu Tao chimed in with a smile.
Evaluation: C- (Hu Tao)
Yeah, yeah. Qin Yu mentally dismissed Hu Tao's comment, maintaining a polite smile.
"I... um... I—ouch! That hurts!" Yanfei suddenly clutched her mouth.
"What's wrong?" Hu Tao asked, puzzled.
Qin Yu also noticed Yanfei's strange behavior. Pain... could it be...?
"I bit my tongue," Yanfei said helplessly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Just as I thought.
"Are you okay?" Qin Yu asked, concerned.
"Y-yes, I think it'll be fine in a moment," Yanfei stammered. "I never thought I'd bite my tongue. Everyone used to praise me for how quickly and clearly I could recite legal codes. They said I had a silver tongue."
Yanfei suddenly seemed unusually dejected.
It was true that she often rattled off long strings of words without slurring, enunciating each syllable perfectly. Her verbal skills were undeniably impressive.
For someone like her to bite her tongue was truly astonishing.
Come to think of it, what had she been about to say?
"What were you trying to say, Yanfei?" Qin Yu asked curiously.
"Exactly! What was it? I'm dying to know too!" Hu Tao chimed in, stoking the flames.
How could I possibly answer now? Yanfei thought desperately.
The courage she had mustered moments before had been shattered by the bite of her tongue, vanishing without a trace.
Forcing herself to repeat it would be agony, utterly impossible. Why can Hu Tao say it so effortlessly? Maybe I should just blurt it out after all? Yanfei's mind swirled in confusion.
In the end, she stammered, "N-nothing... it's nothing."
But clearly, it was something.
If she doesn't want to talk, that's fine, Qin Yu thought, a twinge of disappointment creeping in.
Hu Tao was even more disappointed. Why did she suddenly clam up? She had been eager to see Qin Yu's reaction to Yanfei's words.
Well, time to slip away.
But before leaving, Hu Tao leaned down and whispered in Qin Yu's ear, "Fishy Treasure."
Qin Yu's shoulders twitched, and her ears flushed crimson. Are you Ningguang or something?!
"W-what is it?" Qin Yu murmured, her voice barely audible.
"I think you were wonderful just now, and you're wonderful now too!" Hu Tao's voice tickled Qin Yu's ear, the strange, ticklish sensation disrupting her composure and leaving her momentarily speechless.
Evaluation: C+ (Hu Tao)
"See you both next time!" Hu Tao waved cheerfully and strolled away, humming a merry tune.
Qin Yu took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. I won't believe it. Anyone can say sweet words.