Lin Mu didn't snoop too much on her phone. He entered his own phone number, gave himself a call, and then saved his name as a contact before handing the phone back to her.
After that, they both fell silent.
Shiina Mahiru finished her bento, hesitated for a moment, and then worked up the courage to look at him. "Give me your bento box. I'll wash them together while I'm at it."
Lin Mu didn't object. He thanked her and handed her the bento box. Seeing the box scraped clean, Shiina Mahiru's heart felt warm. With a slightly cheerful mood, she left to wash the bento boxes.
Then, as if guided by a phantom, the girl returned to the flower bed. Seeing the man sitting in the shade, typing away on his computer, an inexplicable sense of pleasant surprise filled her heart.
After a moment's thought, Shiina Mahiru carefully sat down again. Clutching her chest, she didn't know what to say. She was actually quite anxious. If she approached him so proactively, would he get the wrong idea? But if he didn't get the wrong idea, she felt she would be even more upset.
As she was struggling with her thoughts, Lin Mu's voice sounded. "Come sit a little closer. If you want to look, just look."
"Oh." Shiina Mahiru replied in a low voice and obediently scooted over.
Her gaze fell on his screen. Seeing the rows of characters appearing on the screen, she couldn't help but reveal a surprised expression. "Are you writing a light novel?"
"Mhm." Lin Mu nodded, but his fingers didn't stop, quickly transcribing the plot he had been thinking about. "I'm very poor right now, after all. I can't keep shamelessly freeloading off your meals. And I still owe you a pair of black stockings."
Hearing that phrase, Shiina Mahiru's mind couldn't help but flash to the crumpled, torn black pantyhose from that day. Her face burned, and she glared at him in shame. "You still dare to mention that! You pervert!"
After speaking, she couldn't resist hitting him with her small fist. Her gaze then fell on his neck. There had been a mark there, from where she had bitten him, but now it was completely gone.
Lin Mu turned to look at her and smiled faintly. "What, still thinking about the mark you left on me? My recovery ability is very good. It's probably because Shiina-san's cooking replenished enough of my energy."
As he spoke, he boldly took her small hand and placed it on his neck. "Come on. If you want to leave your mark, I can let you bite me again."
"Mmph... you pervert, what nonsense are you talking about? I'm not going to bite you." Shiina Mahiru snatched her hand back as if she had received an electric shock. "And besides, my cooking doesn't have that kind of effect..."
Lin Mu just smiled and shrugged, finished the chapter, and then handed her the laptop. "Want to take a look? This is my first step to becoming a light novel author. Once I have money, I can support you."
"Who needs you to support them?" Shiina Mahiru rolled her eyes at him, but her heart couldn't help but beat faster. She took the laptop and began to read seriously.
Soon, she pouted with dissatisfaction. "Why are there several female leads? And they're all beautiful girls?"
Lin Mu threw up his hands. "Guys just like to fantasize about several beautiful girls all liking them. That's how you get big sales."
Shiina Mahiru looked at him suspiciously. "Are you sure it's not just your own fantasy?"
Lin Mu just smiled without saying a word. It was practically a tacit admission.
Shiina Mahiru was instantly displeased. He's already done that to her, yet he's still thinking about other girls. How can this bastard be like this?
Shooting him a harsh glare, Shiina Mahiru shoved the laptop back at him and turned to leave. "I'm going back! You can just sit here and keep dreaming, you pervert!"
However, her small hand was swiftly grabbed by someone. Then, she was pulled into his embrace.
"Mahiru, although I admit I'm a pervert, it still hurts my heart to hear you say it like that."
"Mmph... what... what are you doing? This... is school." Shiina Mahiru noticed the fire in his eyes and immediately panicked, starting to look left and right, terrified of being seen by other students.
Lin Mu, however, just lowered his head and kissed her on the lips once before letting her go. "I know, so just once. Alright, go on back."
"You... shameless!" Shiina Mahiru covered her lips, not knowing what to say.
"You know I'm a scoundrel, yet you still stick close to me. Are you planning on having me take responsibility?" Lin Mu said with a wide grin.
Shiina Mahiru's face turned red. She lifted her little leather shoe and stomped on his foot. "In your dreams!"
After doing that, she turned and ran as if a wild beast were chasing her.
Lin Mu, on the other hand, licked his lips and watched her beautiful retreating back, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. Little Angel Mahiru took the initiative to talk to me. Doesn't that mean she doesn't actually hate me? It looks like I'll be able to upgrade my ability very soon.
...
"Shiina-san, your face is so red. Is something wrong?" Yui Yuigahama looked at Shiina Mahiru, whose face was flushed and looked even cuter than usual, and couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Ah, it's nothing. The bento at lunch was a little spicy." Shiina Mahiru replied with a smile, but her heart was still pounding violently.
She didn't know what was wrong with her. The moment she was in front of that scoundrel Lin Mu, it was as if her body lost all its strength. When he held her in his arms just now, her first reaction wasn't to push him away, but an impulse to act spoiled with him. Just like that night, she wanted to rest her cheek against his chest.
She clearly knew it. He was so wicked. If she got close, he would definitely make a move. And yet, she still went over to him.
She was now filled with curiosity about him. She desperately wanted to know what kind of person he really was, and why he made her so shy.
Returning to her seat, a certain person also happened to stroll in leisurely, even flashing her a smile. Shiina Mahiru quickly lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye.
Just then, a message arrived on her phone. She opened it and saw it was from Lin Mu.
"Let's go home together this afternoon. You're not allowed to leave without me, okay? Otherwise, I'll have to work a miserable part-time job to buy you new black stockings."
Reading this, Shiina Mahiru's head felt like it was about to explode from embarrassment. She gritted her teeth and replied, "I know, I'll wait for you, alright! You pervert!"
She was speechless. This guy was clearly very gentle, yet he always had to say things like that. Was it really that fun to bully her?
Speaking of bullying... Shiina Mahiru thought of the scene from last night, and her heart beat even faster.
She muttered stubbornly, "It's not like I'm happy..."