Kiana stopped beating around the bush, no longer caring about proper forms of address.
She simply made a circle with the thumb and middle finger of her right hand, and then repeatedly poked the index finger of her left hand in and out of it.
Mei: "?!"
Kiana performed the gesture with such flair that the young lady from the Far East understood in an instant, her face turning a faint shade of red.
...Surely I've misunderstood Kiana's meaning?
"Mei, did that scoundrel Dog Ye Feng force you to do this?"
"Huh?"
So it really is what I thought?
Mei was taken aback by Kiana's blunt question.
What's wrong with everyone lately? They're all acting so strange.
Mei lowered her head, her face completely flushed, so shy she was practically overflowing with it.
"Kiana, what-what are you talking about? How could Mr. Ye Feng possibly force me to do... to do that kind of thing..."
Mei's reaction was pure and innocent, without a trace of panic or evasion. The stone in Kiana's heart finally fell.
So it hasn't happened yet.
Kiana grabbed Mei's shoulders and warned her with the utmost gravity, "In any case, Mei, you have to be careful of Ye Feng. He's a demon that eats people without spitting out the bones."
A starving lecher!
"Kiana, how can you say that about Mr. Ye Feng?"
Mei, who had been unbearably shy just a moment ago, actually looked up with a serious expression.
"Mr. Ye Feng is a very good person. Hasn't he helped you a lot too, Kiana?"
Kiana was dumbfounded.
Mei is actually taking that scoundrel Ye Feng's side?
And besides, when did Ye Feng ever want to help me? He was clearly just using me to satisfy his own filthy desires, and after he was done, he tossed me aside like a dirty rag!
Kiana was miserable.
She didn't know what she had done wrong. Now that scoundrel even called her by her first name!
"It's a long story..."
Kiana couldn't easily explain her own experiences to Mei, nor was it convenient to talk about what had happened to Ji Lin.
"Anyway, the next time you enter that world, you absolutely must contact me first, understand? Mei. Yes, that's right, let's agree on a place. We'll meet on the rooftop first."
Kiana instructed her firmly.
Hmph, as long as I'm here, I'll never let that scoundrel Ye Feng lay a hand on Mei.
Mei was a little confused, but seeing how serious Kiana was, she nodded anyway.
Then again, for the suggestion to "agree on a meeting spot" to only come up now, wasn't Wormy being a little slow on the uptake?
---o---
Kiana then found Rita.
Rita's mind was also in a bit of a mess.
Yesterday, Mei had been there too.
And they had sat together, discussing matters with such a serious air...
It was so embarrassing.
Even Rita couldn't maintain her composure. She wanted to flee back to Schicksal.
None of the people from the dream world were there. Even if something were to happen, it wouldn't be quite so mortifying.
Knock knock knock!
A fierce knocking came from the door.
"Rita, it's me, Kiana!"
Hearing that it was Kiana, Rita was about to get up and open the door, but the next words made her freeze.
"I saw you last night! Why were you only wearing stockings and high heels?!"
"!?"
It's true what they say: good news never leaves the house, but bad news travels a thousand miles.
How did Kiana see it too?
But she couldn't let her keep shouting in the dormitory hallway.
With a complicated heart, Rita quickly walked over to the door.
---o---
When Ji Lin woke up, she once again saw Master playing with Red Kite.
Master really did like Red Kite.
Lately, it seemed this was the scene that greeted her every time she awoke.
"No, the Limited Edition Figure version of Red Kite does indeed fit my aesthetic, but it's mainly only interesting to do this in front of you, Ji Lin."
Ye Feng chuckled.
"..."
Ji Lin was no longer as miserable and helpless as she had been the first time.
She looked at Red Kite on the bed, who was like a little white puppy. Although there was pity in her eyes, it was mostly acceptance of reality.
Kiana was right. This place wasn't a dream, but it was by no means reality either.
Why take it so seriously?
Ji Lin turned her head away. "Master doesn't need to explain it to me specifically."
"Oh? Lin'er, it's only been a day, but your mindset seems to have become much more cheerful."
Ji Lin stood up straight, dignified and elegant, possessing the air of a classical maiden. She gazed up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle.
"What else can I do? It's not like I can resist Master anyway."
"As expected of my contractor. Now that's the right attitude toward life. How does that saying go? Hmm, life is like rape. If you can't fight it, you might as well enjoy it."
"..."
Ji Lin thought about it. Strangely enough, there was some truth to that.
After all, wasn't she personally verifying it with her own body right now?
But she immediately felt a bit ashamed of her own pessimistic attitude.
"Ah, Lin'er, this isn't giving in to depravity. You can see it as an alternative form of positivity."
Ye Feng thrust forward. Red Kite collapsed like a heap of mud, her body twitching.
To be honest, Ji Lin, who had admired Red Kite for so long, couldn't help but have a slight reaction upon seeing this unknown "other side" of her.
She lowered her gaze, noncommittal about Ye Feng's words.
"Master can think whatever he wants. This servant doesn't care."
"Oh?"
Ye Feng came to stand before Ji Lin, dangling his glistening forearm.
"Really? I don't believe you."
"Whether Master believes it or not, there is nothing this servant can do."
Ji Lin had the air of a cool fairy who had seen through the mortal world, as if nothing in this world could move her.
Ye Feng smiled and gave a thrust of his hips. "Then how about you give it a try, Ji Lin? Freshly imported from Red Kite."
"..."
"I thought you didn't care about anything?"
"Ugh..."
Ji Lin took half a step back. She still couldn't be as "indifferent" as she claimed.
"...If this servant doesn't want to, will Master let me go?"
Ji Lin asked tentatively.
"Take a guess?"
Ye Feng chuckled. "If Lin'er really were like a silicone doll, completely indifferent, with no reaction to anything I do to you, not even letting out a few moans, then it would certainly be boring."
"So, maybe you could try putting on a show of apathy. Just say with a blank face, 'Do whatever you want.' Maybe I really will give up."
Really?
Ji Lin was silent for a long moment, considering the feasibility of his words.
If I truly enter a state of 'complete indifference,' will Master lose interest in me?
But Master hadn't spoken in certainties.
He hadn't made any promises.
Therefore, the rule that "Master doesn't lie" was of little reference here.
In the end, it was still a gamble.
But on the other hand, if Master really wanted her, could she resist?
And this body... Master had already explored it from top to bottom, inside and out.
If she could use this method to lower Master's interest in her, it would be a win.
At the very least, she wouldn't lose anything.
Ji Lin forced herself to calm down and said with a blank expression, "What Master wishes to do is Master's freedom. This servant will not interfere."
"Since Lin'er has said so, then I'm coming in."
"Mmph—!"
Ji Lin's pupils contracted. Her dark hair whipped violently as her cherry mouth was stretched into an 'O' shape, forming a perfect, seamless seal.