"Ugh—what is this cliché trash?! Some woman from a powerful organization shows up out of nowhere and steals the male lead? That's the most lowbrow plot twist ever!"
Exusiai thumped the sofa in outrage as she watched the show, repeatedly smacking Croissant on the shoulder beside her.
"And why is it that the Sankta girl likes that Vouivre male lead so much, works so hard chasing him, and still ends up as a background extra with no scenes? She spent ten-plus episodes trying and didn't even get a kiss!"
"Who exactly is supposed to relate to that?" Croissant hissed, baring her teeth from the beating as she scooted away. "If you've got this much energy, go look for Chen Mo. Unless you want to become the kind of Sankta who chases a guy for ten episodes and still doesn't even touch his lips."
Texas, seated off to the side, abruptly bit her Pocky clean through.
Exusiai didn't notice the change. After hearing Croissant's suggestion, she flopped onto the couch, deflated.
"I want to. But Chen Mo's living at Ch'en's place now. How am I supposed to just show up and ask him out like nothing happened?"
"Then die alone," Croissant said blandly.
She glanced at the screen, where the male lead was already being forced by the rich girl, and scratched her backside as she kept talking.
"Or you could learn from the Lupo gangster in the drama and just… take him."
"Are you nuts?" Exusiai waved a hand and rolled over, casually tossing her long pale legs onto Texas's lap—making the Lupo go rigid. "That Lupo used drugs. Otherwise how would she overpower a Vouivre?"
"And I'm not that kind of lowlife! The Lord teaches us that if you want a man, you pursue him openly and honorably!"
Texas grew even quieter. Croissant rolled her eyes.
"Your Lord really knows a lot."
Then she squinted at Texas—who was sitting like a carved statue—and at Sora, who'd been silent the whole time.
"What's with you two? You've been quiet all evening. It's like me and Exusiai are doing a two-person comedy routine."
"And Exusiai's got her legs on you like that, and you're not even punching her in the head. Normally you'd have snapped already."
Croissant's suspicion deepened.
Are they hiding some weird thing from me again?
Right then, Exusiai suddenly sprang up and declared:
"I've decided! I can't keep being this timid!"
"I'm going to Ch'en's place right now and ask Chen Mo out!"
The drama's miserable Sankta had ignited Exusiai's fighting spirit. She refused to become that tragic, slow-burn loser who tried forever and got nowhere.
Besides, Shiho—whose looks, money, and overall "spec sheet" absolutely crushed hers—was also pursuing Chen Mo. Exusiai couldn't afford to keep hesitating.
"Come on, Croissant! Let's go challenge the final boss—Officer Ch'en!"
Croissant, dressed for lounging, looked profoundly unwilling.
"Why do I have to go? I'm not interested in being a third wheel."
"You're not a third wheel," Exusiai said brightly, beaming as she pointed at herself with a thumb. "You're bait. You draw aggro from Ch'en."
"And I'm the brave hero who steals Chen Mo away, no matter the danger."
"So you're bringing me along to abandon me?" Croissant snapped, pouting as she tried to pull away.
Exusiai grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward the door anyway.
"Come on, help me out! If we win, I'll buy you apple pie!"
"You still owe me two thousand LMD!"
The door slammed shut behind them, their bickering voices fading into the hallway.
In the living room, only the melodramatic Dà Yan romance drama kept playing.
With Exusiai gone, Texas's tightly wound posture finally loosened. She started to stand, intending to go to the bathroom—
"Texas, can we talk?"
…Sora?
Texas glanced at Sora's troubled expression, surprised. After a beat, she nodded and sat back down.
"What is it, Sora?"
Sora looked her straight in the eye.
"Texas, you like Chen Mo, don't you?"
The air turned heavy—instantly.
Texas was visibly caught off guard. She stayed silent for a long moment before answering in a calm, even voice:
"I… do have feelings for him."
So straightforward. No denial, no evasion.
Sora exhaled quietly, tension draining from her shoulders. If Texas had stubbornly said "no," Sora honestly wouldn't have known where to go from there.
"Then what are you going to do?" Sora asked. "Compete with Exusiai?"
She couldn't help but find it almost funny. How was that dazed, sunshine-brained Sankta supposed to compete with Texas?
If Sora were a man, and she hesitated even one second between Texas and Exusiai, she'd be betraying every sane standard of attraction on this land.
But Texas, after another long pause, shook her head.
"I won't compete with Exusiai for Chen Mo."
Her hand drifted to her pocket. Without realizing it, she tightened her grip around the scale hidden there.
"This kind of… vague feeling between a man and a woman can fade with time," Texas said softly. "And I don't want Exusiai to feel hurt."
Her sharp canine teeth had already bitten into her lip; the metallic taste of blood spread in her mouth.
Yet her face remained as cool and composed as ever—icy enough to make countless men scream and fall for her at first sight.
"And…" Texas added, voice lower, "Sora, don't tell Exusiai about this."
"Of course I won't," Sora said, waving a hand. "I'm not some gossiping loudmouth."
Still, she studied Texas carefully, suspicion lingering.
You really won't care? Texas looked… unwilling, no matter how calm she sounded.
And "Exusiai getting hurt"? That Sankta was basically indestructible. She'd found out that Shiho—a walking, breathing upgrade in every category—was a rival, and she'd still stayed cheerful.
If Exusiai learned Texas liked Chen Mo too, she'd probably just yell, Texas, you have the same taste as me! and then drag her into a "let's unite and defeat Officer Shiho" alliance.
Thinking that, Sora sighed. As an outsider, she couldn't force an answer or pry further. She could only offer a gentle suggestion.
"Try talking to Exusiai more," Sora said. "Get closer to her. It'll be good for both of you."
"…Thank you, Sora."
Sora flicked her hand dismissively, annoyed despite herself.
If you really want to thank me, stop swallowing everything and actually talk to everyone.
Her eyes drifted to the TV again—where the white-haired Vouivre woman had already devoured the male lead completely—and a chill crept up her spine.
For some reason, Sora had a bad feeling.
A man as distinctive and dangerously charming as Chen Mo…
There was no way Texas and the others were the only ones being drawn to him.
....
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