Although it defied all logic, the skill could only be used once per location.
That explained why he always seemed to carry a magnetic aura that drew girls to him.
Where on earth did all those “chance encounters” come from? Well, Liang Sheng was the exception—she was a Lucky Emperor.
With nothing but his silver tongue and Wakako’s pointers, Su Ze had Ou Lu soaring to the heavens in just a few sentences. And Ou Lu? She ate up that kind of flattery.
Liang Sheng knew just what to say too, picking out only the sweetest compliments and praising Ou Lu wherever she shone.
“Ah?” Ou Lu truly didn’t remember Liang Sheng at all. “I’ve forgotten. And you are…?”
Liang Sheng’s face fell in disappointment. She fidgeted with her fingers behind her clothes, looking utterly dejected. “Sister, that day on the street, your bag fell off, and I picked it up for you. Sister, the scent of your perfume—it was just so unforgettable.”
“Ah…” Ou Lu seemed to have a faint recollection.
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Ou Lu’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: 5”
That bump in favorability came purely from Liang Sheng complimenting the perfume wafting off Ou Lu’s skin.
“Oh, it’s no big deal if you don’t remember,” Liang Sheng said, flashing a wide smile. “It was just a one-off meeting, after all.”
And with that, the moment fizzled out.
Meanwhile, Cha Susu and Bai Zhen were about to start shooting. Ou Lu, seated comfortably, suddenly announced she was thirsty and wanted water. She turned up her nose at plain mineral water, insisting on hot coffee instead.
What a young miss’s temper—impossible to please. Liang Sheng rolled her eyes hard. Still, she hopped to her feet and scurried off to fetch the coffee, brewing it in a clean spot on the far side of the room.
No helping it. At the start, she had to begin as a Lick Dog. But every Lick Dog got his day in the sun eventually.
When Liang Sheng stood, Su Ze rose right after her. As she headed for the coffee, he trailed close, offering to pour it for Ou Lu himself.
Damn schemer. Liang Sheng nearly cursed aloud.
Coffee in hand, she started back. A glance over her shoulder caught Su Ze’s gaze locked on her—and a shiver ran down her spine. The guy brimmed with dirty tricks; that sly glint in his eye promised sabotage, some humiliation waiting to unfold.
With that in mind, Liang Sheng halted abruptly. Sure enough, Su Ze—trailing with his own cup—slowed to match her pace. He lingered like he was biding his time, eyes darting to the coffee cup in her grip. No good intentions there; she needed to stay sharp.
She glanced up. Ou Lu sat with eyes closed, resting peacefully, while the staff bustled about without a look their way. Then it hit her.
Still walking, Liang Sheng whipped out her phone and tapped record in secret, a smug thrill bubbling inside. Good thing she had a privacy screen—Su Ze’s angle showed nothing.
She pointed the camera at her feet but second-guessed it. What if he targeted somewhere else? What if she caught the footage and he just denied it was him?
Suddenly at a loss, Liang Sheng froze.
Eh?! Inspiration struck. She spun on her heel and bolted the other way. The weird maneuver left Su Ze blinking in confusion, torn between chasing her and hanging back.
Liang Sheng play-acted setting her coffee cup on a nearby table. Phone pressed to her ear like mid-call, she even tapped her temple as if puzzled.
Su Ze had no choice but to keep strolling forward at a leisurely pace.
Next, Liang Sheng plopped a small brown teddy bear onto the table. She snatched up the coffee cup and dashed back.
Damn it—that bear’s eyes had to have a camera! Su Ze ground his teeth. Plan scrapped.
“Plop.” The brown teddy toppled flat onto the table.
Liang Sheng jumped, freezing in place with anxious hesitation. She looked desperate to retrieve it but stole a glance at Su Ze instead—their eyes met once more.
The fright hit her like a guilty kid caught red-handed. Head down, she kept her distance from Su Ze and bolted the rest of the way to Ou Lu.
“Pfft~” Su Ze chuckled. The best-laid plans… With the bear belly-up, its eye-camera was useless. Heaven itself had his back! Liang Sheng never saw that coming.
Just as Liang Sheng reached the spot in front of Ou Lu, Su Ze scanned around—no eyes on them. He lunged forward in big strides and shoulder-checked her hard.
“Ah~~” Liang Sheng crumpled to the floor in a dramatic sprawl. The coffee cup shattered on impact, hot liquid splashing—including a few drops onto Ou Lu’s skirt.
Ou Lu jolted upright from her repose, startled by the cry and the sudden burn on her leg. Her eyes flew open wide as saucers.
Now, the games began.
Round one: first strike wins.
Su Ze seized the initiative.
He raced to Ou Lu’s side, dropped to a squat, and gently lifted her leg to inspect the damage. His gaze, brimming with concern, sent ripples through Ou Lu’s heart.
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Ou Lu’s Favorability toward Su Ze: 85”
Su Ze turned a gentle rebuke on Liang Sheng. “Liang Sheng, that was really careless of you—you’ve scalded Miss Ou Lu’s leg bright red!”
“Whoa~” Favorability plunged.
“Ou Lu’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: –3”
Liang Sheng countered right away.
Tears welled from her eyes as she choked out, “Wuuu, I’m so sorry, Sister Ou Lu. It was all my clumsiness—I hurt you, Sister Ou Lu. I’m such an idiot, nothing like Su Ze who gets everything perfect, while I’m just…”
Who could resist tears laced with that green-tea sweetness?
Su Ze’s scolding words died on his lips, his face turning a sickly shade of green. Keep griping, and he’d look like a bully picking on a little girl.
“Ding~” Favorability rose.
“Ou Lu’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: –1”
Ou Lu let out a heavy sigh. “It’s fine. Get up.”
Eh? Something felt off. In this novel, wasn’t Ou Lu the irredeemable venomous side character? Why let it slide so easily? Such mercy?
“Wuwuwu.” Liang Sheng wiped the tears from her cheeks and staggered to her feet.
