Yu Qingxue had prepared camping cookware and fresh ingredients in advance, and soon began making dinner.
As for Gao Sijin, he was being led by the arm toward the already pitched tent by Tsukiyuki Rio, like a puppet.
Thinking of escaping?
Wishful thinking.
Tsukiyuki Rio might look frail, like a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse, but in reality, her raw physical ability surpassed that of many professional athletes, let alone a completely ordinary person like Gao Sijin.
“Sigh, you two have fun now.”
Yu Qingxue set up the table, using a kitchen knife to slice the prepared wagyu beef. She also got a fire going to cook rice and set up the barbecue grill.
Even though they were outdoors, with such a complete set of equipment, preparing a delicious feast was entirely possible.
This was a fundamental quality of being a maid.
“Qingxue…”
Gao Sijin’s gaze met Yu Qingxue’s. His voice sounded as if it were forced through gritted teeth.
His face, pale and drained of color, gave tonight’s Gao Sijin a unique air.
“I’m sorry, Sijin. Even if you look at me with those pitiful puppy-dog eyes of an abandoned stray, I can’t help you.” Yu Qingxue continued chopping vegetables.
Since Tsukiyuki Rio wasn’t very fond of meat, she needed to prepare some vegetable soup specifically.
“Casting your gaze on other women again?” Tsukiyuki Rio’s expression turned cold, only to warm up again immediately. “It doesn’t matter. I will slowly train Gao-kun so that he can never tear his eyes away from me. I’ll make Gao-kun a slave to my body.”
The tent’s zipper looked like the feeding maw of some creature. Gao Sijin, pulled inside, was clearly the food being swallowed.
No escape possible.
As if unwilling to hear the sounds of Gao Sijin being tormented, Yu Qingxue took out her portable Bluetooth speaker and filled the forest air with Mozart’s Symphony No. 40.
Listening to the piano piece, Tsukiyuki Rio smiled with a composed, sultry charm.
“The reason Qingxue could become Head Maid isn’t just her outstanding ability, but also that she comforts me in the smallest details.”
The dramatic melancholy and oppression eased in the middle passages.
The immense fluctuations between loud and soft notes expressed a painful and violent aura.
“Let’s move our bodies to the rhythm of the piano piece.”
At times serene and bright, at times heavy and emotional.
Gao Sijin had no future to speak of.
The kimono girl, now straddling him from so close, breathed out a sweet orchid scent, a numbing, tickling tease.
If Mozart knew from his grave that his painstakingly composed music was being used as background for this kind of activity, he would probably rise from the dead in Vienna.
The cheerful piano music drowned out the sounds from within the tent. Yet, because of the lamplight inside, one could still vaguely make out two overlapping shadowy figures. Punctuated by movements that alternated between slow and intense, the tent began to shake violently as if caught in a typhoon.
A heavy heart made Yu Qingxue’s hand unconsciously tighten around the knife as she fiercely chopped the meat.
Clang!
After tonight, Gao Sijin would be forced to play the hunting game from last time once more.
He might seem to have a chance to escape, but with a GPS tracking system implanted in his body, he had no chance of winning. Even if by a stroke of luck he managed to flee the Deep Forest, he would be caught by the people Tsukiyuki Rio had arranged outside beforehand. If Tsukiyuki Rio lost the hunting game, she would simply renege on her promise.
The thought of Gao Sijin becoming obsessed with Tsukiyuki Rio again, seeing her as an angel, made Yu Qingxue feel increasingly heavy-hearted.
She absolutely did not want Gao Sijin to lose his memories again.
He had to remember Tsukiyuki Rio’s true face forever. Only then would Yu Qingxue have the chance to win his heart.
“Young Lady Tsukiyuki is simply cheating.”
In games, Yu Qingxue intensely despised players who used hacks, even going so far as to learn curse words in eight languages to insult their families.
In reality, her displeasure with Tsukiyuki Rio’s methods had reached the point of near explosion.
But she had to endure. Even if Gu Xiarui had given her power, she couldn’t act on impulse.
Until she was completely certain of success, she could only remain silent.
“Meow~”
A sound like an infant’s cry came from behind her.
Turning around, Yu Qingxue saw a black cat with a pair of golden eyes.
“I didn’t expect you to show up here. Don’t tell me you have an Anywhere Door or something?”
In that imitation Palace of Versailles, there was an identical little black cat. That small, young black cat was the physical manifestation of Uzuki’s supernatural ability.
The golden cat eyes met Yu Qingxue’s gaze.
The next moment, Yu Qingxue saw Uzuki herself, sporting black cat ears and a tail, wearing a girl’s high school sailor uniform.
Compared to before, Uzuki seemed much more confident now.
“Sister Yu, it’s been far too long since I last paid my respects.”
“You’re Uzuki?”
Uzuki nodded.
“It’s best if you leave here quickly. If the Young Miss sees you, she’ll kill you without a shred of mercy,” Yu Qingxue urgently advised.
“It’s fine. In Cousin Rio’s eyes, I’m just an ordinary black cat, nothing more. No need to worry,” Uzuki said, walking up to Yu Qingxue as if to help prepare dinner.
But Yu Qingxue declined Uzuki’s kind offer.
“If there’s something you need to say, hurry up and say it. The Young Miss is currently absorbed in carnal pleasures, and with the piano music playing outside as cover, she shouldn’t be able to hear us talking.”
“I have a way to help Sijin preserve his memory,” Uzuki said, pursing her lips. “Last night in the washroom, I saw the silver-haired girl from the old school building in the mirror. The writing that appeared on the mirror told me that it only requires a slight application of a supernatural power.”
Hearing this, joy instantly blossomed in Yu Qingxue’s heart.
“That’s wonderful! Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, I can manage on my own. I just wanted to let you know, Sister Yu.”
“After the memory is preserved, it’ll all depend on Sijin’s acting skills.”
She turned her head to look at the tent. The sounds of violent activity were still audible; they were probably playing a round of Taiko no Tatsujin in there.
It likely wouldn’t be ending any time soon.
She was so envious…
No, that was detestable! Bullying Sijin like that, what a scoundrel!
“By the way, have you eaten dinner tonight?”
“Yes, I ate with Grandfather Kyoichi.”
“Uzuki, the night before I carry out the assassination on you and Tsukiyuki Kyoichi, I will notify you in advance.”
“Thank you, Sister Yu. From now on, I’ll be standing guard nearby constantly. With me here, I won’t let Sijin become Cousin’s puppet again.”
“Then I’m counting on you.”
The little black cat darted away and vanished into the thick night in the blink of an eye.
The previously unbearably heavy feeling in her heart was soothed once more.
Being able to preserve Gao Sijin’s memory was already a victory.
Over half an hour later, Tsukiyuki Rio emerged from the tent, dragging a completely limp Gao Sijin.
“Qingxue, how are the dinner preparations coming along?”
“All ready. Please enjoy.”
She laid out the cooked dishes on the table, the aroma of the grilled meat exceptionally rich.
The place was far from the clamor of the world, but to Gao Sijin, the delicious food tasted like chewing wax.
“If Gao-kun had never seen through my true nature, he would surely feel very happy having this outdoor picnic right now,” Tsukiyuki Rio mused, propping her cheek in her hand.
“Don’t talk about toying with me as if you were doing it for my own good. I’ve had enough of your hypocrisy.”
