“Ding~” Favorability rose sharply.
“Zhen Zhu’s Favorability Toward Liang Sheng: 60”
“You, you—don’t think that because of this, I’ll listen to you!” Zhen Zhu pouted, muttering under her breath. “Why’d you suddenly say something so touching?”
Liang Sheng gazed at the awkward little loli and couldn’t help thinking she resembled someone. Yeah, exactly like Young Miss Lu Ziqing—only without Miss Lu’s signature haughtiness.
Liang Sheng reached out and pinched Little Loli Zhen Zhu’s cheeks. “Well, I’ve always liked kids. It’s just that…”
The girl cut her off.
“I’m not a kid!” Zhen Zhu shot back.
“Okay, okay, fine,” Liang Sheng humored her. “You’re a big kid. A big kid work for you?”
Zhen Zhu bowed her head and fell silent, fiddling with the eyes on the plush bunny in her arms.
Whoa, that looked a bit violent.
“It’s just that I have a bit of a mean streak sometimes—I like teasing kids. If you don’t like it, I won’t joke around with you anymore.”
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Zhen Zhu’s Favorability Toward Liang Sheng: 63”
The little loli’s eyes reddened, her lips quivering and her nose tingling. For some inexplicable reason, tears welled up, and her voice trembled as she whispered, “I, I like it…”
Her words were so faint they were barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.
“Huh?” Liang Sheng hadn’t caught that, but something felt off about Zhen Zhu’s tone and behavior. She crouched down to peer at the girl’s face—and jumped in alarm.
“Hey, hey, hey!” Liang Sheng panicked, rummaging through her small crossbody bag for some tissues. “Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong? Okay, okay, I promise I won’t tease you anymore. Please don’t be upset, alright?”
Zhen Zhu watched the flustered, fumbling Liang Sheng and felt a sudden urge bubbling up inside her.
“Hug…” She spread her arms wide.
The scene left Liang Sheng dumbfounded, frozen in place. “Wh-what? You…”
“I mean…” Zhen Zhu snapped back to reality, her cheeks flushing at her own childish impulse.
“Hmph! No, nothing. I just… suddenly didn’t know what came over me.” Now Zhen Zhu was the one squirming awkwardly.
Pfft. This must be what they meant by a kid throwing a tantrum and demanding cuddles after feeling wronged!
“Mmm~”
Liang Sheng gently pulled Zhen Zhu into a hug, patting her little head. “There, there, no more crying. How can such a cute little loli cry?”
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Zhen Zhu’s Favorability Toward Liang Sheng: 69”
“You’re the little loli…” Zhen Zhu’s face was flushed pink as she draped her arms over Liang Sheng’s shoulders.
And it was true—Zhen Zhu really was a little loli. At fourteen, she still only stood at 148 cm tall. Liang Sheng, who had read the original novel, knew that was as tall as she’d ever get. Even grown up, Zhen Zhu would remain a perfectly legal loli.
“Alright, alright~” Liang Sheng scooped her up, supporting Zhen Zhu’s bottom.
Zhen Zhu buried her face in Liang Sheng’s neck, wiping her tears all over the woman’s collar.
“Come on, let’s go. Big sis will take you on the carousel.” Liang Sheng still had no idea why the little loli was crying—it was so random.
When they reached the carousel, Liang Sheng patted Zhen Zhu’s back soothingly. “We’re here at the carousel. Want to wipe those tears and get down to play? Or you can ride it, and I’ll take pictures for you. Sound good?”
Zhen Zhu sniffled for a moment, then mumbled through her stuffy nose, “Put me down.”
Liang Sheng started to lower her.
“No, no, wait!” Zhen Zhu yelped, then added sheepishly, “G-give me a tissue first. I need to wipe my face.”
“Oh!” Liang Sheng realized too late. “You’re not snotting, are you?! It didn’t get on my neck, did it?!”
“No!” Zhen Zhu shouted, then whispered, “Just… just a little on your collar.”
“Urgh…” Liang Sheng turned to stone, crumbling to ash.
This outfit was done for! No, wait—it was too expensive to toss. She’d just take it home and wash it.
Liang Sheng pulled out a facial tissue and handed it to the little loli clinging to her.
Zhen Zhu wiped her face and blew her nose, then hopped down from Liang Sheng’s arms.
“I’m good now,” she declared. Without the tears, she switched to threats. “Old hag, you’d better not tell anyone about this, or else… or else…”
“Or else you’ll cry at me?” Liang Sheng couldn’t resist teasing again.
“Hmph!” Zhen Zhu’s eyes went wide.
Liang Sheng clapped a hand over her mouth. She’d promised not to joke anymore. “My bad, my bad. I won’t say stuff like that again.”
Zhen Zhu turned away, giving her a cold shoulder. “I like it when you tease me. You’re the first person who’s ever bothered to. So don’t you dare change!”
Whoa! Liang Sheng caught a whiff of overbearing CEO vibes. If not for that tiny silhouette, she might’ve thought she’d been swept off her feet by a domineering tycoon.
“Got it~” Liang Sheng grinned. “My little tyrant CEO~”
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Zhen Zhu’s Favorability Toward Liang Sheng: 70”
“Hmph~” Zhen Zhu clambered onto the carousel. “Old hag, you’d better take good pictures! Or else you’re in for it.”
“You got it!” Liang Sheng raised her phone, aiming at the little loli perched on the white pony. “This one guarantees mission success! Rest easy, Little Tyrant CEO!”
Zhen Zhu tilted her head and flashed a peace sign.
After two turns, something terrifying happened.
Zhen Zhu was gone.
“Hey!! Zhen Zhu?” Liang Sheng’s heart dropped. With all these crowds in the amusement park, had a real child snatcher spotted this cute, pretty little loli from a wealthy family and whisked her away?!
Her mind flooded with nightmares: Zhen Zhu dragged off to the mountains to be a little servant girl, sold as a child bride in some remote village, or even trafficked to a brothel…
Liang Sheng shuddered, chills racing down her spine.
“Zhen Zhu! Zhen Zhu! Where are you?!” She bolted toward the back of the carousel.
This was bad. If Zhen Zhu was gone, her whole family was screwed. The girl’s folks had power and influence; her own family only had money—what chance did they stand? The Zhen family’s precious pearl lost? They’d come after her for sure!
“Zhen Zhu!!!” Liang Sheng was on the verge of tears. This was the most helpless she’d felt since arriving in this world.
Even when Su Ze had pinned her throat last time, it hadn’t been this bad.
That time, she’d only risked her own life. This time, she might drag down her parents, her whole family—even her cousin Liang Jin.
And what about Zhen Zhu’s future if she got abducted? Liang Sheng’s vision blurred with tears.
