This… this sounded like things were heading in a strange direction.
“P-Pretty… what’s up?” Liang Sheng stammered timidly.
Mo Qingrou narrowed her eyes.
Did kissing a pretty girl bring a sense of happiness?
She hadn’t felt happy since she was ten years old.
Neither her father’s gifts nor her mother’s companionship had brought her any happiness.
Just now, she had seen that blissful expression on Liang Sheng’s face while she was French kissing Gu Yuqi—that look of pure enjoyment.
So, did French kissing someone you liked bring happiness too?
Mo Qingrou lowered her head, lost in thought.
From childhood to now, her parents had never shown her any intimate contact beyond hugs or linking arms.
That meant French kissing was something that could make people feel happy, right?
She wanted to feel that happiness again so badly.
But she didn’t have a boyfriend she liked, or a girlfriend. She didn’t even understand what “liking” someone felt like.
As Mo Qingrou pondered, her attention drifted away from Liang Sheng, and her arm slowly released her.
Seeing this, Liang Sheng assumed her honest answer had finally satisfied Mo Qingrou and that she was free to go.
Great! Time to make a break for it!
Liang Sheng grinned inwardly and prepared to slip past the Iceberg Beauty who had her wall-slammed against the tiles, heading out of the restroom.
But at the critical moment when Liang Sheng tried to dodge around her, Mo Qingrou grabbed her arm. “Wait!”
Liang Sheng jolted in shock. No way, no way! She’d already answered so many questions honestly and seriously—what more could she want? What else did she demand? Tears welled up in Liang Sheng’s eyes.
In that instant as Liang Sheng braced to flee, Mo Qingrou suddenly figured it out.
Liang Sheng had said she only had a tiny bit of liking for that purple-haired girl. Well, Mo Qingrou felt a tiny bit of fondness for Liang Sheng too—at least compared to everyone else around.
So, why not give it a try?
The usually calm Mo Qingrou suddenly felt a rush of heat to her head. She yanked back the scheming escapee and pinned her against the wall again.
“Hey, Sister Mo Qingrou… what? Mmph!”
Liang Sheng panicked as her mouth was covered for three full seconds.
It was just a simple kiss. Then Mo Qingrou released her.
Liang Sheng clutched her mouth, staring at the Iceberg Beauty in front of her in utter disbelief, her eyes wide as if gazing at a patient.
“You, you…!” Before Mo Qingrou could react, Liang Sheng exploded.
“You jerk! Mo Qingrou, you’re—you’re a total molester!” Liang Sheng didn’t know where she found the strength, but she shoved the blocking Doctor Mo Qingrou aside and scrambled out of the restroom on all fours.
Mo Qingrou stayed rooted in place, not chasing after her.
Her hand pressed against her own lips.
No sense of happiness. Mo Qingrou bowed her head in disappointment.
But… there was a pleasant feeling. Mo Qingrou savored the memory of those soft, sweet lips and the adorably flushed, panicked cheeks.
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Mo Qingrou’s Favorability Toward Liang Sheng: 30”
Liang Sheng bolted back to her seat. She had originally gone to the restroom red-faced to cool off, but now, sitting down again, her face burned even hotter.
Gu Yuqi assumed it was because of her and smugly sipped the lemon tea the server had brought over.
At that moment, Liang Sheng heard the notification sound for the favorability increase.
Holy crap—this time, it had jumped so much with the Big Iceberg. She had no idea if that French kiss was worth it.
Whatever. Her innocence was long gone anyway. She could just chalk this one up to being nibbled by a dog. Liang Sheng slumped in her chair, utterly defeated.
Polite Mo Qingrou: What the hell?
Mo Qingrou returned from the restroom too. Her face remained devoid of warmth, as icy as ever. This made Liang Sheng wonder if that French kiss with Doctor Mo Qingrou had all been her imagination.
The first dish arrived: the New Product Fish that Liang Sheng had ordered.
“Uh… um…” Ni Sihan held her chopsticks aloft, her face twisted in distaste. “This fish looks… kinda unappetizing.”
“Yeah, it’s all charred and mushy.” Liang Sheng chimed in, but then she realized—no, this was her pick! She hurriedly backpedaled. “No, no, no—this little fishy might look ugly, uh, not calling you ugly or anything. It’s just…”
Liang Sheng thought for a few seconds before continuing her fabrication. “You can’t judge a book by its cover—or a fish by its plating, right?”
Liang Sheng chuckled foolishly, scratching her head.
“Mm, makes sense.” Bai Zhen nodded.
In the end, everyone stared at the dish, but no one made a move to eat it.
Liang Sheng shot pleading glances at Mo Qingrou, but the Iceberg Beauty heartlessly turned her head toward the window, as if admiring the view outside.
Hey?! You didn’t have that look on your face when you forced that French kiss on me! Liang Sheng ground her teeth. I’ve got you pegged now, you Big Iceberg—your heart’s as hard as the rest of you.
“Then, uh, I’ll go first!” Liang Sheng said tearfully. She’d dug this hole herself; no choice but to jump in.
With trembling hands, she picked up a piece of the pitch-black fish meat, squeezed her eyes shut, and shoved it into her mouth with a “nom.”
Her eyes flew wide open, and she gave a thumbs-up. “Whoa, this fish is delicious! Seriously so… uh, damn, super delicious!”
The others looked at her with pity, but no one reached for another piece.
This left Liang Sheng feeling super awkward. She shot a resentful glare at Mo Qingrou, who had recommended the restaurant. Who knew the Iceberg Beauty was such a schemer too?
Mo Qingrou hadn’t expected this outcome either.
Who could’ve guessed Liang Sheng would pick the restaurant’s newest dish—and that it would turn out to be the worst one on the menu? Mo Qingrou had her own grievances she couldn’t voice.
“Come on, everyone, dig in.” Liang Sheng urged the group.
Song An’an took a deep breath. For A-Sheng! Here went nothing!
“A-A-Sheng, I’ll try some too!” Song An’an declared, like a hero marching to her doom. She gulped down the fish in her mouth whole.
“Cough cough cough… damn!” Song An’an nearly hurled up her breakfast. She jabbed her chopsticks at the dish. “S-So A-Sheng likes this flavor? Then on Monday, I’ll bring you some of this tas—”
“No need! Thanks, but no thanks!” Liang Sheng cut her off. “I prefer the flavors you made before!”
Song An’an persisted. “I know this is from a restaurant, and I might not have the skills yet, but I’ll learn! Don’t worry, A-Sheng—I’ll make fish just like this someday.”
Liang Sheng was on the verge of tears.
