“To build feelings with you.”
This line, dripping with ambiguity from anyone else’s mouth, came out utterly cold when said by Mo Qingrou.
“Ah, huh?” Liang Sheng clearly froze, awkwardly scratching her cheek. She wondered what the heck had gotten into this icy beauty’s head. “Sister Mo Qingrou, why…?”
Mo Qingrou set down her teacup and looked up at the green-haired girl across from her. “Because I French-kissed you, so I have to take responsibility for you.”
“No need, no need, really no need!” Liang Sheng waved her hands frantically. “Besides, girls kissing each other is totally normal! It can even be framed as socialist sisterly love between girls!”
“Is that so…?” Mo Qingrou touched her chin, pondering for a moment.
Seeing her hesitate, Liang Sheng quickly pressed her advantage. “Think about it, Sister Mo Qingrou. You’re the school doctor, right? You must see girls playfully tugging at each other all the time. That’s just normal friendship between girls!”
Mo Qingrou fell silent.
After a while, she stood up.
Full of hope, Liang Sheng stood up too, thinking the iceberg beauty had finally come to her senses and was about to kick up her heels and leave.
But…
“Still, I want to keep building feelings with you.” Mo Qingrou said coldly, raising her hand to caress the other’s cheek.
Hiss~~ Liang Sheng shivered. Mo Qingrou’s hand was really cold.
“Sister Mo Qingrou…” Liang Sheng didn’t know how to persuade her anymore, stammering incoherently.
Mo Qingrou lowered her hand, walked around the table, and stood in front of Liang Sheng, straightening up. “Please give me a chance to build feelings with you, classmate Liang Sheng.”
How could she refuse that?
Liang Sheng backed away a few steps in distress.
“But, Sister Mo Qingrou, clearly… Cough, but you know it yourself—you don’t like me.” After hesitating, Liang Sheng finally said it.
Mo Qingrou didn’t hide her feelings, nodding candidly. “Correct, I don’t like you right now.”
Jackpot! Liang Sheng didn’t know why, but she just didn’t want any more girls falling for her. Because… if this kept up, she’d really become the type she hated most—a Sea King.
“But,” as expected, there was a twist, “that doesn’t mean I won’t like you in the future. Feelings can be cultivated.”
Liang Sheng scratched her scalp, frowning in distress with a pained expression. “B-but, Sister Mo Qingrou, aren’t you a CP fan of me and Senior Sister Gu Yuqi? Why…?”
At this, Mo Qingrou visibly froze too.
Right, she seemed to have—probably, definitely, maybe—personally broken up the CP she was shipping.
“Tch~” This was tricky now. Mo Qingrou finally realized it. She thought for a bit, then sat on the sofa where Liang Sheng had been sitting.
She was hesitating—Liang Sheng felt a spark of joy.
“Liang Sheng, why are you pushing people away?” Akino Kazuko suddenly spoke up. “You know that favorability from CP shipping excitement can never compare to treating someone like a lover.”
“Is favorability really that important?!” Liang Sheng muttered in complaint, answering herself: “Yeah! It concerns your survival, Liang Sheng. It really is!”
Fine then. She’d be a Sea King just this once, betting that everyone—except the scumbag and his system—could all survive.
“Good luck.”
Frankly, Akino Kazuko couldn’t bear to see this situation either.
Liang Sheng didn’t know what to say, just waiting for Mo Qingrou to decide.
“Mm.”
After a few minutes, Mo Qingrou stood up again. She grabbed Liang Sheng’s shoulders and said seriously, “I think shipping CPs isn’t as important as me regaining my own emotions. I’ve shipped too many CPs anyway; one less won’t matter.”
Well then. Liang Sheng wasn’t sure whether to breathe a sigh of relief or sigh in defeat.
“Sister Mo Qingrou.” Liang Sheng gently placed one small hand on the hand Mo Qingrou was using to grip her. “I can help you find feelings, but you should know—the person I like is Senior Sister Gu Yuqi.”
“I know.” Mo Qingrou nodded, feeling the other’s hand unusually warm. “But I also believe in love growing over time. And I’ll take good care of you, not giving anyone else a chance. If I do all that, won’t you be moved by me?”
These heartfelt words touched Liang Sheng a little. She asked, “Then, can I ask one last question?”
“Sure,” Mo Qingrou agreed readily. “You can ask anything.”
“Mm,” Liang Sheng pouted. “Why, Sister Mo Qingrou, did you choose me?”
Mo Qingrou’s gaze fell on the other’s rosy lips. Ah, they looked so warm there.
“Probably…” The iceberg beauty’s hand released Liang Sheng’s shoulder and slowly moved upward.
Finally, it hovered at Liang Sheng’s lips but didn’t touch.
“This spot gave me a sense of warmth—the kind I can’t quite explain.” Mo Qingrou’s fingers finally landed on her lips, caressing them obsessively.
Uh, Liang Sheng scratched her head dumbly. What’s the difference between this and just craving my body?
“Warmth?” Liang Sheng didn’t quite get her feelings, but she did something entirely predictable.
Liang Sheng hugged Mo Qingrou.
So soft… That was Mo Qingrou’s first thought. She couldn’t help but wrap her arms around the other. Soft, fragrant, petite. Mo Qingrou closed her eyes, savoring the warmth in her embrace.
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Mo Qingrou’s Favorability Toward Liang Sheng: 32”
Unlike her, Liang Sheng in Mo Qingrou’s arms felt the icy school doctor’s body—cold, just like her personality.
After hugging for over a minute, Liang Sheng started squirming, feeling strangled for air.
“S-Sister Mo Qingrou, I can’t breathe! L-Let go for a sec.” Liang Sheng was too shy to shove her away directly.
“Mm, alright.” For the first time, Mo Qingrou felt reluctant. She slowly released her.
Once they were both seated on the sofa, Mo Qingrou realized she’d felt an emotion she hadn’t in ages.
This… was wonderful! Mo Qingrou couldn’t help but “smile” happily—though no one could tell.
Neither spoke.
Soon, Mo Qingrou took Liang Sheng’s hand proactively. “So, what should we do next?”
“Ah…?” Liang Sheng panicked, starting to stutter. “W-what more? S-Sister Mo Qingrou, w-wait! I’m not ready yet!”
