Liang Sheng skeptically extended her chopsticks and dipped them into the sauce in Song An’an’s bowl. She slipped the sauce into her mouth and smacked her lips a few times. Tilting her head, she saw right through Song An’an’s little scheme.
“Not weird at all~ Our An’an has such great cooking skills—how could her sauce possibly taste off~?” It was pure, blatant flattery.
Ding~
Favorability increased.
“Song An’an’s Favorability towards Liang Sheng: 189”
“Mm-hmm!” Song An’an happily snatched her bowl back.
Now Liang Sheng didn’t have to get up and fix the sauce for her anymore. She’d successfully coaxed the girl into sweet compliance.
Sigh~ As expected of me~
The other girls had wanted to follow Lu Ziqing’s lead, but Song An’an had beaten them to the punch. If they’d piled on after her, it might have started to look suspicious.
Sigh. Put too many girls together, and the scheming begins. Liang Sheng—the very instigator of it all—sighed endlessly, shamelessly passing judgment on the lot of them.
A-Sheng used her chopsticks—the ones that had touched her own food—to dip into my sauce! Song An’an stared blankly at the bowl in front of her, her cheeks still faintly flushed. If she eats this now… wouldn’t it be like an indirect kiss?
Then eat it quick! Song An’an grabbed her chopsticks and started shoveling food into her mouth.
Look how hungry these girls are, Liang Sheng thought pityingly, scanning the beauties around the table. Then she gulped down a massive mouthful of rice.
Anyone who doesn’t eat with gusto has something wrong with them.
Bellies full, Liang Sheng had long since forgotten all about the Werewolf game. She patted her stomach and invited the girls out for a stroll on the beach to help digest.
Only then did she notice that several of the girls’ Favorability toward Ni Sihan had ticked up a bit. Huh? That’s weird. What on earth had Sihan said to them while she was away? Liang Sheng’s curiosity piqued instantly. She wasn’t jealous, though—Gu Yuqi’s Favorability toward Ni Sihan hadn’t budged, leaving her perfectly serene.
Strolling along the beach together was tricky, thanks to the author’s decision to bless them all with sky-high looks. Every eye in the vicinity stuck to them like glue.
Ugh, on display like some exhibit. Liang Sheng squirmed uncomfortably.
That was when she spotted a familiar silhouette in the distance. That blue hair…
Her eyes flew wide.
“Stop!” Liang Sheng halted in her tracks and called out to the others, her gaze locked straight ahead. “Everyone, I see someone familiar. I need to talk to her about something important—mind giving us a little space?”
With words like that, who would be tacky enough to tag along? They all nodded knowingly and headed back to the beachside hotel they’d booked ahead of time.
“Sister Ling Dang!” Liang Sheng hurried toward that familiar figure.
The girl turned. It was that familiar face.
“You are…?”
As expected, Sister Ling Dang didn’t remember Liang Sheng.
Standing before her, Liang Sheng smiled. “Sister Ling Dang, I still remember you.”
“Ah, Ling Dang… Ling Dang… Right, I’m Ling Dang.. No… wait, who am I?” Sister Ling Dang’s gaze drifted back out to the sea.
“Sister Ling Dang…” Liang Sheng took a couple of steps closer. “Can I ask you something?”
“What is it?” Sister Ling Dang stared vacantly at the ocean.
“You…” Liang Sheng hesitated, then whispered, “Have you ever heard the name Su Ze?”
Sister Ling Dang turned to her, puzzled. “Su Ze? Who’s that?”
Liang Sheng’s heart sank. So all those theories of hers had been overthinking it?
“Not necessarily,” Akino Kazuko materialized, her expression grave as she eyed Sister Ling Dang. “Who says Su Ze was his original name? He’s gone by plenty of others before.”
“Eh—?” To their shock, Sister Ling Dang looked straight up into the empty air—right where Akino Kazuko hovered.
“You… where did you come from?” Her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Akino Kazuko.
Akino Kazuko’s mouth fell open in disbelief as their gazes met. “You… you can see me?!”
“Why wouldn’t I be able to see you?” Sister Ling Dang had barely finished speaking when her expression went slack. Like a machine whirring back into motion, she turned toward the sea again. “So beautiful~”
“You… how is that even possible…” Akino Kazuko murmured to herself.
Sister Ling Dang twisted her head back around and frowned. “Who are you two, anyway?”
“Looks like…” Liang Sheng and Akino Kazuko exchanged glances. “She’s forgotten what just happened,” said Liang Sheng.
“She’s definitely got something off about her.” Akino Kazuko nodded firmly at her own Host.
Liang Sheng nodded too. Someone who could see the true form of the Favorability System—the one no one else could—was anything but ordinary.
“But right now, she won’t answer anything. She can’t even remember.” Liang Sheng spread her hands helplessly. “What do we do?”
Akino Kazuko smacked her lips, stumped for once.
“Just give it a shot and ask. Whether she answers is one thing—whether you ask is another. What if she lets something slip?”
Liang Sheng took Sister Ling Dang’s hand with a sweet smile. “Sister Ling Dang, let’s sit for a bit. I’ll keep you company and chat.”
“Thank you.” Sister Ling Dang turned to Liang Sheng, repeating her question. “So, who are you?”
“Who I am doesn’t matter~ What’s important is that I’m here to chat with Sister Ling Dang~” Liang Sheng’s words dripped with honey.
Sister Ling Dang sat down with her, her blank face still aimed at the sea. No one could guess what thoughts swam behind those eyes.
“Sister Ling Dang, do you have someone you like?” Liang Sheng probed gently.
Sister Ling Dang blinked. “Someone I like… someone I like… who?”
“Yeah, surely Sister Ling Dang has someone she likes~” Liang Sheng coaxed patiently, her eyes full of anticipation as she gazed at the blue-haired girl.
Sister Ling Dang’s face suddenly lit up with contentment. She pointed at the sea. “Like… like… the sea. I like the sea…”
“Not the sea!” Liang Sheng pressed on patiently. “I mean a person you like~”
“A person? Like?” Sister Ling Dang tilted her head. “Right, a person I like… sea, sea, sea…”
Could it be…? Liang Sheng and Akino Kazuko exchanged another glance. Did this enigmatic blue-haired girl’s crush have “sea” in his name?
“Keep asking. Quick, keep going,” Akino Kazuko urged.
Liang Sheng slapped her forehead. “Argh, I had so many questions, but at the crucial moment, they all flew out of my head!”
It was just like cramming a passage perfectly at your desk, only to stumble over every word when the teacher called on you.
“She can hear you talking too, you know! Hurry up and ask her!” Liang Sheng suddenly recalled that Scarface who’d thrown her into the water—a chill ran through her, and she glanced involuntarily over her shoulder.
