“Oh, oh, oh, so that’s how it is.” Bai Zhen nodded without pressing further. She seemed to truly believe it.
Liang Sheng ignored her and focused intently on unraveling the mystery. What had caused Bai Zhen’s favorability toward her to be locked? What exactly had Su Ze done? What law had he used?
With one hand stroking her chin, Liang Sheng narrowed her eyes, completely baffled.
Ah…! She slapped her thigh. Su Ze’s timing for his first meeting with Bai Zhen had been perfect! Right when Bai Zhen was thirsty and craving a drink—her favorite milk tea snatched away by someone else—Su Ze had offered his own share. Such thoughtful flattery would make anyone’s favorability skyrocket. Perhaps… that was Law Two.
“The first time you meet her, give the heroine exactly what she wants most in that moment. If she touches it or partakes, she’ll experience no favorability gains toward anyone else for a full week.” Liang Sheng explained it all in her mind for Kazuko’s benefit.
“Ding!” One Heartthrob Value System law unlocked. Reward: Favorability System Law Two acquired.
“Law Two: Give a girl exactly what she desires most right now, and it will break one law the Heartthrob Value System has imposed on her. Cooldown time: three days.”
“Bonus reward: Ask the Favorability System one question. It must answer truthfully, with no backlash to you.”
Liang Sheng clapped both hands over her face. Her mouth gaped open wide enough to fit five eggs, frozen in an expression straight out of a priceless masterpiece.
Holy smokes—talk about a luck explosion! Heh heh, this girl’s not just smart; she’s brilliant.
“Hurry up and try it on Bai Zhen,” Kazuko urged, egging on Liang Sheng amid her glee and smugness.
Energized, Liang Sheng rolled up her sleeves with the fervor of someone about to wring a chicken’s neck.
“Sister Bai Zhen! What do you want right now?” She cut straight to the chase, flashing a goofy grin at Bai Zhen.
“Pfft.” Bai Zhen found the moody little guy endlessly entertaining—one moment brooding deeply, the next beaming like a two-hundred-pound kid at an amusement park.
She reached out and couldn’t resist ruffling Liang Sheng’s hair. Mmm, nice and soft.
Eager as could be, Liang Sheng seized Bai Zhen’s hand. Her eyes bulged like copper bells, crackling with clever mischief, her little mouth rattling away. “Sister Bai Zhen, come on~ Tell me, pretty please~”
Bai Zhen gazed at the adorable creature before her, her own girlish heart melting away. What girl could resist something this cute? Unable to help herself, she decided to tease. “Alright, plant one on your big sis.” She tapped her left cheek.
Liang Sheng froze, blinking her big eyes at the stunning sister across from her—golden short hair, crisp white suit, utterly dashing. Sure, she was handsome… but why did everyone have such a hankering for her body? Liang Sheng instinctively clutched her chest, looking every bit the innocent maiden on the verge of violation.
“Ahahahaha!” Bai Zhen burst into hearty laughter, hand over her mouth as her whole body shook.
“Wh-what’s that supposed to mean!” Realizing it was a joke, Liang Sheng puffed out her cheeks in indignation. “Sister Bai Zhen, you’re teasing me again!”
Bai Zhen watched the silly, beautiful girl across from her and thought how nice it was to have someone so fun by her side.
“I really do want it~” Bai Zhen composed herself, feigning utmost seriousness while still half-joking to keep poking at Liang Sheng.
Truth be told, Bai Zhen genuinely wanted that kiss. It was no big deal—in her time abroad, friends did it all the time, and even her little sisters planted cheek kisses on her regularly.
Liang Sheng craned her neck up at Bai Zhen, who towered over her by a head, then dropped her gaze. She fidgeted anxiously with the hem of her coat, mumbling indistinctly. “F-for real?”
“You bet~” Smiling, Bai Zhen bent down and tilted her head close, pointing to her cheek once more.
Here goes nothing! Liang Sheng squeezed her eyes shut and steeled her resolve. Senior Sister Gu Yuqi, forgive me! But Sister Bai Zhen’s a girl, and girls kissing girls is totally fine (aren’t you and Senior Sister Gu both girls?). It’s just pure sisterly love!
“Mwah~” Liang Sheng darted in for a quick peck on Bai Zhen’s cheek before zipping back, her face a mask of guilty sinner.
Senior Sister Gu Yuqi! I’m so sorry! But I still love you~
“Ding!” Favorability System Law Two triggered.
“Heartthrob Value System Law Eight: Lifted.”
Yes! Liang Sheng stomped her foot and spun in gleeful circles, flashing a V-sign at the sky.
Bai Zhen stared at Liang Sheng’s whirlwind of expressions—from shy to thrilled to this blissfully dopey grin. She couldn’t quite keep up and half-wished she could crack open the girl’s skull to see what made her tick.
“Come on~ Sister Bai Zhen!” Liang Sheng’s mood had flipped a complete one-eighty. Beaming, she hooked her arm through Bai Zhen’s and skipped ahead.
When Bai Zhen stood there stunned, Liang Sheng waved a hand in front of her face, winked, and formed a little heart with her fingers. It was the kind of over-the-top celebration only a gloriously goofy girl could muster—utterly one-of-a-kind.
“Sister Bai Zhen, love ya~” Liang Sheng grabbed a lock of her long hair and shaped it into a heart, then shot Bai Zhen a cheeky “heh heh” grin.
So silly… and so cute. Bai Zhen snapped out of it, winked back, and couldn’t stop giggling behind her hand.
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Bai Zhen’s favorability toward Liang Sheng: 23”
Woohoo~ Sure enough, it ticked up again! Liang Sheng’s grin widened impossibly further. Her uncontainable joy piled up on her face until she looked for all the world like a patient straight out of the mental hospital.
By the time Bai Zhen drove her home in her sleek white sports car, evening had fallen. Liang Sheng was utterly flattered by the personal chauffeur service.
At the gates of her complex, Bai Zhen eyed the darkening sky and insisted on walking her all the way to the door. Liang Sheng flashed a sweet smile. Heh, Sister Bai Zhen was such a gentlewoman.
As they neared the front door, Liang Sheng spotted a shadowy figure lurking there. She squinted, but couldn’t make it out clearly. No way—Senior Sister Yuqi? She rubbed her eyes.
The closer they got, the sharper the image became. Black puffer jacket, hood pulled low. But from the silhouette alone, Liang Sheng recognized her instantly: Senior Sister Gu Yuqi.
Oh crap! Liang Sheng glanced at the tall Bai Zhen beside her, her heart quaking. It felt exactly like getting caught cheating on her spouse. On this freezing day, she’d somehow broken into a fresh sweat in record time.
She couldn’t very well stop walking now. Plastering on an awkward smile, Liang Sheng feigned composure and waved at Gu Yuqi. “Hey~ Senior Sister Yuqi, what brings you here?”
Gu Yuqi’s figure stiffened. She looked up, spotting Liang Sheng—and the person beside her, Bai Zhen.
She… had she been out having fun with someone else? A heaviness filled Gu Yuqi’s chest as a tangle of complicated emotions welled up.
