In the corner of her eye, Seele saw the noble and beautiful figure in the full-length mirror—a beauty that the young girl herself had never seen before.
Seele even had the illusion, "Is this really me?"
She looked just like a sea spirit dancing in a palace.
"No... Seele can't accept this... It's too valuable..."
This evening gown must be very expensive.
That was Seele's first subconscious thought.
Back at the orphanage, life was hard. Forget buying pretty clothes; even eating a piece of cake was a luxury.
This dress looked incredibly magnificent, so of course, Seele immediately tried to refuse it.
Although all girls love beauty, and Seele was no exception, this was precisely the dividing line that separated the "good girls."
Seele refused repeatedly, genuinely feeling from the bottom of her heart that she couldn't accept such a valuable gift.
Ye Feng smiled and said gently, "Seele still doesn't understand the rules of this world."
"The rules... of this world?"
Seele stared at Ye Feng with her sea-blue pupils. Those clear eyes could truly cleanse one's soul.
"Everything in this world doesn't need to be bought with money. To be precise, what you call 'valuable' is merely a value assigned by human society. But there is no society constructed by humans here, or rather, even if there is, this place transcends it."
"Ngh..."
Seele looked at Ye Feng, only half-understanding.
"So, as long as you think it's beautiful, that's all that matters. The values, worldviews, life philosophies, and ethics of the outside world do not apply here."
Seele clasped her small hands over her chest, the crimson Stigma faintly visible on the snow-white skin peeking out from her collar.
Seele was still a bit懵懂, but she could roughly understand what Ye Feng meant.
Even so, Seele couldn't accept Ye Feng's gift with a clear conscience.
Even if it were just a worthless stone, when given by another person, it is imbued with special meaning.
"...I still can't... Setting aside the issue of value for a moment... Brother Ye Feng, why are you giving Seele new clothes?"
"Because you're my lover, Seele. Giving gifts is perfectly normal, isn't it?"
"..."
Seele was speechless.
They had already discussed this issue last time.
But no matter how much Seele refused, she couldn't change Ye Feng's "one-sided wishful thinking," could she?
"Ah, fine. I'm a kind person, and I can't bear to see you troubled, Seele. Since you don't want to accept it, then give the dress back to me now."
Seele froze, staring blankly at Ye Feng. "Eh? Now? Here...?"
Ye Feng blinked, a look of innocence on his face. "That's right. If it's something you don't like, Seele, then as your lover, of course I have to resolve it immediately."
"..."
Hearing this, Seele didn't dare to move.
Brother Ye Feng couldn't mean that I have to take the dress off right here... could he?
Thinking about it carefully, Brother Ye Feng was definitely capable of it.
Last time in the café, didn't he forcefully lift her clothes to draw the contract pattern on her lower abdomen?
Ah, speaking of which, Seele still hadn't properly thanked him.
Although his methods at the time were a bit forceful, one thing was one thing.
Ye Feng had undoubtedly freed Seele from that claustrophobic crevice.
"Um... Seele knows that Brother Ye Feng is a good person. About last time, thank you..."
"?"
Ye Feng paused for a moment, then couldn't help but smile. "This time, little Seele, you've misjudged someone. I am definitely not the kind of person you think I am."
"No matter what, Seele has to thank you, Brother Ye Feng... If it weren't for you, Seele would still be imprisoned at the bottom of the Sea of Quanta... It's very scary there..."
Hmm?
Wait.
Speaking of this, Seele finally remembered her other self.
"Um... Brother Ye Feng, have you seen... someone who looks a lot like Seele...?"
"Ah, you mean Dark Seele. She's in the library."
"...Dark Seele?"
"It's to differentiate between you and her."
"Ngh..."
Dark Seele.
Seele didn't seem to quite agree with that name.
Her "other self" probably wouldn't want to be called that either.
But Seele didn't refute it.
"Don't worry, she's fine. More importantly, you two have descended into a World Bubble?"
"...Yes. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but we met the kind Officer Himeko. If she hadn't taken us in, we would probably be living on the streets."
"Hm? Officer Himeko?"
Ye Feng's brow twitched, and a smile slowly spread across his lips. "Tell me in detail about what's happening in that World Bubble."
---o---
"Kiana, you look like you have something on your mind. Are you trying to suppress something?"
After the simulation training ended, Class President Fu Hua walked over and said.
Kiana's mental state was clearly off, something an old antique like her could see at a glance.
But while Fu Hua could discern mental issues, her observation of physical conditions was lacking.
"It's none of your business!" Kiana retorted forcefully.
In reality, it was to cover up her own guilt.
Fu Hua pushed up her glasses. "Although I don't know what happened, I would still like to offer a piece of advice. Acting willfully is not a good strategy. As the saying goes, the highest good is like water; channeling is better than damming. Sometimes, when facing a mountain you cannot cross, you can stop for a moment, relax your mind, and look at the flowers and grass around you. Perhaps, when you look up again, you will have already reached the summit."
"?? "
Two question marks popped up directly over Kiana's head.
She still didn't like the class president's abstract way of speaking.
In summary, it was just four words: be flexible.
But right now, Kiana's body was burning hot, as if steam was rising from her skin.
A fire was burning in her heart.
She didn't want to pay any mind to it, nor did she want to think.
She gave a perfunctory reply and returned to the dormitory with Mei and Bronya.
After a night of high-intensity simulation training, Mei and Bronya took a quick shower and soon fell into a deep sleep.
But for Kiana, the intense battle, far from distracting her, had only fanned the flames in her heart, making them burn even brighter.
So, exercise can actually be counterproductive?
Kiana regretted it a little. It would have been better to just stay in the dormitory tonight.
Then, she wouldn't be feeling so hot and bothered.
Especially after the fighting stopped, the emptiness was terrifying.
The moment she closed her eyes, her mind was filled with images of her and Ye Feng, and even from the optimal third-person perspective...
"Dammit!"
When Kiana's tightly shut eyes opened again, they were filled with a bewitching, alluring moisture, her pearly teeth biting her cherry-pink lips.
Kiana had been doing so well with her abstinence, only to be dragged back in by Ye Feng for a chaotic session.
The key was that he had locked the progress bar, keeping her in a constant state of arousal.
And then, completely unsatisfied, she had been thrown back out...
How could the fire in Kiana, who had almost been molded into Ye Feng's shape, be so easily extinguished?
"The highest good is like water; channeling is better than damming..."
Kiana remembered the class president's words.
Could she endure it now?
Of course, she could.
But was it necessary?
What was she even holding out for?
At this thought, Kiana's mental defenses instantly crumbled.
Her other hand ignored the protests of her rational mind, uncontrollably pressing against her own body, her slender, fair fingers gripping tightly.
In the hazy darkness of the room, Kiana's silhouette suddenly arched its hips upward...
Forget it, if I lose, I lose.
No one will see it anyway.