On the bustling main streets of Lungmen—
"Mmm, that post-job refresh is the best. How about we grab a drink?" Sora suggested, stretching lazily.
"No. I'm heading back." Texas didn't even slow down.
Watching the Lupo's back recede into the crowd, Sora tilted her head, puzzled. "What's going on with Texas lately? She's been acting like she's carrying something heavy."
"Heh, you wouldn't know, would you?" Exusiai leaned in smugly, thumping her chest with total confidence. "Texas has someone she likes. And I'm telling you, it's very likely."
Sora's expression turned subtly complicated.
Exusiai… you're seriously paying attention to that kind of private, hard-to-talk-about stuff?
If Sora didn't know Exusiai was chasing after Chen Mo, she might've started wondering if Exusiai had some very questionable hobbies.
"But… Texas actually caring about something like that?" Sora murmured. "That's hard to imagine."
And it was too sudden. Even if Texas was a normal woman with normal needs, she wouldn't just fall for some random guy overnight.
Unless…
Unless it was someone she already knew. Someone she'd been around long enough for it to take root.
But Texas didn't have any familiar men in her life.
Not unless you counted—
Sora froze mid-step.
Exusiai and Croissant both turned to her. "What's up, Sora?" Exusiai squinted. "You look like that background extra in a detective show who just realized the 'terrifying truth.'"
"…Nothing." Sora shook her head stiffly, forcing out a smile. Then, carefully, she asked, "Exusiai… you haven't been bothering Chen Mo lately, right?"
"What do you mean 'bothering'? That's such an ugly word. It's called relentless pursuit of love." Exusiai crossed her arms with a huff—then immediately switched back to her usual grin, scratching her cheek. "But your method actually worked. Chen Mo even messaged me first, asking how I've been doing."
She practically glowed. "He's never checked in on me like that before. I swear I'm close. Real close to taking down my man."
…For once, I really don't want you making progress.
Sora sighed quietly, meeting Croissant's curious stare and feeling, in that moment, more exhausted than she'd been after a full day of work.
A man who could make someone as ice-cold as Texas lose her composure…
What kind of man was Chen Mo, exactly?
Chen Mo was… special.
He didn't care about the usual lines between men and women. He wasn't some manipulative flirt who collected hearts like trophies, either—his social circle was small, and he didn't hide any of it. The only person openly pursuing him was Exusiai, and even she had made exactly zero actual progress so far.
And Swire—Sora hadn't met her personally, but still: how many "delicate, coquettish" men spoke the way Chen Mo did?
He was too direct. He said whatever popped into his head, and he took genuine pleasure in watching women lose their composure in front of him.
Which was exactly why Swire was currently restless, uneasy, and more nervous than she wanted to admit.
"That rice-roll dragon actually told me to touch her brother's tail…" Swire muttered under her breath, grinding her teeth. "Has she lost her mind?"
Swire didn't know what Ch'en was really planning, but she couldn't deny it—she was a little excited.
Even if there was a very good chance Chen Mo would mock her to her face.
She stopped by a shop window, using the glass to check her appearance one last time. Satisfied, she nodded.
"Perfect."
Her bright, curled golden hair was immaculate. Her tail looked soft and glossy, swaying behind her in neat, deliberate rhythm—so well cared for it practically begged to be touched.
That was her little test, too.
Let's see what you think of this, Chen Mo.
But—
"Where is he?" Swire checked her watch again. Twenty minutes had already passed, and there was still no sign of him.
In every romance drama, the man being late was practically a law of nature—usually because he was nervous, couldn't sleep, overthought everything, and then stumbled into a cascade of sweet misunderstandings.
It was a nice fantasy.
The problem was… Chen Mo was absolutely the kind of man who might be late because he slept in.
Swire sighed, straightened her posture, and scanned the crowd again.
This time, she finally spotted him—across the street, unmistakable in silver hair.
"Chen Mo…?" Her eyes narrowed. "And he's talking with—"
A tattooed, rough-looking delinquent?
Swire's brows knit instantly. She marched straight toward him, long strides full of authority.
Meanwhile, Chen Mo was busy venting to the friend he'd just happened to run into.
"I'm telling you, Nian, don't let those shows fool you," he complained, looking personally wronged by the universe. "They make it look all poetic and comfortable, but kissing is actually pretty awful."
Chen Mo—whose experience, in any timeline, was firmly at zero—said it with utter conviction.
Then he hooked a finger into the corner of his mouth and tugged it down. "Look. Right here. I didn't even know a Lupo gets so excited she starts biting. Who kisses so hard they leave you bleeding?"
Nian leaned in without a shred of politeness, peering closely. "Mm… yeah, that looks like she really went for it. Hurt?"
"Not really 'hurt,'" Chen Mo said, expression sour. "Just… uncomfortable."
It barely took any blood—maybe one percent of his HP—but the humiliation stuck. He'd traded blows with Patriot and walked away without a scratch. This? This drew blood.
He was just about to continue when a deliberately bright voice cut in behind him.
"Chen Mo! No wonder you took forever—you were here the whole time."
Swire swept in and—without hesitation—pulled the silver-haired Draco into her arms like she was claiming property.
Then she turned, smiling politely at the amused onlooker. "Excuse me. And you are…?"
Nian stroked her chin, eyes gleaming with interest. Oh? The tiger can guard her food, too. Chen Mo's life was starting to look very entertaining.
She was about to answer when Chen Mo practically launched himself out of Swire's embrace.
"Pfft—enough, Swire!" he protested, half-laughing, half-sputtering. "You realize I could sue you for harassment right now, yeah?"
And—because he apparently couldn't help himself—he added in a lower voice, still catching his breath:
"…Also, I didn't know you were that loaded. I almost couldn't breathe just now."
....
My Patreon : patreon/RuneA
If you want to read the novel in advance, you can subscribe for early access. I also have many more novels in my collection that you might be interested in
I upload ten novels a day, with 3 to 4 chapters per title depending on the length. If you're following a particular series, please wait your turn a little
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it