Meanwhile.
Inside the small dessert shop where Firefly and the others were gathered.
The previously warm and relaxed atmosphere had somehow transformed into one filled with sorrow in the blink of an eye.
The receptionist girl who had been secretly slacking off was currently wiping at her eyes nonstop.
Little pearls continued falling one after another.
The nearby customers weren't much better.
Some had suddenly turned their faces away, pretending to admire the scenery outside the window.
Others buried their heads into their phones.
A few even covered their eyes with both hands.
Yet despite their efforts...
The trembling of their shoulders still completely exposed them.
The entire shop looked as though someone had suddenly announced a tragic funeral.
An extremely strange atmosphere spread quietly through the room.
This bizarre scene immediately stunned the customers who had just entered.
They froze at the doorway.
Then looked around.
Then looked again.
Their expressions gradually transformed from confusion to horror.
The newcomers:(◐ o ◑)
'Huh?'
'Did we walk into the wrong place?'
'This is supposed to be a cake shop, right?'
'Not a memorial hall?'
Rushing into a dessert shop in broad daylight only to discover a room full of crying people—
No matter how one looked at it, the situation felt deeply unsettling.
...
At Firefly's table.
The situation wasn't much different.
Particularly...
Liu Xiyue.
At this moment, she had already curled herself into a miserable little ball.
Tears poured down her cheeks continuously.
Her petite face looked as though it had just been washed by heavy rain.
"Waaaaah..."
Silver Wolf glanced sideways.
Then looked at her again.
"...Why are you crying too?"
"Waaaaah... I can't help it...The song is too touching..."
"Oh."
Silver Wolf nodded.
Then calmly delivered a finishing blow.
"But other than still being single, hasn't your life been pretty smooth?"
Liu Xiyue:(இдஇ`)
Critical hit.
Super effective.
The tears that had barely stopped immediately surged back.
"...Waaaaah! Go away! You cold-blooded woman!"
Silver Wolf: (๑ᗜ ˰ ᗜ๑)
"Oh."
"...Can't you comfort me a little?!"
"Um."
Silver Wolf thought seriously for two seconds.
Then replied.
"Please calm down."
Liu Xiyue: (╥﹏╥)
...
Fortunately.
The oppressive atmosphere only lasted a few minutes.
Gradually.
Everyone recovered.
Although...
Their eyes remained slightly red.
Looking exactly like they had all just experienced some heartbreaking breakup.
Under Firefly's gentle consolation, Liu Xiyue's trembling shoulders slowly relaxed.
The tears finally stopped.
Then.
A terrifying realization suddenly surfaced in her mind.
Liu Xiyue: (O.O)
'Wait.'
'I cried?'
'I actually cried?!'
Her entire body froze.
As a Special Grade Ability User.
Liu Xiyue had always believed her mental resilience far surpassed ordinary people.
Besides.
She had listened to Robin's previous songs.
Yet today...
She had somehow been reduced to tears by a single performance.
Not only that.
She had cried publicly.
In front of everyone.
Like a child whose candy had been stolen.
Thinking back to her appearance moments ago—
Disheveled hair.
Red eyes.
Runny nose.
A complete disaster.
Liu Xiyue immediately wished she could dig a hole and hide forever.
And she wasn't the only one.
The receptionist.
The customers.
Almost everyone in the shop had entered the same state.
After all.
Crying their eyes out in public for absolutely no reason was simply too embarrassing.
Especially when they recalled the bewildered expressions of the passersby who had entered earlier.
The shame multiplied instantly.
...
Soon.
Several curious pedestrians finally couldn't hold back their curiosity.
They approached the few people who appeared completely unaffected.
Namely,
Silver Wolf And Firefly.
"Excuse me...What exactly happened here?"
The passerby looked around cautiously.
Silver Wolf lazily lifted her head.
Her gaze swept across the shop.
Then she answered truthfully.
"Oh. They were watching a livestream. The content was so funny that everyone laughed until tears and snot came out."
Firefly:(๑°⌓°๑)
The customers:(;ﾟДﾟ)
The receptionist:Σ(°△°|||)
The passerby: "..."
Although he clearly didn't believe a single word.
He still nodded politely and left.
However.
Just before disappearing outside.
Firefly clearly saw him pull out his phone.
As though preparing to verify the claim personally.
Her expression immediately became complicated.
"Um...Is that really okay?"
Silver Wolf tilted her head.
"What's not okay?"
"You just lied."
"Did I?"
Silver Wolf looked completely innocent.
"Anyway. He definitely won't lose anything after watching. He might even thank me later."
Firefly: (๑ᵕ᷄≀ ̠˘᷅๑)
...
At this moment.
Liu Xiyue suddenly stared at the two.
Her expression became increasingly suspicious.
"Wait. You two don't secretly have some strange side job, right?"
"Hm?"
Silver Wolf raised an eyebrow.
"We do have side jobs. But why ask?"
Liu Xiyue pointed dramatically.
"Then explain! Why are you two completely unaffected?! Are you secretly emotionless assassins?!"
Firefly:(๑°⌓°๑)
Silver Wolf:(๑ᗜ ˰ ᗜ๑)
In the end.
Firefly helplessly explained.
"Maybe...It varies from person to person?"
Liu Xiyue: (๑ᗜ_ᗜ๑)
Fine.
That explanation sounded reasonable enough.
Barely.
...
Ding—
Just then.
Her phone suddenly vibrated.
Someone had sent her a message.
[Meng Xingyao: Liu Xiyue, I heard Miss Robin's livestream started already! Did you watch it?]
Seeing the familiar name.
Liu Xiyue wasn't surprised.
After all.
Ever since Robin appeared.
Her best friend had practically become obsessed.
For the past several days.
She had repeatedly reminded Liu Xiyue not to miss the livestream.
Thinking this.
Liu Xiyue quickly replied.
[Liu Xiyue: I watched it. Don't tell me you missed it? (๑•̌.•̑๑)ˀ̣ˀ̣]
[Meng Xingyao: Ahaha, Sister Cipher has something for me to do right now. No time to watch.]
[Meng Xingyao: By the way! Did Miss Robin show her face? Is she pretty?]
[Meng Xingyao: (๑꒪▿꒪)*]
Seeing this.
Liu Xiyue directly sent a screenshot.
[Liu Xiyue: JPG]
[Liu Xiyue: Here. She's very pretty.]
A few seconds later—
[Meng Xingyao: ੭ ˙ᗜ˙ ੭]
[Meng Xingyao: WHOA—]
[Meng Xingyao: Miss Robin really is one of us!]
[Meng Xingyao: Hiss I suddenly want to see her cosplay in person!]
Liu Xiyue:
(๑ᗜ_ᗜ๑)
She had long since grown accustomed to her friend's love for two-dimensional culture.
In the past.
Meng Xingyao had even tried dragging her into cosplay multiple times.
Her reason?
A loli like Liu Xiyue was far too precious.
Naturally.
Liu Xiyue refused every single time.
After all.
Unlike Meng Xingyao.
She didn't possess a convenient ability for changing outfits instantly.
Preparing costumes herself sounded exhausting.
Therefore.
Cosplay?
Impossible.
...
Well.
Unless she could play the Tentacle Monster while Meng Xingyao played the Magical Girl.
Then maybe.
Just maybe.
She'd consider it.
...
A new notification suddenly appeared.
[Meng Xingyao: Oh right!]
[Meng Xingyao: I heard Miss Robin released a new song too!]
[Meng Xingyao: Is it good?]
Seeing that message.
Liu Xiyue's eyes slowly narrowed.
Her gaze drifted toward Silver Wolf.
Then toward Firefly.
Then back toward her phone.
A wicked smile quietly emerged.
[Liu Xiyue: It's a very "healing" song.]
[Meng Xingyao: Really?!]
[Meng Xingyao: Now I'm super curious!]
[Liu Xiyue: I recommend listening before sleeping.]
[Liu Xiyue: It's very helpful for relaxation.]
[Meng Xingyao: For real???]
[Liu Xiyue: Guaranteed.]
[Liu Xiyue: Would I ever lie to you?]
[Liu Xiyue: Ciallo～(∠・ω＜ )⌒☆]
...
Far away.
Inside the villa.
Meng Xingyao stared at the message.
Then nodded seriously.
[Meng Xingyao: Got it!]
[Meng Xingyao: I'll listen tonight!]
Liu Xiyue:(๑>ᴗ<๑)
At that moment.
A smile brighter than the sun blossomed on her face.
Meanwhile.
Somewhere nearby.
An unfortunate little princess had absolutely no idea...
That her trusted best friend had already dug a giant pit and carefully covered it with flowers.