Early the next morning.
Steam rose from the roadside breakfast stalls. Mo Xin munched on a bun as she leisurely made her way toward the Ability Bureau.
Before long, she ran into Qing Yutong, who was outside getting some fresh air.
Qing Yutong was leaning against the railing, stretching. Her gaze casually swept over the approaching figure, and her eyes immediately widened in surprise.
"Eh? Mo Xin, why are you here? And... this early?"
As she spoke, she instinctively pulled out her phone. The screen lit up, and the time displayed wasn't even ten o'clock, making her even more surprised.
As Qing Yutong gradually recovered, she and Mo Xin had spent quite a bit of time together as master and apprentice.
Qing Yutong genuinely liked Mo Xin. She was gifted, cheerful, and full of energy.
Looking at the bun and soy milk in Mo Xin's hands, Qing Yutong couldn't help but wonder. Why was this girl being so proactive today?
Seeing the suspicious "something's definitely wrong with you" expression on Qing Yutong's face, Mo Xin suddenly felt speechless.
"What! Don't look so shocked!"
"Really? Then why are you..."
"Ahem, as a prodigy of the new generation, I've realized I haven't been working hard enough, so...
"Alright, alright, I get it. I was just out here getting some fresh air. Go on in by yourself!"
Qing Yutong waved her hand helplessly. Even so, the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl upward.
"Hehe, then I'm off!"
Mo Xin waved at Qing Yutong with a light chuckle.
She quickly finished the rest of her bun and soy milk, then looked around and immediately spotted a nearby trash can.
She lifted the lid, tossed the empty paper cup and the slightly greasy plastic bag inside, then shut the lid with a crisp snap. Dusting off imaginary crumbs from her hands, she confidently strode toward the entrance of the Ability Bureau.
Her movements were clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
..
...
...
Eh?!!
Mo Xin (๑˙ー˙๑): "Sister Yutong... did something just feel a little off?"
Qing Yutong (๑•̌.•̑๑)ˀ̣ˀ̣: "Hmm? What felt off?"
Mo Xin stiffly took several steps backward until she was once again standing in front of the trash can.
She slowly lifted the lid.
Stelle (˶ᗜᗜ˶)ಣ: "Good morning."
Bang!
The lid slammed shut.
Mo Xin (´.＿.｀): "Sister Yutong... come take a look. Is there something wrong with my eyes?"
Qing Yutong stepped over and pulled the lid open.
Stelle (˶ᗜᗜ˶)ಣ: "Hello."
Bang!
The lid slammed shut once more.
Qing Yutong (⊙_⊙): "Hiss... this is bad. Could something be wrong with my Spirit Eyes too?"
The air fell silent for nearly half a minute.
The two exchanged a knowing glance.
Then, together, they slowly lifted the trash can lid again.
Stelle (˶ᗜᗜ˶)ಣ: "Yo!"
Mo Xin: (●—●)
Qing Yutong: (●—●)
...
...
Meanwhile...
Far away in Canglan Capital, it was also morning.
Inside a villa.
"Time to get up."
"Let me sleep a little longer, meow~"
Seeing Cipher sprawled across the bed without a shred of decorum, Firefly was momentarily speechless.
"Cipher, get up."
"Meow~~~"
...
It wasn't until nearly noon that the warm sunlight, like a thin veil, gently blanketed the entire room.
The cat curled up on the bed finally stirred.
A short while later, Cipher rubbed her sleepy eyes and stumbled into the living room in a daze.
Hearing the sound, Liu Xiyue instinctively looked up.
But the moment her eyes landed on Cipher, her cheeks instantly turned scarlet. She hurriedly looked away, even the tips of her ears burning bright red.
Cipher still wasn't fully awake. In her sleepy haze, she had only thrown on a pair of loose casual shorts and a thin short-sleeved shirt.
The wide collar had slipped down over one shoulder, revealing a patch of fair skin. Her messy hair clung to her forehead, and her usually cool eyes were now clouded with drowsiness, giving off an unconscious laziness and innocent charm.
Noticing the petite figure in the living room, Cipher lazily waved a hand, her voice still thick with sleep.
"Yo~ Good morning!"
With her back turned, Liu Xiyue tightly hugged a sofa cushion, trying her best to calm the panic in her heart.
"Morning my foot! It's almost noon already!"
"Oh, really?"
Cipher shrugged indifferently.
But with that simple movement...
The already loose collar slipped down just a little farther, exposing her delicate collarbone and another glimpse of fair skin.
Liu Xiyue, who had secretly glanced back, happened to witness the scene. She instantly felt a rush of heat shoot up to her face, her cheeks becoming so red they looked ready to drip blood.
Cipher's figure was simply too eye-catching. Her smooth, toned physique outlined perfect curves, free of even the slightest excess while still retaining a woman's softness.
Her fair, slender legs appeared even longer beneath the casual shorts, each step carrying an effortless elegance.
The fluffy cat ears atop her head, along with the tail gently swaying behind her, only added to her unique charm.
Liu Xiyue (/∇＼): 'As expected... the "now you see it, now you don't" look truly is the ultimate truth of this world...'
'Damn it... Meng Xingyao is living way too comfortably. No... she's just terrible at appreciating what she has! Why hasn't she already claimed a beauty like this?!'
In terms of physique, Flame Heart wasn't actually inferior to Cipher.
But at that moment, Liu Xiyue clearly understood one truth.
What you can't have is always the most tempting.
Meanwhile, Cipher seemed to notice the burning gaze fixed upon her, and her sleepy mind immediately became much clearer.
Looking at the person sitting on the sofa, blushing furiously while still unable to resist sneaking glances at her from the corner of her eyes...
That mixture of embarrassment and curiosity...
Cipher thought about it for a few seconds before the corners of her lips slowly curled upward. A mischievous glint flashed through her eyes.
"Is the little kid feeling shy?" Cipher deliberately dragged out the last word, the smile on her lips widening.
As she spoke, she stretched lazily.
Her body naturally arched into a graceful curve. The loose fabric was gently lifted by the motion, vividly outlining the full curves and slender waist beneath the shirt.
Seeing this, Liu Xiyue's crimson eyes widened in shock and embarrassment.
Drip—
Cipher's fluffy ears twitched, and the teasing smile on her face suddenly froze.
Liu Xiyue (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄): "I-I... I'm going to the bathroom first!"
The moment she finished speaking, the petite figure disappeared from Cipher's sight in the blink of an eye.
...
For a moment, she genuinely didn't know how to react.
"No wonder the Little Princess never wants to talk about her past with her best friend."
Cipher scratched her head in resignation before instinctively glancing at her exposed shoulder.
A certain memory suddenly flashed through her mind, causing a faint blush to appear on her cheeks.
But she quickly recovered herself, and the blush disappeared just as fast. Her expression returned to its usual calm, as though nothing had happened.
She casually pulled the slipped collar back into place with her fingertips.
Hiss...
Cipher: 'We're both girls, and I only accidentally showed a shoulder... so why do I suddenly feel strangely guilty?'