Chongyun looked at her sparkling eyes and slightly swaying antennae, and that tiny sense of distance vanished unknowingly. All that remained was curiosity toward a new friend with unique (?) tastes.
He laughed sheepishly. "Is—is that so? Then I'll try it next time..."
Xiangling, watching this harmonious (?) scene, clapped her hands happily. "Great! It seems my new recipe is a success! You guys should come often; I'll have Lovia provide more new ideas!"
Xingqiu smiled and waved his fan. "Then Chongyun and I are in for a treat. However..."
He shifted his tone, looking at Lovia with a perfectly measured tease. "Since Miss Lovia is now a 'Special Consultant' for Wanmin Restaurant, I imagine there will be many opportunities to meet here in the future. If Chongyun and I come again, we shouldn't be treated as 'uninvited guests' and have a certain consultant flee in panic, right?"
His words were clearly poking fun at Lovia's instinctive panic just now and her previous "running away" behavior.
Lovia's face turned red again instantly, and her little bit of smugness vanished. She lowered her head in embarrassment and mumbled, "I... I won't run..."
Xiangling immediately protected her. "Oh, Xingqiu, stop teasing her!"
Hearing this, Chongyun waved his hands hurriedly. "Lovia... I won't scare you again!"
Xingqiu knew when to stop and laughed heartily. "Just a joke, Miss Lovia, please don't mind it."
He watched Lovia's posture relax again and saw those blue antennae trembling slightly from her emotional fluctuations, feeling amused in his heart.
This Melusine miss was completely different from before.
She seemed to be cautiously trying to integrate into this crowd she once feared.
And having a friend like Xiangling and a warm little base like Wanmin Restaurant was undoubtedly very good for her.
The sunlight shone warmly in the backyard of Wanmin Restaurant, the aroma of food mixing with the relaxed laughter of the youths.
Lovia picked up her small bowl again, eating the ice jelly in small bites while listening to Xiangling, Xingqiu, and Chongyun discuss various bold culinary ideas. Occasionally, she would be asked for her opinion and would say a few words softly.
She still hadn't put on that hooded cloak.
Her blue antennae shimmered with a soft luster in the sunlight, occasionally swaying gently when she heard an interesting topic.
Chongyun would steal secret glances and scream silently in his heart: So cute!!
Lovia's accidental "exposure" this time didn't seem to bring the predicted panic and trouble. Instead, it was like pushing open a small window, letting a different breeze blow into her originally closed world.
Perhaps in this world, there was more than one place where she could safely drop her disguise.
Perhaps people like Xiangling, Xingqiu, and Chongyun were not few, nor were they threats.
She stole a glance at Xingqiu, who was chatting and laughing with Xiangling, then at Chongyun, who was listening intently and nodding from time to time.
It feels... pretty good?
Lovia lowered her head, the corners of her mouth curving into a shallow arc. Thinking this way, even the ice jelly in her bowl seemed to become sweeter.
Should she try contacting other characters in the future?
After all... the things she should worry about have been resolved (Neuvillette: Really?), and now she just needs to overcome her social anxiety... Thus, the tiny sprout of Lovia's attempt to contact the outside world quietly poked its head out in the warm afternoon sun and friendly atmosphere of Wanmin Restaurant.
However, the nature of social anxiety cannot be changed overnight.
Take it slow.
[Bonus Chapter Progress Bar: 57%]
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