Her eyes widened, meeting Meng Wange’s gaze directly.
…Huh?
Feeling the gentle touch on the corner of her lips, Su Wanli couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.
What… what new kind of rhetoric was this now?
Even though Meng Wange was looking at her with those direct, seemingly pure eyes, Su Wanli found it hard to believe that what she had just said was sincere.
“Gentle, kind, compassionate, tolerant”—not a single one of those words had anything to do with how she had always behaved. What’s more, Meng Wange was the very person who had personally experienced all of her malice. Coming from her mouth, those words held not a shred of credibility.
It’s just… the expression Meng Wange wore right now really could make someone start to believe…
“I’m sorry, Miss Su.”
Meng Wange slowly withdrew her fingertip from the corner of Su Wanli’s lips, then closed her eyes and gave a slight shake of her head.
“I understand why you would want to drive me away from your side. It’s me… I’ve been getting carried away all along.”
An apology that sounded quite sincere.
I knew it. With Meng Wange’s high emotional intelligence, how could she not know how today’s actions would make me feel?
But… admitting her mistake is good enough. Su Wanli also understood that, in the end, she was just a stepping stone. As long as Meng Wange put on a bit of an act in front of her, leaving this “Final Boss” a little face, she wouldn’t fly into a rage.
Anger came quickly and left just as fast. Su Wanli, who had originally been planning to weave a string of venomous curses, gradually calmed down. She pursed her lips, looked Meng Wange up and down, then silently averted her gaze.
“…Well, as long as you understand. I won’t allow a situation like today’s to happen a sec—”
She had only gotten halfway through her sentence when Meng Wange let out another soft sigh.
“It was me… I confused your kindness and gentleness that you show to everyone, mistakenly thinking I had received your special favor.”
Her voice carried a hint of rare weariness and a faint sense of disappointment.
…Hah? What “kindness and gentleness shown to everyone”? What “receiving your special favor”?
Su Wanli blinked in confusion, trying hard to decipher Meng Wange’s current state of mind.
Her head was slightly lowered, her long eyelashes casting a small, faint shadow on her eyelids. The corners of her mouth, which always wore a standard smile, were now pressed into a straight line.
Meng Wange… actually looked a little sad?
“I truly apologize. I actually got so excited over the fireworks you set off on a whim, mistakenly believing that my relationship with you had taken a leap forward. I was so thrilled I tossed and turned, unable to sleep, which left me listless all morning.”
As she spoke, Meng Wange gently raised her head, smiling as she looked into Su Wanli’s eyes. Those eyes, usually clear as water, now seemed veiled by a faint, wispy mist, appearing particularly thin and fragile… even somewhat vulnerable.
“As a strategist and tool who has sworn to dedicate everything to you, my performance today must have disappointed you.”
“So, even if you truly intend to drive me out of the Su family, to make me leave your side, I…”
Here, Meng Wange’s voice paused slightly before she continued.
“…have no complaints.”
Su Wanli opened her mouth, only to find she couldn’t utter a single word.
The bellyful of venomous words she had prepared now seemed utterly pale and powerless in the face of Meng Wange’s sudden self-criticism.
…So… so that’s what it was?
Meng Wange didn’t actually stop wanting to wake her up, stop wanting to personally make her breakfast, or deliberately ignore her all morning…
She was just—
Because last night’s fireworks were too dazzling, she got so excited she couldn’t sleep, and that’s why she missed all those things!?
I thought Meng Wange just felt it was no longer necessary to waste time on me, but it was actually this kind of reason?
Meng Wange, you… you’re actually this adorable!?
—And you’re supposed to be the halo-laden Main Heroine with maxed-out talent!
A slightly headache-stricken Su Wanli silently rubbed her temples.
And what’s with “mistakenly believing my relationship with you had taken a leap forward”? Are you some naive, innocent elementary school student? A mere fireworks show and some sweets could cause such a big reaction…
Even I, the one who planned it, only thought it might slightly reduce the Aversion Level. I never expected the effect to be this significant, moving Meng Wange to this extent, even…
Even leading to days of getting all lovey-dovey like this…
Wait, she doesn’t actually think I really want to kick her out of the Su family, does she!?
Heh, hehe… If things continue like this, won’t I soon be able to zero out Meng Wange’s Aversion Level toward me, even start racking up Favorability points like crazy, ultimately achieving a super happy ending, and then continue with Meng Wange…
No, now is not the time to start fantasizing!
Su Wanli snapped back to reality, wiping away the smile that had almost escaped the corner of her mouth, and cleared her throat.
“Ahem… Heh, hehe, Meng Wange, that, um…”
She had accidentally let out a silly giggle.
She quickly covered her cheeks with both hands, physically pressing down the corners of her mouth, then reorganized her thoughts.
“Hehe, disappointed isn’t quite the word. I just… think you can keep trying harder. Think about it carefully, you were doing pretty well the past few days, weren’t you? Just keep acting like you did before.”
“Is that so? Thank you for your understanding.”
Hearing Su Wanli’s words, Meng Wange seemed to relax as well. She subtly wiped the corner of her eye and offered Su Wanli her usual serene smile.
“Understood, Miss Su. I will prove my resolve to you through my actions. Next, please accompany me to the cafeteria. There’s still plenty of time; we should be able to get in line for quite a few dishes to our liking.”
“Now that you mention it, I am feeling a bit hungry. Let’s hurry. I hope yesterday’s fever didn’t fry your brain, and you at least still remember what I like to eat…”
Watching the Eldest Miss of the Su family walking naturally ahead of her, a faint smile on her face, Meng Wange let out a soft sigh of relief.
…Considered reasonably resolved, right?
Truly unscrupulous, Meng Wange. Even such baseless words can roll off your tongue so easily. At this rate, there probably won’t be many truths left to speak from your mouth.
However, looking at the light smile on Su Wanli’s face, Meng Wange couldn’t spare the energy to blame her own baseness right now.
—The most important thing now was to ensure her image in Su Wanli’s mind remained spotless and to gradually become the most important person in her heart.
As for how to atone for this in the future… she would leave that for later.