Feeling Mo Ran’s unusually captivating breath up close, Jiang Ling could only feel dizzy and disoriented.
Is this the kind of persona she usually has?!
Before she could complain too much, Mo Ran’s fingertips brushed against Jiang Ling’s lips, not pressing hard but not moving an inch either, her gaze intently fixed on her.
“Come on, hurry up,” Mo Ran chuckled lightly, leaning slightly closer, “Or what—were those apologies just empty words?”
This allowed Jiang Ling to see the faint, teasing smile on her face even more clearly.
Unlike her usual cheerful and upbeat grin, Mo Ran now seemed like a mischievous little devil, deliberately toying with Jiang Ling’s already sensitive and fragile nerves.
As if possessed, Jiang Ling slowly parted her lips, obediently licking the bit of chocolate off Mo Ran’s fingertip.
The rich aroma instantly filled her entire mouth.
Not just the chocolate, but also Mo Ran’s unique, sweet girlish scent, swallowed together with the touch of lips and fingers.
So soft.
That was the only thought that surfaced in Jiang Ling’s mind as she stumbled, dizzily grabbing the edge of the table for support.
She watched as Mo Ran, seemingly delighted, walked toward the other members, muttering something under her breath.
“Pfft, what’s that? So cute.”
Ugh… she’s totally just teasing me and having fun with it!
Jiang Ling pursed her lips in frustration, tasting the sweet-bitter aroma again, and buried herself in furiously stirring the already-melted chocolate in her hands.
“Once it’s melted, pour it into the molds. Add whatever you like; we have plenty of ingredients,” Mo Ran’s energetic voice rang through the room.
Jiang Ling looked at the ingredients on the table and, after a moment’s thought, added some hazelnut brittle to her chocolate.
She quite liked it and made a dozen or so portions evenly.
When everyone placed their finished chocolates in the fridge to chill, Mo Ran nodded with satisfaction.
“Now we just wait.”
“Ugh… I’m exhausted,” Fang Wannan collapsed onto a nearby stool.
After all, she never had to do any chores at home, let alone make chocolate from scratch.
Lin Xiaoyu spoke up, asking, “How long do we wait?”
“Hmm, about 20 or 30 minutes,” Mo Ran replied casually.
“By the way, how’s the flyer coming along?”
Bai Xue gave a slight nod and showed everyone the draft she’d designed.
Jiang Ling glanced at it and found it eye-catching enough.
With a few beautiful girls handing out chocolates, it should attract plenty of people, right?
Probably?
She felt a bit nervous thinking about it.
After all, it had been a long time since she’d faced so many people, and she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to handle it.
“Hey, what are you thinking about?” Fang Wannan kicked her stool lightly, not too hard, just to snap Jiang Ling out of her thoughts.
“You’re not backing out now, are you?”
“Uh… it’s not like that, but I am a little worried,” Jiang Ling admitted honestly, not hiding her feelings.
“There’s no need to worry about that kind of thing,” Fang Wannan said, propping her chin and looking at the conflicted Jiang Ling.
“Just perform what you’ve practiced. Don’t overthink it—it’s useless to overthink. Got it?”
“…Got it, Miss Fang.”
“What’s with that annoyingly polite tone?”
After some playful banter with Fang Wannan, Jiang Ling’s mindset eased a bit.
She couldn’t help but pull out her phone to look at the flyer for the street performance again, a mix of nerves and anticipation spreading through her chest.
It was like apprehension, but perhaps more like excitement.
Friday, 5:00 PM, when most people were just getting off work or school.
“By the way, are we really going out to hand out chocolates dressed like this?” Jiang Ling swallowed hard, nervously tugging at her skirt and asking shakily.
“Huh? You’re asking that now?” Fang Wannan raised an eyebrow impatiently, her words sharp but her fingers patiently fixing Jiang Ling’s crooked collar.
“Pay more attention, honestly.”
Today, they were all wearing their performance outfits—special little dresses, not their usual clothes—which was exactly why Jiang Ling felt so embarrassed.
“Come on, if we don’t go out soon, everyone will be gone,” Mo Ran said, smoothing her hair and pushing open the car door first.
As the others filed out, Jiang Ling, despite her nerves, had no choice but to grit her teeth and step out of the car.
It was the tail end of summer, and the evening breeze carried a sticky warmth.
They arrived near a bustling commercial street, ready to start their promotion.
“Look over there—those girls are dressed so beautifully! Are they idols?”
“No idea… wait, could that be NOVA from the internet?”
“Huh? What’s that?”
Their bright, distinctive outfits immediately drew attention from passersby, some of whom even recognized them.
As for how they were recognized…
“You don’t know? There’s a super cute cat-eared maid girl! Let me find her… there, the tiny one hiding behind everyone!”
“Eek!”
Jiang Ling instinctively shrank back, ready to hide behind Bai Xue for the rest of her life, when someone grabbed her by the back of her neck.
“Ow, ow, ow!” Jiang Ling squirmed, looking miserably at Lin Xiaoyu, who calmly pushed her to the center of the group.
Mindful of the onlookers, she lowered her voice and asked, “What are you doing…?”
“A lot of them seem to recognize you. I think this will help with promotion,” Lin Xiaoyu replied nonchalantly, shoving a stack of flyers into Jiang Ling’s hands.
“Today’s task: no dinner until you hand them all out.”
Are you trying to starve me?
That’s impossible! Unreasonable!
Jiang Ling wailed inwardly but forced an awkward smile, remembering Mo Ran’s repeated reminders not to lose her “idol smile.”
But in this situation, what was she supposed to do?
As Jiang Ling stood frozen in embarrassment, Mo Ran stepped forward confidently, approaching a few curious college students and handing them flyers and chocolates.
“Hi! We’re holding a street performance nearby soon. We’d really appreciate it if you could come. Please take these as a thank-you!”
With her incredible charm, she effortlessly accomplished what Jiang Ling couldn’t.
“Wow, that sounds fun! Should we go check it out?”
Watching the students happily take the flyers and chat with Mo Ran, Jiang Ling fidgeted with her skirt, cautiously observing the crowd.
Most people looked at them with kind curiosity, watching the scene as passersby.
“Make sure to hand them all out. I’m heading off,” Lin Xiaoyu reminded her, then patted Jiang Ling’s shoulder and walked away under her horrified gaze.
“Wait—”
Jiang Ling reached out but stopped herself, unable to call out.
Ugh, guess I just have to do it.
She hesitated, unable to take a step forward.
Just as she was wrestling with herself, someone appeared in front of her.
Jiang Ling looked down at the person’s low-heeled boots approaching, too nervous to look up, her voice barely a whisper.
“H-hello…”
“Oh? It’s been a few days, and you’ve turned into a little mute?”
The familiar teasing voice rang out.
Jiang Ling looked up in shock, meeting Song Meng’s amused gaze.
Today, Song Meng wore a clean, refreshing outfit: a white shirt layered with a knitted top and simple jeans, exuding a lazy yet youthful vibe.
Seeing Jiang Ling’s stunned expression, Song Meng raised an eyebrow, sizing up her outfit with a satisfied nod.
“Finally looking a bit like a teen idol.”
Jiang Ling’s long, sleek black hair fell over her shoulders, with a pink-and-white ribbon tied on the right side.
She wore the group’s uniform, similar in style to the others but differing in color and details.
Her outfit was white with hints of soft pink, like cherry blossoms, uplifting and pleasant.
The fitted top accentuated her youthful figure perfectly, with cut-out designs on the arms adding a touch of flair.
The skirt was paired with matching white stockings, semi-sheer to subtly reveal the lines of her legs—a detail unanimously praised by the group.
“Very pure. I personally love this look; it makes you want to… mess it up a bit,” Bai Xue said with a playful smile.
“Huh? My thoughts? Do I really need to waste my time on this? It’s… fine, I guess. But if you look closely, there’s a delicate cuteness with an irresistible purity. The slightly loose fit because she’s so slim is kind of a charm point… but it’s totally useless!” Fang Wannan turned away, her face slightly flushed.
“This is what a pure idol girl looks like? Truly eye-opening. I must take a few photos,” Lin Xiaoyu said, quickly raising her phone to capture the moment.
“It suits you perfectly, little bell! By the way, we really should try that super short JK outfit!”
Mo Ran mused, recalling items from a mysterious box.
Thinking of their varied reactions, Jiang Ling’s ears turned red.
What kind of nonsense were they all spouting?
Was she really part of some weird group?
With that thought, Jiang Ling handed Song Meng a flyer and a heavier bag of chocolates, her voice still soft.
“These… I made them.”
“Thanks,” Song Meng said, unusually refraining from teasing and instead thanking her politely, easing Jiang Ling’s nerves.
She let out a breath and finally looked up at her.
“Um, does this outfit look weird?”
Since she’d already heard everyone else’s opinions, one more from Song Meng wouldn’t hurt.
Song Meng propped her chin thoughtfully, as if scrutinizing her. Jiang Ling tensed, letting her gaze sweep invasively over every inch of her.
“Hmm, my verdict is—”
She leaned close to Jiang Ling’s ear and whispered:
“Too cute to handle.”