The knocking sounded again. This time, Clara was more cautious, first checking the situation outside through the peephole.
Whew, it’s “Squill.”
Or rather, Mossima.
Relieved, Clara opened the door, only to see an unexpected figure duck out from behind Squill’s tall frame…
“Huh? Lucia?!”
Seeing that lively ponytail, Clara felt her scalp prickle. In that instant, the little tentacle almost jumped out.
“Senior Clara? Um… you, why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to meet with that enthusiastic editor tonight…”
Lucia, asking awkwardly as she stepped inside, forced a bitter smile onto her face.
Now, Clara had become the person who least deserved to be in this cheap rental apartment.
After all, she had said she had plans with someone else tonight, but instead of meeting that person, she was at “Squill’s place.”
How was she supposed to explain this? She couldn’t!!
Clara’s brain overloaded, and she squinted, letting out a meaningless gurgle.
“So, Miss Lucia didn’t know?”
The “imposter” Squill chose this moment to explain:
“Actually, Miss Clara and I are friends who draw comics together. We’ve known each other for a while now.”
Huh? Draw comics together?
Clara suddenly understood.
Of course, Lucia knew Squill could draw. She also knew Clara could draw.
Since they were fellow enthusiasts in the same city, it made perfect sense that they would know each other and get together. It seemed like a plausible explanation?
Nice job!
Clara mentally praised the imposter for the assist, while simultaneously opening her backpack.
“That’s right, that’s right! Actually, we occasionally get together to discuss drawing… See, I even brought my art supplies!”
Lucia sat down on the bed that still carried her brother’s scent, her face still wearing a bitter smile.
“So, the person Miss Clara was meeting tonight was actually my brother?” she asked.
“Uh, yeah…”
Clara answered vaguely.
“What about the editor?”
“…Well, she had something else come up for now.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me? If our destination was the same, wouldn’t it have been fine to come together after work?” Lucia pressed.
Logically, that was true. Since Clara was also coming to see Squill, her earlier refusal to come with Lucia now seemed unreasonable…
She was stumped again, stammering and unable to give a proper reason.
“This, actually, there’s a… a reason…”
Lucia, however, covered her mouth.
“So you wouldn’t bring me? Or is it… you’re planning to do something you can’t tell others about?”
Right then, the imposter spoke up again to bail her out.
“Sis, actually, we were planning to appreciate some works today. It would be a bit inconvenient if you were here.”
What kind of works couldn’t be seen in front of others?
Lucia wasn’t some pure, innocent little flower. After processing “Squill’s” words, which clearly held some implication, the deliberately serious expression on her face flushed with the rosy hue of an embarrassed maiden.
“Eh?! Really? Brother, you and Senior Clara actually…”
Clara hurriedly chimed in to support the story:
“We’re just creating, just appreciating! We’re reading with a learning and aesthetic perspective, don’t get the wrong idea! Besides, Squill is female now too, so there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Lucia squinted, thinking.
“Then… can I watch too?”
“No! You should head back to the city center! Your brother is living alone just fine, no problems! See, the room is quite tidy too, right?”
Clara spoke while pushing Lucia, also shooting a meaningful look at “Squill.”
“You take your sister to the subway station, otherwise we can’t start tonight’s activity!”
For Clara, she had to get Lucia out of there as soon as possible…
Lucia dawdled, clearly not wanting to leave, and sidled up to Clara, acting petulant.
“Don’t rush! I won’t participate in your activity, I’ll just listen from the side, okay? Besides, this is my brother’s apartment… Brother, do you want me to leave?”
As she said this, she even acted coquettishly toward “Squill.”
“…Sis, how about… you head back for today.”
Lucia, not expecting to be driven away by her brother, showed an “Eh?…” expression of “sadness.”
However, Clara could tell at a glance she was faking it and urged her on.
“Stop pretending to cry! Hurry up and go!”
Lucia, however, revealed an expression of barely contained delight, even laughing out loud and hugging Clara tightly. Even the fear from her near-kidnapping earlier was washed away by this incomprehensible joy.
She hadn’t mentioned her near-kidnapping incident to either Clara or “Squill,” not wanting to worry them, as it was ultimately her own mistake.
Clara was baffled by her behavior and struggled lightly.
“Hey! What’s gotten into you?!”
Lucia then explained:
“It’s just… it’s already past seven if I go back to the city center now, right? It’s dark out too. At least… let me stay for dinner?”
It was true none of them had eaten dinner yet…
But having dinner might drag on until Miss Nangong’s visit.
But not eating seemed like no way to get rid of this troublesome girl.
To eat or not to eat?
While Clara was agonizing over this, the imposter suddenly looked up toward the window.
“Hmm? What is it?”
Clara also turned to look, but outside there was only the city nightscape under the dark dome of the sky.
“Squill” just shook his head, raised a tentacle, and suggested:
“How about this: we all go find a place near the subway station to grab a quick bite. After a simple meal, we’ll send Lucia back to the city center, and then we can come back and continue our comic discussion… How’s that?”
Eating at the apartment risked running into Miss Nangong, but if they ate outside, that worry was gone. At most, Nangong Xiwang would have to wait at the door for a bit.
Not only that…
Eating near the subway station would also provide a natural opportunity to see Lucia off.
Clara was somewhat satisfied with the imposter’s problem-solving skills. A perfect proposal.
The only issue was spending money…
Fortunately, restaurants in the suburbs, even near the subway station, shouldn’t be too expensive.
Having made up their minds, the three left the cheap rental apartment, locked the door, and took the old elevator downstairs.
“Oh, heading out?”
The Lobster Landlord, eating takeout in the manager’s room, greeted “Squill.”
“Squill” scratched his head and replied:
“Yeah, taking my sister out for dinner.”
“Squid kid, tell your sister not to wander around this area either. A young girl walking alone in the Blue Court… the chances of something happening are way too high.”
“Uh, I didn’t expect her to come today either…”
“Family rarely visits, so take her to a slightly nicer place to eat. Do you have money?”
“Yes, yes.”
The landlord then looked at Clara and said:
“Now that you have a girlfriend, it’s best to move to a neighborhood closer to the city center. It’s really not suitable for the two of you to live here. Even though the rent is more expensive, spending money for a safe environment is worth it…”
“You’re right.”
Perhaps because he saw him accompanied by two young women, today’s Lobster Landlord was much more long-winded than usual.
“Mhm, understood.”
“Squill” nodded with an apologetic smile. Just as they were about to step out of the apartment building’s entrance, the landlord raised his dark, glossy shrimp compound eyes, leaned out the window, and shouted:
“Brat, pay this month’s rent soon!!”
So all that talk just now was just hinting about the rent.