With an exaggerated motion, the petite black-haired girl gave a wide stretch as she pushed open the door and stepped into the room.
She first took a feigned glance at the scenery outside the window, then checked her reflection in the vanity mirror before finally turning around to face Meng Wange, who was sitting on the edge of the bed.
“…Oh, my?”
Seeing the brown-haired girl, Su Wanli feigned surprise by covering her lips. She gave a slight shake of her head and whispered, “Tsk, honestly. It’s all because that bath was just too relaxing; I completely forgot you were still in my room.”
When Meng Wange didn’t respond immediately, a slightly embarrassed Su Wanli coughed twice and used her fingertips to toy with her still-damp bangs. She then walked elegantly and slowly toward the desk. She picked up a goblet filled with plain water and took a demure sip while gazing at the lush tree in the garden outside the window.
“Regardless, it doesn’t matter. I suppose I can allow you to admire this young lady’s perfect form for a moment.”
With that, Su Wanli turned around with a smile and raised her goblet toward Meng Wange, like a high-ranking noble acknowledging one of her subjects. “This is your honor, Meng Wange. Be grateful and etch this scene into your memory.”
‘…How was that?’
So far, the plan she had devised in the bathroom had been executed perfectly. She was currently playing the part of a typically arrogant and noble character — the usual “Villainous Eldest Young Lady” persona.
However, to ensure the yukata didn’t appear too casual, she had intentionally made her movements more elegant and composed. Combined with her aggressively beautiful appearance…
She had originally planned to twirl as she entered to give Meng Wange a “small dose of beauty shock,” but any large movement would have caused her yukata to slip, so she had to abandon the idea.
But the current effect should still be quite good. Meng Wange hadn’t made a sound since she entered, so she must have been stunned by the look.
‘Next, I’ll see what kind of expression she makes…’
Su Wanli narrowed her eyes slightly and looked confidently at Meng Wange’s face.
…Hm?
It was nearly noon, and the sun was shining directly where she stood. The light reflecting off the floor was a bit blinding, making it impossible to see Meng Wange’s expression clearly for a moment. She could only vaguely feel that the other girl’s gaze was directed toward her…
‘It probably… was, right?’
Su Wanli frowned slightly as she pulled the curtain shut, blocking most of the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling window. Then, she looked at Meng Wange again.
…
This girl…
She wasn’t looking at her at all! Instead, she was staring intently at the decorative potted plant by her feet!
“…Do you really trust me that much, Eldest Miss Su Wanli?”
Even if it was for the sake of “catching a cold together,” this outfit was… far too much.
The moment she saw Su Wanli, Meng Wange’s gaze seemed to be fixed by some invisible force, and her breath hitched involuntarily for a second. Those delicate collarbones, those slender legs, and the graceful silhouette draped in soft silk…
Even she found it difficult to maintain her usual calm and indifferent expression.
“No… I can’t…”
‘Su Wanli must be showing up before me in such an undefended state because she trusts me. How could I look at her with such eyes? How could I defile her?’
As her most perfect Strategist, her most convenient Tool, and the person closest to her, she had to suppress the desire within her and maintain a harmless image.
Meng Wange gritted her teeth and forced herself to look away from Su Wanli. She struggled to suppress the wonder and daze in her eyes, trying to return to her usual state of calm.
‘For the sake of my future… I must calm down quickly.’
The tips of her ears felt slightly hot — they were probably flushed red by now. If Miss Su asked, she would blame it all on her physical discomfort…
Because she had taken too long to adjust her state, Su Wanli’s clear voice drifted over from the window. “What’s the matter, Meng Wange? Are you intimidated by my nobility and beauty? There’s no need to be formal. Just praise me with a heart full of gratitude.”
“…You truly are an off-guard Eldest Miss.”
Meng Wange pursed her lips helplessly and took a deep breath before finally looking up.
The black-haired girl was now sitting in the chair in front of the desk, resting her chin on one hand and looking at her with a faint, knowing smile. Half of the curtains in the room had been drawn by her, blocking most of the sunlight and making the lighting inside much softer.
According to her usual habits, she should have shown a composed smile and rationally praised her beauty at this moment.
However…
“…Heh.”
‘If only I could look at her with eyes of simple appreciation.’
But in her current state, she feared that as soon as she spoke, she would destroy the trust that had been so difficult to build.
‘Stay calm. Respond in the safest way possible.’
Meng Wange took a light breath and forced herself to reconstruct her rational shell. She kept her gaze politely fixed on the strands of hair on Su Wanli’s shoulder. “…Miss Su, your hair isn’t completely dry yet. You’ll catch a cold easily that way. It wouldn’t be good if you ended up sick like me.”
“Tsk, I knew it wouldn’t be that simple… Dammit, Meng Wange. Is even this much not enough?”
Hearing that indifferent response, Su Wanli gritted her teeth secretly and took another deep breath.
‘It’s fine.’
After experiencing the previous failures, she wasn’t so naive anymore.
‘If the First Phase doesn’t work, then I’ll move straight to the second.’
Su Wanli stood up from her chair without hesitation. She picked up the sketchbook and a black pencil from the table with one hand each, then nimbly sat down on the bed — right next to Meng Wange.
“Heh, my hair is mostly dry. Besides, today is a warm and sunny day. This young lady won’t catch a cold as easily as a certain dummy.”
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly into a mocking smile.