In an instant, the air in the Banquet Hall solidified a bit.
All eyes were fixed on Meng Wange, but she acted as if nothing had happened. She took a light bite of the bread in her hand, then smiled slightly at Su Wanli. As usual, she pulled out a chair and sat down calmly.
Su Wanli stood next to the dish of Tomato Braised Beef Brisket with Zhang Ma.
“What’s wrong, Miss Su? Won’t you sit down and eat with us?”
‘Hiss, she actually dares to ask me what’s wrong? I want to ask her what’s wrong! Why is she dawdling here today… Suddenly she didn’t come to wake me up, nor did she make breakfast, instead — ‘
Even though she instinctively wanted to spit out those words…
Looking at the slightly wrinkled jacket on Meng Wange’s body and her brown hair that wasn’t meticulously styled — even having a few stray strands sticking out — Su Wanli pursed her lips and sat back in her seat in silence.
‘Wait, what is this situation?’
‘How could Meng Wange look like she just woke up and barely washed? Aside from a faint soap scent, there’s no kitchen smell. And looking at Zhang Ma’s reaction, she shouldn’t have seen Meng Wange this morning either.’
‘In other words…’
‘The hardworking, robotic, never-tiring Aura of Main Heroine, Meng Wange, likely just got out of bed.’
‘Hmm, did something happen last night? Could it be… because she took the initiative to hug me, she also tossed and turned, maybe even sleeping less than I did?’
‘Could that be it?’
‘But Meng Wange clearly has that cold and aloof appearance; she shouldn’t have such violent psychological fluctuations over such a small matter…’
‘No, maybe that’s just my prejudice. Who says a person who looks cold and aloof can’t be a simple-minded, easily embarrassed young girl? Maybe she really would be excited all night long because of a hug…’
‘Ah, no, it’s not the same.’
‘I’m not that kind of simple little girl; I was only excited for 1 or 2 hours, and the rest of the time I didn’t rest well was entirely because of the dream that followed.’
After making excuses for herself, Su Wanli used a piece of bread to sandwich some bacon and took two bites along with her milk, all while quietly observing Meng Wange’s expression.
Logically, after what happened yesterday, her Favorability Level toward me should have increased. That is to say, she should be closer to me than before.
Even if she’s too shy to get close for now, as long as I take the initiative to test her, her true attitude will be revealed!
Thinking of this, Su Wanli let out a forced, light cough.
“…Ahem.”
She gently tapped her plate with a fork.
However, Meng Wange merely frowned slightly, staring at the small booklet in her hand, completely failing to notice her actions.
‘…What is she looking at that’s making her so focused?’
Su Wanli arched her eyebrows. Seeing Meng Wange about to pick up her milk glass, she immediately reached out and blocked the other side of the glass, grinning at her.
“Hmm?”
Feeling the resistance, Meng Wange finally snapped out of it. She blinked and looked at the glass they were both holding.
She nodded politely, placed the milk back on the table, and then gently pushed it toward Su Wanli.
“What is it, Miss Su? Do you want this cup of milk?”
“No need to be polite; please have it.”
“…”
“What’s wrong, Miss Su? Is there anything else you need me to do?”
“…Nothing. Just keep eating.”
Su Wanli silently gritted her teeth and rolled her eyes.
‘She became this cold overnight?’
‘What is going on?’
‘Logically, she should be saying — “Miss Su, do you want to drink it with me?” — and then handing over the glass with both hands, right?’
‘Also, when I touched her fingertips just now, I was startled, yet she had no reaction.’
‘Or rather, she noticed but didn’t intend to respond at all…’
‘…No way?’
‘No matter how I look at it, this doesn’t seem like someone whose Favorability Level just increased.’
‘Why?’
‘Even if the fireworks yesterday didn’t add favorability, it shouldn’t have dropped, right?’
‘Previously, she would personally wake me up, help me dress and do my hair, and even eat breakfast with me…’
‘Yet today — ‘
Meng Wange seemed to finally realize that Su Wanli had barely touched her food. She thought for a moment, closed the small booklet, set it aside, and smiled.
“Miss Su, it’s getting late. Please eat as soon as possible.”
“After all, we just requested leave once yesterday. If school is delayed again because of me, I would feel very guilty.”
“Hmph, where’s this ‘again’ coming from? I didn’t go to school yesterday because of you; I just didn’t want to go.”
…Though she didn’t want to go today either.
But that wasn’t the point.
The point was her attitude.
Just then, Su Wanli finally discovered the problem —
When Meng Wange spoke to her, although her eyes were looking at her, her peripheral vision never left that small booklet!
‘…What is that thing?’
‘Some future Plot Item? A hidden clue? A bloodline secret?’
No, that was too far-fetched.
But she really couldn’t figure out what could make Meng Wange more attentive than her.
While she wasn’t about to get jealous of a booklet, as a personal maid, shouldn’t she put all her energy into her master?
What was with this perfunctory attitude! I’m going to file a complaint!
…Fine.
If that really was some important Plot Item, it was somewhat reasonable for her to slightly ignore her.
Despite this, Su Wanli bit her lower lip.
She picked up an empty goblet, pretending to get a drink, and as she walked past Meng Wange, she stole a glance at the booklet.
The cover was a landscape photo, looking like a beach and the sea.
There were words below, but they were blocked by her arm.
However, she could see a string of numbers, as well as an area code…
It looked like a phone number.
A landscape photo plus a phone number?
A travel brochure? An advertisement?
…Regardless, that shouldn’t be an excuse for her to neglect me!
Damn it.
She clearly said she would make breakfast for me for a lifetime, and now she turns her back on me just like that?
This kind of person should be disciplined!
…She definitely said that, right?
I didn’t remember it wrong, did I?
Whatever.
I tried so hard to please you yesterday; did you think I’d act like nothing happened? Too naive!
So what if the System didn’t give a Task?
Having been a Villainess for so many days, I have plenty of methods!
Su Wanli sneered and filled a glass with thick Hawthorn Sour Plum Soup, then walked back to Meng Wange’s side.
While she was still looking at the brochure, Su Wanli quietly poured the red liquid into her milk.
Then, acting as if nothing was wrong, she circled back to her seat and set the empty goblet on the table.
‘Hmph, if you had been paying attention to me just now, you would have noticed that I went back and forth, yet my glass was empty. That was your hint.’
‘But if you didn’t notice at all…’
Before she could finish her mental monologue, Meng Wange had already picked up the milk and taken a calm sip.
“…”
Then, without changing her expression, she continued eating her bread.
‘Huh?’
‘What’s the deal?’
‘She really has no reaction at all?’
‘Could it be that this stuff is actually tasteless?’
Su Wanli’s eyes widened. She quietly slipped back over and picked up that glass of milk.
‘No, it clearly smells very sour.’
She hesitated for a moment and took a tiny sip.
…
“*Gag — !!*”
The taste of sour plums mixed with milk was heavy and cloying, a total disaster.
What she had just eaten instantly churned upward. She rushed to the trash can and vomited.
With such a loud commotion, Meng Wange finally looked up.
“Miss Su, what’s wrong?”
“Meng Wange!! How dare you ask me!! You clearly knew what was in that cup, yet you pretended everything was fine to trick me!!!”
“…Trick you?”
Meng Wange blinked, looking at her own reddish milk, then at Su Wanli’s normal cup.
She lightly touched her chin, thought for a moment, and gave an apologetic smile.
“I’m sorry, Miss Su. Is it because I didn’t share this special drink made by Zhang Ma with you? That was my oversight.”
“From now on, please drink as much as you like.”
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