The sound was so faint it was almost inaudible.
Lin Mo sighed helplessly, her fingertips lightly resting on the door handle of Mo Qingqing’s home. When she pushed the door open, the hinges creaked softly.
She looked at the two figures in the living room, who were currently looking down and straightening their clothes, and shook her head with a wry smile.
Qingqing still had that cool, aloof appearance. A simple, moon-white magic robe accentuated her tall, straight posture, though a trace of barely perceptible awkwardness was hidden between her brows.
And Su Yun was huddled beside her, her pink-blue little ears drooping, her small hands tightly clutching the hem of Mo Qingqing’s robe. She didn’t even dare to lift her head, looking exactly like a frightened little animal.
‘It seems verbal lecturing alone isn’t enough.’
Lin Mo muttered to herself, then simply walked forward, smiling as she spoke.
“I happen to be free. How about we all go for a stroll on the street? I heard a new market opened in the west of the city, with lots of interesting little trinkets.”
Mo Qingqing was taken aback, clearly not expecting Lin Mo to appear suddenly, much less propose going together.
But looking at Su Yun’s terrified state, she ultimately nodded.
Perhaps with Lin Mo around, their progress could be smoother.
Upon hearing this, Su Yun’s body stiffened even more. She secretly glanced up at Lin Mo, then quickly lowered her head again, her ears trembling even more violently.
She always felt that having her Master around was already nerve-wracking enough. Adding Lin Mo to the mix, this “stroll” was probably going to turn into another grueling ordeal.
The three of them stepped out of the house. The street was bustling with activity.
Magic lanterns hung at the entrances of shops on both sides, their warm yellow light dispelling the slightly cool breeze. Pedestrians came and went on the street—students in magic robes, vendors pushing carts and hawking their wares, families walking their pets—everywhere was filled with the vibrant energy of life.
Lin Mo deliberately slowed her pace, walking to Su Yun’s other side, and patted her shoulder with a smile. “Don’t be so tense. Just treat it like an ordinary outing. You can say whatever you want to buy or eat.”
Su Yun pursed her lips and softly replied, “Mm,” but still didn’t dare to relax.
Her gaze was fixed tightly on Mo Qingqing’s back, afraid of falling behind even a single step, and afraid of doing something wrong that would displease her Master.
Mo Qingqing walked at the front, feeling somewhat awkward herself.
She wanted to be nice to Su Yun but didn’t know how.
Seeing the magic hair ties adorned with little pom-poms on a roadside stall, she instinctively stopped.
The color of the pom-pom was very similar to Su Yun’s ears.
She reached out and picked one up, pinching the soft, fluffy pom-pom between her fingertips. Hesitating for a moment, she turned to look at Su Yun. “Do… do you like this?”
Su Yun hadn’t expected Mo Qingqing to actively ask for her opinion. She was stunned for a second before reacting, hurriedly nodding. “I-I like it!”
The corner of Mo Qingqing’s mouth lifted almost imperceptibly. She paid for it and reached out to put the hair tie on Su Yun’s ear.
But Su Yun flinched back violently as if scalded, her eyes filled with panic.
Mo Qingqing’s movement halted. The warmth in her fingertips instantly cooled, and the slight softness on her face vanished.
Seeing this, Lin Mo immediately used telepathy to speak to Mo Qingqing. ‘Don’t rush, take it slow. She doesn’t dislike it; she’s just too afraid of you. Hand the hair tie to her and let her put it on herself.’
A flicker of understanding passed through Mo Qingqing’s eyes. She withdrew her hand, stuffed the hair tie into Su Yun’s palm, and said in a flat tone, “Put it on yourself.”
Su Yun took the hair tie, her fingers trembling.
She carefully tied the hair tie around her own ear. The pom-pom dangled from the tip, swaying gently, looking especially adorable.
She secretly glanced up, saw Mo Qingqing looking at her, and quickly lowered her head again.
Lin Mo sent another telepathic message. ‘Praise her. Don’t always be so icy.’
Mo Qingqing pursed her lips, remained silent for a few seconds, then stiffly said, “It… it looks quite nice.”
Just these three simple words made Su Yun’s ears instantly perk up. A glimmer of disbelief flashed in her eyes, and even her body became less rigid.
This Witch can actually praise someone?
The three continued forward, passing by a dessert stall where the vendor was loudly hawking magic sugar paintings.
These sugar paintings were made from melted magic sugar, shaped into various magical creatures, emitting a faint glow and a sweet, fragrant aroma.
Lin Mo pulled Su Yun over and asked with a smile, “Want to try one? This sugar painting won’t melt and can be preserved for a long time.”
Su Yun didn’t speak, instead looking timidly at Mo Qingqing.
Mo Qingqing looked at those sparkling eyes of hers and felt an inexplicable softness in her heart. She nodded. “You may.”
Lin Mo immediately took charge, buying a rabbit-shaped sugar painting for Su Yun and selecting a phoenix-shaped one for Mo Qingqing.
Su Yun held the sugar painting, carefully took a lick, and the sweet taste melted in her mouth, making her unable to help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile.
This time, she didn’t cry like she did at the amusement park, nor was she as terrified. She was still somewhat reserved, taking small, delicate bites, occasionally stealing a glance at Mo Qingqing.
Mo Qingqing held her sugar painting but didn’t eat much of it.
Watching Su Yun eat with such relish, and seeing the meaningful look Lin Mo gave her, she tried to speak. “Is it tasty?”
“Mm! Very tasty!” Su Yun nodded vigorously, her eyes shining. “It’s sweet, and there’s a floral scent too!”
“If you like it, we can buy another,” Mo Qingqing said, her tone still not exactly gentle, but much softer than before.
Su Yun quickly shook her head. “No need, Master! This one is enough!”
Lin Mo watched from the side, sighing inwardly—this progress is slower than a snail’s.
But at least there was some improvement, which was better than the disastrous-level date before.
The three arrived at the market, which was even livelier. The stalls were filled with all sorts of magical plants—glowing little grasses, vines that could bloom with colorful flowers, leaves that emitted pleasant sounds.
The stall owners enthusiastically introduced their magical flora. Some people were haggling, others were selecting their favorite plants. The atmosphere was particularly lively.
Su Yun was drawn to a small pot of star-leaf grass.
The leaves of the star-leaf grass were shaped like stars, shimmering with a faint silver light under the sunlight, looking exceptionally exquisite.
She squatted in front of the stall and asked softly, “Stall keeper, how much for this pot of star-leaf grass?”
The stall keeper smiled. “You have a good eye, young lady. This star-leaf grass can purify the air and calm the nerves. Just five silver coins.”
Su Yun felt her pocket, which still contained a few silver coins Mo Qingqing had given her earlier.
She hesitated for a moment, then bought the star-leaf grass.
“Master, do you… like this?”
To be honest, giving Mo Qingqing a gift was something of a gamble for her too.
Mo Qingqing was stunned for a moment, then took the star-leaf grass.
This was the first time Su Yun had ever given Mo Qingqing a gift.
Even if it was rather useless.
She looked down at the star-leaf grass in her arms, and a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
Seeing this, Su Yun couldn’t help but give her big, fluffy tail a gentle little wag.
Lin Mo watched this scene and smiled with satisfaction.
She sent a telepathic message to Mo Qingqing. ‘Just like that. You shouldn’t treat her as your possession now, but as someone who needs you to treat her with genuine care.’
Mo Qingqing remained silent, not responding, but the look in her eyes softened considerably.
Looking at the star-leaf grass, she felt a strange sensation in her heart for the first time.
It wasn’t the satisfaction of control, but a faint, yet very comfortable feeling.
—
They had wandered for most of the day, and the sun was gradually setting in the west.
The three of them headed back. Mo Qingqing carried the pot of star-leaf grass in her arms.
Su Yun still held the unfinished sugar painting in her hand, a faint smile on her face. Although she was still somewhat reserved, she was no longer as terrified as she had been at the beginning.
Mo Qingqing walked beside her, occasionally reminding her to watch her step. Her tone was plain but carried a trace of barely noticeable concern.
Lin Mo followed behind, watching the backs of the two in front, and shook her head with a wry smile.
This date couldn’t be called particularly romantic, nor particularly smooth, but at the very least, it hadn’t repeated past mistakes.
Su Yun wasn’t more afraid of Mo Qingqing. Instead, because of that candy and that pot of star-leaf grass, she felt a little more trust towards Mo Qingqing.
‘Looks like being this third wheel wasn’t for nothing,’ Lin Mo thought, quickening her pace to catch up.
T/l note Ch 98 missing in original novel.