“But... but Suo Sen, what about you...”

Worry pooled behind Yuzuki’s eyes like rain at dusk. “Aren’t you going back?”

“I’ll stay here a bit longer.” Her voice was a stone idling under eaves.

Nana Toki walked Yuzuki to the bar’s door, neon bleeding like fish scales. “You go back first.”

“But...”

“Cut the ‘but’. They can’t do a thing to me.” Her tone was a blade kept in its sheath.

Nana Toki shrugged, dust flicked off a sleeve. “Who do you think I am? That crowd of idiots doesn’t even register.”

“Stow that extra worry,” she added, folding it like paper and tucking it away.

“You staying here just adds trouble for me.” A pebble in the boot.

“If something really happens, you’ll only be a drag. Useless beyond that.” Dead ballast in deep water.

“...”

Yuzuki’s lips parted like a sparrow’s beak; words fluttered and died before landing.

In the end, she let it go, like a leaf settling.

Indeed, Nana Toki wasn’t wrong; her words were cold water, clear and stinging.

Yuzuki knew herself, a mirror she dared to face.

In a place like this, if trouble came, she’d be useless—good for nothing but burdening Suo Sen, fog thicker than help.

“Th-then come back early.” Her voice was a thin thread in the wind.

Outside the bar, Yuzuki tugged Nana Toki’s sleeve, worry plain as daylight. “I’ll wait at home.”

“Alright, alright. It’s just coming home late. Don’t make it sound like we’re parting at Hades’ gate.”

Nana Toki pried her small hand off her hem and turned, ready to slip back into the bar like a fish into dark water.

But—

“Relax. Even if they crash, I won’t.” A rock under the current.

“...”

“So, where the hell were you last night?”

Mo Yao sat on the sofa in a Yuedi Entertainment private room. His obsidian eyes flung shards of cold that locked spines.

“We did as you ordered last night, Young Master. We handled that woman from Tinglan High.” Their words crawled like ants.

The men Abao brought in traded looks, blank as boards. They didn’t get why Mo Yao’s fury rose like a sudden storm.

“Impossible! You never did it!” Chen Yiyi’s voice snapped like a whip.

“If you really took Suo Sen out, how’d she stroll into school today like nothing happened?” Sun on bare stone.

“She ran into Nana Toki today. If you’d acted, Nana wouldn’t be dancing like a sparrow this afternoon.”

“What do you mean? You say I’m lying to the Young Master?” Teeth bared like stray dogs.

The men behind Abao bristled at Chen Yiyi’s rudeness, faces souring like storm clouds.

“Enough!” The word slammed like a door.

Mo Yao slammed his glass onto the table. The room jolted, thunder under velvet.

“Y-Young Master...” Voices shrank like mice.

Abao’s men dropped their heads, tongues knotted, grass bending under wind.

“Abao found you. I trust his hand,” Mo Yao said, setting the glass down and reclining, a panther at ease.

“You four say you finished what he set up last night. I’ll tentatively believe you. But—” A cold hinge turned.

Mo Yao lifted his gaze, a moonrise in a deep well.

“If you’re lying, you know the end without me spelling it.” Guillotine shadow at noon.

“Yes!” They swallowed hard, pebbles scraping throats; they’d seen his methods, iron in the blood.

By instinct alone, Mo Yao pressed on them like a mountain, weight on their chests.

“We swear to you, Young Master! We did Abao’s task.” Their bows bent like crooked willows.

“Fine. Since you swear, I’ve no reason not to believe.”

“Then, Chen Yiyi, on what grounds do you insist my men did nothing?” His smile curled like a knife.

Mo Yao turned, a half-smile hooked at Chen Yiyi; taunting thorns pricked her scalp.

“You came without proof to accuse my people. Isn’t that a bit off?” Walking into a snare woven by your own vines.

Mo Yao closed in step by step, tide creeping toward shore, a faint smile pinned in place.

Chen Yiyi felt no warmth; that smile pressed on her like a heavy lid, breath hitching in a boiling pot.

“...”

Host, how long are you going to keep spying here? The System’s whisper hummed like a mosquito.

Outside the door, Nana Toki peered through the crack, a cat at a threshold.

Let me watch a bit more. It’s rare our Leading Lady flirts with someone who isn’t the Protagonist Lord; I should see how that bloom unfolds.

System: Do you have some weird kink?

Weird kink? Nah. Her voice was dry as sand.

Then why do you love messing with the leads? Kicking at the chessboard.

Ah, that. I don’t like people flaunting love. So I solve it at the root. Cut the vine at the root.

Nana Toki swore she said it with a clean conscience, no false notes; hand on heart, wind still.

Fastest way to fix it? Remove the ones causing it. Pull the thorn, burn the weed.

System: ... You’re insane!

Anyway, shut it, trash System. Am I playing the game, or are you? Dice tossed on a lacquered table.

System: ... I— Damn it... This insane host treats world-hopping like a game? Why don’t you just ascend to heaven?

By the plot, we’re about there, right?

Eh? About what?

The System eyed its host, storm brewing under a lid. What chaos are you planning?

“Yiyi! Yiyi!”

As the System spoke, a man rushed from the left corner, shoes drumming like rain.

Nana Toki focused and grinned; stage lights flicked on. Ah, the Protagonist Lord showed up, right on cue.

“Huh? Suo Sen? Why are you here?” Chongming Yan spotted Nana Toki and looked thrown, brow creased like folded paper.

Then he remembered the call he got. Clouds swallowed his sun. “Did you bring Chen Yiyi here?”

Nana Toki: “...”

What? I brought the Leading Lady here? Does the male lead have holes in his head? Pots with cracks, water leaking.

“Are you nuts? Why would I drag an idiot to the club for fun? You think I’m made of money?” Coins clattered in cold neon.

“Why are you at Yuedi?” His accusation was a spear.

“I suddenly wanted to hit the dance floor. Can’t I?” Her feet itched like drumbeats.

“And your dancing lands you outside Diguang’s private room? Impressive.” Chongming Yan stared coldly, frost on steel.

“I just came from the restroom and passed by. Can’t I?” Nana lied without a blush, heartbeat steady, a porcelain mask.

System: Host, there are only private rooms here, no restrooms.

Trash System, zip it.

System: ...

“...”

What the hell is this Suo Sen? Chongming Yan got stonewalled, stunned; gears caught, thoughts didn’t turn.

“Heh, Suo Sen, I don’t care what games you’re playing. Lay off Chen Yiyi.” His warning drew like a bow.

“And stay away from Diguang’s people. If I find out, you’ll pay.”

“Who I deal with is none of your damn business. You my dad or my mom?” Sparks snapped in the dark.

Nana Toki rolled her eyes at Chongming Yan, half moons slicing; this male lead was a true moron.

“Stop flapping your lips. Chen Yiyi, that idiot, is inside. Get in there and take her away.” Clock hands stabbed her patience.

“You’re eating my dance time; entry here isn’t cheap.”

Chongming Yan: “...” Silence held like a breath.