Seventh Ju: Excuse me, where’s Aibin’s ward? I’m his Pioneer Team colleague.

Hospital Receptionist: Aibin? Let me check… Room 2108.

Seventh Ju: Got it. Thanks.

Poppy: …………

Poppy and I arrived at the hospital where Aibin was recovering. After asking the front desk, we quickly found his private room.

Just as I raised my hand to knock, Poppy suddenly shoved the door open.

Mochuan: …………

We caught Mochuan lifting the still-unconscious Aibin onto the bed—wearing Aibin’s clothes himself.

As if he’d finally dropped the disguise… Had he been waiting too long?

Mochuan: Ju, who’s this?

Seventh Ju: Ah, she’s—

Poppy: —Pleased to meet you. I’m Poppy, Seventh Ju’s fiancée.

Seventh Ju: …………

Mochuan: …Fiancée?

Poppy offered a serene smile—the same calm from our first meeting that made even outrageous claims sound utterly sincere.

But I could sense it: beneath that composed surface, her thoughts were far richer… and far less polite.

Poppy: Hmm? Didn’t Xiao Ju mention me?

Mochuan: No. Never.

Poppy: Xiao Ju, really… No need to be shy about telling others.

Seventh Ju: It’s not shyness. That meaningless backstory should stay buried.

*(It was Poppy’s cover story when we left the village—I’d decided to ignore it from day one.)*

Poppy: Or… have you found someone new?

Seventh Ju: Seriously, everyone I’ve met lately’s been roughneck men.

Poppy: Mmm—then I’m relieved.

Seventh Ju: I’m not relieved at all.

Mochuan: Ju… who *is* she?

Poppy: His fiancée. Fi-an-cée.

Poppy looped her arm through mine, turning slightly to address Mochuan’s skepticism.

Poppy: Where Xiao Ju and I come from, a woman belongs to her man forever after engagement.

Seventh Ju: Since when was *that* part of the—

Her slender but firm fingers clamped over my mouth mid-sentence.

Poppy: But then… Xiao Ju’s parents fell gravely ill and passed within months. The medical and funeral costs buried us in debt…

Poppy: Debt collectors seized me. They said if the debt wasn’t repaid on time, I’d be taken as compensation—

She paused dramatically, covering her face. Anyone could fill in the horrifying blanks.

Mochuan: I heard about the first part.

Poppy: …I knew Xiao Ju could never repay it in time. So I escaped. Even if they catch me, at least I’d see him one last time…

Mochuan: …………

Mochuan: That’s a heavy burden. My condolences.

Mochuan: I’d help, Ju, but I can’t spare that much money right now.

Seventh Ju: Ah, don’t worry about it…

Mochuan: And Poppy—though you made it here, it’s not safe. One colleague’s being hunted. Staying with us might put you in danger too.

Poppy: Eh? Is the idiot pig on the bed waiting to be slaughtered?

Mochuan: Well—

Mochuan: —*What?*

Mochuan’s nod froze into utter disbelief. Poppy’s smile remained perfectly serene—but rigid as glacial ice.

No one would mistake that frozen smile for anything but fury.

Poppy: Pigs get hunted when they’re fat enough to butcher, right? Ignore him.

Mochuan: …………

*(He was speechless. Honestly, I’d struggle with that whiplash too.)*

Seventh Ju: Um… Poppy, maybe we shouldn’t let this not-entirely-bad person get butchered like a pig…?

Seventh Ju: It’d be cruel to let someone decent die pointlessly.

Poppy: Eh—

Poppy: …………

Poppy: Fine. Since Xiao Ju insists.

She turned her face into my shoulder, as if drawing warmth to thaw her icy composure.

Mochuan: …Right. Ju, did you report this to the military? Someone should guard Aibin.

Poppy: Oh, no one wants him dead anymore. Lucky pig.

Poppy: Xiao Ju, let’s go. I refuse to breathe the same air as *that*.

Seventh Ju: Uh… is he really okay?

Poppy: Don’t you trust me?

Seventh Ju: …………

Seventh Ju: Then… Mochuan, we’ll head back.

Mochuan: …………

Mochuan: …

…………

…………

That night, Mochuan finally returned to our inn room.

He’d stayed behind at the hospital, voluntarily standing guard outside Aibin’s ward all day.

Leaving such a kind man alone there still made me uneasy.

Seventh Ju: Mochuan… how’s Aibin?

Mochuan: Fine. Woke up clear-headed. Said a voice had been haunting his mind, but it vanished after sleep.

Mochuan: No suspicious figures approached him all day. Seems the threat’s gone.

Poppy: Told you. Don’t waste worry on that pig.

Mochuan: …………

Mochuan: Ju. Who *is* this woman?

Poppy: Hmm? His fiancée.

Mochuan: Ju. *You* answer me.

Seventh Ju: …………

The situation was messy—but if I had to define who Poppy was to me…

Seventh Ju: She’s… my savior.

Seventh Ju: If I could trust only one person in this world, it’d be her.

Mochuan: …………

Poppy: …………

Poppy said nothing. Instead, she wrapped both arms around my waist, pressing close.

Her steady breath warmed my neck—a soft, living heat.

Mochuan: …Sigh.

Mochuan: I understand you less every day, Ju.

Seventh Ju: Honestly? I’m a little lost too. Ha…

Poppy: You’re just as hard to read, Mr. Seasonal Wolf.

Mochuan: …………

Mochuan: My name is Mochuan.

Poppy: Right. Mr. Mochuan… would you mind sleeping elsewhere tonight?

Mochuan: …*What?*

Mochuan: This is the Pioneer Team’s lodging for me and Ju. You’re kicking me out?

Poppy: Of course not. I’d never force you.

Poppy: But… as a Seasonal Wolf, do you *really* want to witness human mating firsthand?

Seventh Ju: —*PFFT!!!!*

Seventh Ju: Cough—hack, hack, hack…

Mochuan: …………

Poppy: Xiao Ju? Choked?

Seventh Ju: Hey, you… *cough, cough*…

*(Her words nearly killed me with my own spit! Closest I’ve come to death since crossing into this world!)*

Poppy: See, Mr. Mochuan? My fiancé clearly objects to an audience.

Poppy: So. Will you leave?

Mochuan: …………

Mochuan: …

Mochuan: I’ll be “listening” nearby.

Mochuan: Poppy… you’re strange.

Poppy: *You’re* the strange one, Mr. Mochuan.

Mochuan: …………

Mochuan left. Truly spent the night elsewhere.

Poppy snuffed the oil lamp. Darkness draped the room like thin silk.

What time was it? When the sun’s light had dwindled to a quarter? Or deeper into night?

Poppy half-lay on the bed, tugging my waist until I tumbled beside her.

I faced away, feeling her presence at my back—but unwilling to turn.

Poppy: Xiao Ju.

Seventh Ju: Poppy… it’s time you told me.

Seventh Ju: This afternoon—you dragged me all over town but said nothing about yourself.

Seventh Ju: You’ve told me so much about this world… but that’s not what I want to hear.

Poppy: …………

Poppy: It’s not like that.

Poppy: Just… let me feel you first. Now.

Her arms tightened around my chest. Her body molded against my back.

The sensation was hazy—just like my understanding of her.

I didn’t truly know her.

Her thoughts. Her secrets… Even pressed skin-to-skin, they felt utterly out of reach.

Poppy: Ah? No strong reaction this close?

Seventh Ju: …………

Poppy: I see. Must be this coat.

She released me. Rustling fabric sounded behind me.

*(Was she… undressing? After what she’d told Mochuan, my pulse spiked. I didn’t dare look.)*

When she pressed close again—

Seventh Ju: …!?

Softness. Unmistakable contours. My mind traced every curve against my back.

A thick, lingering pressure high on my spine ignited every nerve—aching, electric.

My sense of touch stole vision’s duty: the phantom shape of her pressed flush against me, vivid yet unreal.

Even with zero experience with women, I knew exactly what that was…

Poppy’s familiar scent suddenly thickened in my nose—sweet, heady, intoxicating.

Poppy: Heh. Xiao Ju’s gone stiff.

Seventh Ju: …………

Poppy: Didn’t you doubt my “measurements” that day? Verified now? Any doubts left?

Seventh Ju: N-no… You weren’t lying, Poppy.

Poppy: I’ve never lied to you.

Seventh Ju: But like this…

Poppy: I’m not lying now either. I just want to feel you…

Poppy: Feel your existence. Your warmth…

Poppy: Feel all the “languages” you’ve spoken and heard…

Seventh Ju: “Languages”?

Poppy: …

Poppy: I heard them. Everything that happened to you these past days.

Seventh Ju: Heard…?

Poppy: I was the one who wanted Aibin dead.

Poppy: Last night, the city executed adventurers who murdered laborers. Your name was on the victim list.

Seventh Ju: …………

Poppy: “Language” led me to the culprit. That pig… that useless pig nearly killed my Xiao Ju.

Seventh Ju: I didn’t die. I’m here. And it wasn’t Aibin’s fault.

Poppy: Mmm… yes.

Poppy: I regret it now. I thought joining the Pioneer Team in Bao City wouldn’t put you in such danger…

Seventh Ju: It’s okay, Poppy… I’m fine.

Poppy: Don’t call me “Miss Poppy.” Just Poppy.

Seventh Ju: …Poppy.

Poppy: Yes.

Seventh Ju: Poppy… tell me about yourself.

Poppy: …………

Poppy: You’ve guessed some already, haven’t you?

Seventh Ju: Are you… a Divine Officer from the Temple?

Poppy: …………

Poppy: I was. Not anymore. I escaped.

Poppy: I used to be the Middle Circle Divine Officer of “Language.”

Poppy: Besides the language communication ability you know, I have two more Wish Powers. One controls the speech organs and language of intelligent beings. The other knows every word they’ve ever spoken or heard.

Poppy: Each costs 100 Wish Points.

Poppy: There are other minor Wish Powers I can’t list now. But with these three, I represent Xiv’s will in "language" for the Middle Circle.

Poppy: So... I’ve already heard Hilcarrie’s voice from you.

Seventh Ju: Do you know her?

Poppy: Not well. But after I left the Divine Temple, I heard she’s been fiercely eager to hunt me down.

Seventh Ju: So... you’ve been hiding from the Divine Temple all this time?

Poppy: Mm, exactly.

Seventh Ju: But why leave? Aren’t Divine Officers powerful?

Poppy: As a kid, I had more Wish Points than normal. A Divine Officer sensed them and brought me to the Divine Temple for training.

Poppy: Lately, I finally realized... how utterly boring life there is.

Poppy: The Divine Temple’s goal is to fulfill every wish and ability the god permits.

Poppy: They believe all Divine Officers must represent every aspect of the god. That’s true faith.

Poppy: Even for tiny human trivialities, they train someone to become a Divine Officer for it.

Poppy: From farming and war to eating, drinking, and sleeping—they cover everything meticulously.

Poppy: How dull... wasting my youth on that instead of finding a man to build a happy family.

Seventh Ju: ............

Seventh Ju: Is family more important than being a Divine Officer?

Poppy: Of course—

Poppy’s arms around me suddenly tightened. The stimulation on my back grew stronger.

Poppy: It’s a woman’s nature to desire the man she likes.

Seventh Ju: ...Miss Poppy!?

Poppy: Ah, you called me "Miss Poppy" again. I’ll have to punish you.

Seventh Ju: ...Punish?

Poppy: Let me think... hmm—

Poppy leaned close to my ear and whispered. Her voice was as delicate as a night-blooming flower.

Poppy: I’ll punish you by making you turn me into a real woman.

Seventh Ju: ...

Seventh Ju: ...Huh??