Watching Yuhan He crouch on the floor, hands covering her blushing face, Lin Ming felt a twinge of pain. Piecing together her earlier words and his own dream, he grasped the truth. *‘No wonder that huge sack of Gold Coins in my dream felt so soft and squishy instead of hard! Why do I feel this faint sadness of being tricked? If that money had been real… how much would it have been?’* He stroked his chin, lost in thought.

Yuhan peeked through her fingers at Lin Ming, hoping to catch a trace of embarrassment on his face. Instead, she saw pure regret—not for holding her, but for the lost coins he’d mumbled about in his sleep. His eyes held zero shame, only disappointment over imaginary wealth.

Fury flared in Yuhan. *A gorgeous girl lets you hold her, you don’t even apologize, and you’re sulking because it wasn’t money? Am I less important than coins?!*

She sprang up, cheeks flushed crimson, hands planted firmly on her hips. Glaring at Lin Ming, she snapped, "Senior… shouldn’t you apologize?"

"Uh! Sorry! Sorry! Ahahaha!" Startled from his daydream by her shout, Lin Ming stammered awkwardly under her angry gaze.

"Hmph! Zero sincerity." Yuhan turned her back on him with a dramatic swish of her hair, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

Lin Ming’s heart sank. *She’s really mad. My mission is to protect her—and my tips!* He scrambled off the bed and stood before her. Clueless about soothing girls, he blurted, "Uh… how’d you even get in here?"

"The door wasn’t locked," Yuhan replied coldly. *‘Lamest topic shift ever. Can’t you think of anything better?’*

Seeing her tone unchanged, Lin Ming knew he’d failed. His eyes darted to her outfit—and lit up. "Junior! That dress you’re wearing… it’s…" He gestured at her floral sundress.

"H-How is it?" Yuhan kept her voice icy, but the tremor gave her away. *‘He’s not totally clueless! I picked this carefully—it’s stunning. Obviously.’* Her heart raced.

Hearing the shift in her voice, Lin Ming seized the opening: "This outfit… it’s a bit skimpy. Won’t you get cold?"

…

A chilly silence swept the room.

*Won’t you get cold?*

*Cold?*

*Cold.*

*…*

Yuhan’s hopeful expression froze. *I dressed up beautifully… and all he worries about is me catching a chill?* A strange coldness seeped into her chest. Her meticulously chosen dress reduced to a weather forecast. Defeat crashed over her.

Oblivious, Lin Ming pressed on, thrilled his "concern" worked: "Junior! Bundle up properly! You’ll fall ill otherwise!"

Yuhan stared at his earnest face. Her anger evaporated into weary resignation. "Senior… let’s just eat. Then we’ll go out." Shopping was her only solace now.

"O-okay…" Lin Ming replied, utterly lost. *‘Why’s she deflated again? Girls’ moods are so complicated.’*

……………

**Dining Hall**

Only Rosen sat at the table. Song Dugu and the others had finished breakfast and left for work. Rosen had stayed back—he’d forgotten to give his young mistress her allowance.

"Where are they…" he muttered, just as Yuhan and Lin Ming entered. One trudged gloomily; the other walked with eyes shut in deep thought. *‘What happened during a simple wake-up call?’*

After they sat, Rosen signaled a servant to serve breakfast. Lin Ming suddenly called out: "Make that a ten-person portion. Standard servings won’t fill me."

"Y-yes, sir," the servant choked out before hurrying away.

Lin Ming resumed his brooding. (*‘Where did I go wrong?’*)

Rosen leaned toward him. "Kid. What’s eating you?"

"Why are girls’ emotions so complicated?" Lin Ming sighed absently.

*‘…Seriously? Who the hell knows the answer to that?!’* Rosen facepalmed internally. He turned to Yuhan. "Miss, why so downcast?"

Yuhan lifted her head, eyes wide and pleading. "Grandpa… how do I look in this dress?"

Puzzled but indulgent, Rosen smiled. "It suits you perfectly! Stunning. I was speechless when you walked in—even the City Lord and his men forgot to move when you left."

Yuhan’s mood lifted—until Lin Ming’s words resurfaced. "Then why did Senior say I’m underdressed? Not a single compliment…"

Rosen was speechless. Lin Ming wasn’t *wrong*—the dress *was* revealing—but zero praise? He turned sharply to Lin Ming. "Be honest, kid. How does Miss Yuhan look in this outfit?"

Startled from his thoughts, Lin Ming studied Yuhan intently. "Too little clothing. She’ll catch a cold."

Rosen buried his face in his hands. Yuhan’s expression darkened again.

Rosen glared at Lin Ming. *‘What is your brain made of?! It’s not about the fabric coverage!’* He tried again, slower: "I mean… does she *look good* in it?"

"…! Ohhh~!" Lin Ming’s eyes widened with epiphany. *‘So THAT’S what I should’ve said!’*

Rosen and Yuhan exchanged deadpan stares at the man having a life-altering realization. *‘You absolute walnut. That thought never even crossed your mind?!’*

Lin Ming finally examined Yuhan properly. She held her breath, waiting for praise—surely he couldn’t derail *this* time.

"Hmm~…" Lin Ming declared firmly, "It’s… fine. Just average."

Yuhan’s hopeful face went rigid. Color drained from her world. She collapsed forward in utter dejection.

*(Yuhan’s ship has sunk!)*