Gao Ying remembered Haierjia—the first fallen comrade in the Hero's party.

She had deep blue hair like the starry night sky, and star-shaped pupils that sparkled like constellations when she got excited.

Silphiel had recommended Haierjia to join the Hero's party, but Gao Ying held a very favorable impression of her. In magical research, she often came up with bizarre, utterly useless spells—

like one to remove rust from statues, or turning sweet grapes sour. Each time she succeeded, she’d beam with excitement, though these spells proved completely pointless.

Her voice was childlike and slow-paced, hard to imagine she was a rare master of magic.

Her end came in the Witch Forest. Gao Ying didn’t witness her death; after destroying the forest, Silphiel buried her before a sea of flowers under overly bright sunlight.

Haierjia’s petite body slowly dissolved into specks of luminous dust, drifting away on the wind.

According to Silphiel, Haierjia died dueling the Witch Matriarch.

Gao Ying never doubted it back then, but now, too many inconsistencies surfaced.

The night before that battle, he’d seen Haierjia and Silphiel arguing fiercely over something.

Then the next day, Haierjia lay dead in the wilderness.

What a coincidence, right? Far too convenient!

Gao Ying now suspected Silphiel was deeply involved in Haierjia’s death.

They’d seemed so close daily—how could their friendship capsize so suddenly?

Thinking this, Gao Ying joked half-seriously to Haierjia: "What should I do? I’m already smitten with Miss Haierjia. Is this... love at first sight?"

"Eh?" Haierjia’s eyes widened in disbelief. She protested hastily, "I told you—don’t like me! I already have someone I like!"

Puffing out her cheeks, she crossed her arms in a big "X" before her chest.

Neither noticed how Gao Ying’s teasing words made Silphiel—hiding beside Haierjia—pale instantly, her gaze turning sharp toward her friend.

Gao Ying found Haierjia’s expression endearing. This girl had always been like this in her past life, the most beloved member of the Hero’s party.

He pressed on: "That’s tricky. Could you tell me who your crush is? So I can give up properly."

Haierjia’s starry eyes flickered slightly toward her back, then snapped forward. She shook her head stubbornly: "No! It’s a secret—I can’t tell you!"

"A-also," she added, "Hero-sama, you haven’t told me your name yet! It’s unfair—you know mine, but I don’t know yours!"

Gao Ying smiled. "My name is Gao Ying. Gao is my surname, Ying my given name."

"Gao Ying?" Haierjia blinked, murmuring softly, "I’ve never heard a naming style like this. It feels like something from an overseas Eastern nation."

As the Land of Truth’s next-generation Sage of Stars, Haierjia was well-read. They chatted happily about this mysterious foreign land.

Mid-laughter, Silphiel hesitated, then approached and cut in: "Gao Ying, you... you..."

She froze, face burning crimson, unable to continue.

Both Haierjia and Gao Ying stared at her, making Silphiel even more flustered.

After a long pause, she took a deep breath and gazed at Gao Ying with pleading eyes: "...Gao Ying, do you like me?"

The moment she spoke, Silphiel ducked her head, too shy to look up. Haierjia covered her mouth, grinning at her friend.

Gao Ying was surprised—Silphiel suddenly asking this?

How to answer?

She’d been acting strange today. Probably swallowed some weird love potion meant for him. Seeing her now—blushing like a love-struck maiden—he guessed she’d taken it by mistake.

Hmph, such a scheming woman!

If her plan had worked, he’d be in her shoes right now.

Gao Ying smirked slightly, feigning shyness: "...I like Silphiel."

Eh?!

Silphiel’s head snapped up, her cerulean eyes gleaming brightly.

But Gao Ying glanced at the women inside and added: "And everyone else!"

Silphiel’s expression froze instantly. The shimmer in her eyes dimmed like a darkened lake.

She felt deeply, deeply disappointed.

Though the question was drug-induced, her heart ached inexplicably.

What was this—"like Silphiel and everyone"? How unfair!

Don’t think I don’t know this meme!

"...I-I see. Very... Gao Ying-like of you," Silphiel forced a smile.

She turned to Haierjia. "It’s getting late. Shouldn’t we head back?"

She shot Haierjia a meaningful look, recalling how close they’d almost gotten earlier. She couldn’t face Gao Ying now.

But adorably clueless, Haierjia missed the cue and shook her head. "Don’t rush, Silphiel! It’s rude to greet and leave immediately. Besides, I still have something to tell Gao Ying."

Something to say?

Silphiel gave in, wandering the garden far from Gao Ying to avoid more trouble.

Yet instinctively, she kept sneaking glances at him.

Honestly, Silphiel’s lovestruck act stirred Gao Ying’s heart—especially remembering their near-contact.

But recalling why she was like this cooled his feelings.

Still, watching her struggle to act composed under the drug’s effect was oddly amusing.

Gao Ying shifted his gaze to Haierjia. Memories with her were sweet; she was adorably slow on emotional cues.

Like that time he’d walked into the wrong bathhouse, not noticing Haierjia soaking there. She stayed silent, blushing underwater, blowing bubbles until he finally spotted her.

Or when she sleepwalked into his bed. At dawn, Silphiel would find them, sparking the usual chaos.

Haierjia would point at him: "Gao Ying carried me in! I fought back with all my might, but the Hero’s strength is monstrous..."

Then Silphiel would glare at him like he was scum.

Without the later betrayal, those daily moments in the Hero’s party felt warm.

Haierjia stepped before Gao Ying, her cheeks flushing slightly, hesitating.

Gao Ying cleared his throat. "Miss Haierjia, what did you want to tell me?"

Glancing around nervously, she gathered courage: "Gao Ying... can I study your body?"