Jingle~
The wind chime at the door rang again.
Baiyu walked in with a tall girl. She was about my height—around 175 centimeters—with shoulder-length hair, slim build, and striking looks. Black-rimmed glasses framed her face. Black stockings covered her legs beneath short shorts, giving her a scholarly charm.
This must be the president of Chidori Society. She seemed calm, nothing like the arsonist freak Baiyu described. Baiyu had mentioned her name once—it was lovely, Ruoye, I think. Probably not her real name though.
I noticed Wu Ketou beside me instantly fixated on the entrance the moment they entered. Other suited men in the restaurant pretended nonchalance, chatting idly with companions. But their eyes kept flicking toward the door from the corners.
My heart tightened. Were they targeting Baiyu and her friend?
Impossible for Baiyu. Sure, she was cute and a minor streamer, but not worth this much fuss.
So it had to be the girl beside her. Ruoye?
Ruoye clearly spotted the poorly disguised men too. Her cheerful chatter with Baiyu stopped abruptly. A frown creased her brow.
“President, what’s wrong?” Baiyu asked, noticing her sudden silence.
“Nothing,” Ruoye replied flatly. She flagged a waiter. “Hi, I have a reservation.”
“Name, please?”
“Lin Ruoye.”
The waiter checked his list. “Your private room is 302. This way.”
Baiyu scanned the hall, spotted me, and whispered to Ruoye, “President, can we eat in the main area?”
“The main area…” Ruoye hesitated. She’d seen the suited men and didn’t want to stay.
“Not allowed?”
“Well… fine. No problem.”
They followed the waiter to a central table near mine. Close enough to overhear if they didn’t lower their voices.
After ordering drinks, they started talking. Baiyu seemed nervous meeting Ruoye for the first time, mostly listening while Ruoye spoke.
Since they discussed my novels, I eavesdropped.
But the topic shifted—to me. Not as Chidori, but as Zong Jun myself.
“Baiyu, why didn’t your guardian come?”
“He… his grandfather back home fell suddenly ill. He rushed to visit him these past days. Yeah, that’s it.”
Her lie matched mine exactly. But this silly girl was terrible at lying—her eyes darted, words stumbled. Anyone could see through it.
Ruoye just nodded mildly. “I see. That’s a shame.” She smiled warmly. “I was hoping to meet him.”
She seemed gentle, not scary like Baiyu claimed.
“Other members wanted to see you too, but we’re scattered across cities. Still, they asked me to bring gifts.”
Ruoye pulled something from her bag—a piece of clothing…
Clang!
A machete tumbled out, hitting the floor with a sharp ring.
I jolted, every hair on my body standing on end.
“Oh dear, clumsy me.” She picked it up casually, as if it were just a dropped lipstick.
Baiyu, blocked from view, asked, “Did something fall? Broken?”
“No, just my mirror.” Ruoye’s face stayed calm, utterly composed.
Mirror? That was a sixty-centimeter machete!
Terrifying! What kind of girl carries a machete in her purse?
I patted my chest, soothing myself. “It’s fine. Fine. Baiyu has pepper spray too. Just self-defense stuff for girls.”
The gift was a cosplay outfit for Eliza—similar to what Ruoye wore during her first stream, but modified.
“After your call, I heard your guardian’s thoughts. He had a point, so I adjusted it like he suggested. Do you like it?”
Baiyu took the clothes, holding them up with delight. “I love it! But I can’t keep taking gifts. How much do I owe you?”
“No charge. It’s a present. I made it myself—costs almost nothing.”
“You’re so skilled.”
“Just a hobby.” Ruoye paused. “Actually… I’ve been wondering. Why do you keep secretly touching your chest? Some secret trick for bigger busts?”
Screech!
My hand jerked, fork scraping the plate loudly. That’s a private girl-talk secret! Why shout it?
Wu Ketou beside me leaned over. “Everything okay, kid? Food not to your taste?”
“No, just a sudden cramp.”
Baiyu flushed crimson, stammering, “N-no! I… I bumped it a few days ago. It’s sore. Please stop—it’s embarrassing!”
I could’ve sworn she shot a fierce glare my way.
So… it’s still swollen?
