Well, I ended up buying them after all...

Lixin lifted her hand, peering at the few items neatly wrapped in gift boxes inside. She let out a soft sigh.

Why... are things like this so expensive? Just three of them cost over seven hundred yuan?

Truth was, Lixin wouldn’t normally buy such stuff. She’d just seen a popular counter with quite a crowd, picked a few pretty ones on impulse, and only realized how outrageous the price was at checkout. But for the sake of saving face, she’d gone through with it...

*Hmm...*

After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to head to the big mall anyway. She still needed gifts for those two idiots. For a pair of hopeless singles like them? No need to waste time picking carefully—just grab something generic.

What she hadn’t expected was stepping out of the mall’s back entrance nearly at six o’clock. Darkness fell early these days; the sun had vanished, and the streets were emptier than before.

“Well, well, little miss all alone?”

A disgustingly sleazy voice, thick with malice, slithered from her rear-left.

She turned. Five thugs. The fat one in a yellowed white tank top leading them must’ve been the speaker.

*...Time to ignore this.*

Seriously—thugs lurking at a mall’s back door? This city’s security was worrying.

“Hey now, no need to be shy, cutie,” one called as they closed in, grabbing Lixin’s arm. Honestly, they’d have let any ordinary girl walk away. But this one? Adorably pretty, wearing a pleated skirt uniform from some school... they wouldn’t let such a prime catch slip by.

*First things first: change clothes later.*

Lixin stared at that sweaty, pudgy hand on her sleeve. But before that, she had business to handle.

“What do you want?” she asked, voice edged with impatience.

“Oh-ho! Fiery little thing, aren’t we?” The ringleader barely registered her tone. He jerked a thumb toward the darkest corner behind the mall’s back entrance. “You startled Uncle here. Too many people around. Let’s settle this quietly over there, yeah?”

*Seriously? How much more shameless can you get?*

Lixin mentally scoffed at the idiot countless times. But to get his grubby hands off her, she nodded.

“Fine.”

*Whoa. That easy?*

The thugs’ faces instantly twisted into lecherous grins. They circled Lixin, steering her into the shadowed corner. Then—

“AAAAHHHH!!!”

…………………………

…………………………

Lixin walked out, unchanged from when she’d entered. Glancing at her watch, she muttered, “Crap,” and broke into a run.

Behind the corner—

*Mmmph! Mmmph!*

The fat thug leader lay bound hand and foot by strands of Void Essence, his mouth gagged. His eyes widened in despair at his left hand—severed cleanly. Both palms were gone; only Void Essence sealed the smooth stumps where his right hand (the one that had touched her) had been utterly erased.

His rescue? Probably when his unconscious lackeys finally woke up...

*Actually,* Lixin mused as she fled, *I should thank them. Picking such a hidden spot with no cameras? How thoughtful. I felt oddly pleased.*

…………………………………………………………………………

“Where is she?”

Alena had already slipped her chocolates into gift bags before the others noticed. Only after hiding them did she stammer a reminder to the two dozing on the sofa that the chocolates were set.

“Alena’s acting weird today, huh?” Melly whispered to Cleyna.

“No idea. Even I can’t read her,” Cleyna admitted—the one who knew Alena best.

*Hssss—*

The electronic door to the bridge slid open. The trio quickly hid their gifts. Moments later, the three banished members returned—well, two of them. Qin Fan and Elwin wore grins of unfinished fun; only Lixin looked exhausted. They’d only come back because Lixin called them—otherwise, who knew how long those two would’ve kept gaming.

“Huh. Gaming like this... isn’t bad once in a while,” Elwin admitted, a flicker of interest in his voice.

“Told you!” Qin Fan beamed. “Next time we’ve got free time, we’re doing it again. Didn’t get my fill today.”

“*Sigh*...” Elwin rubbed his temples. His computer was bogged down with programs—lag ruined the experience.

Lixin leaned against the wall to catch her breath, then walked over to Cleyna and the others setting the dinner table. She placed a large gift bag on it.

“Uh... there was a Valentine’s sale outside. Thought I’d grab something for you all too.”

*They definitely had ulterior motives sending me out with those two dummies today anyway.*

“Hey! So that’s why you hid them!” Qin Fan and Elwin suddenly felt doomed.

“Whoa...”

Ignoring their protests, the three girls pulled out small gifts. They’d never expected Lixin to buy presents. Only when unwrapping them did they freeze.

This... this was—

Global limited-edition amethyst mini bear charms! Sold on Valentine’s Day?!

“WOW! Lixin, I love you! *sob* WAAAAH!” Melly tackled Lixin in a tearful hug—these charms were every girl’s dream.

“Thanks, Lixin. Must’ve cost a fortune,” Cleyna said warmly. She, Alena, and Melly then pulled out handmade chocolates hidden in their bags.

“Guess this is our return gift. All homemade.”

Lixin thanked them, opening the bags to reveal star- and animal-shaped chocolates.

*Crunch.*

“Mmm... delicious...”

“*sobbing*...”

In the corner, the two singletons trembled under a million tons of emotional damage, tears streaming silently.

*Thump.*

Small bags hit them.

“You two blocks of wood—we didn’t forget our favorite singles,” Cleyna teased.

“WAAAAH!” Qin Fan burst into dramatic tears, shoving chocolate into his mouth. “I—I finally got Valentine’s chocolate! WAAAAH!”

*(Lixin knew he got tons back at the academy every year. But the girls always had ulterior motives... so he’d ditch them. Pathetic. Wait—no! This guy’s a total player! Give back my touching moment!)*

Elwin stayed calm, unfazed by receiving only two bags. He simply thanked them and ate quietly...

That night, Alena knocked on Elwin’s door.

“What is it?”

Elwin had just powered on his computer when two gift boxes thumped against his chest. The door *slammed* shut—no words exchanged.

“Could’ve just handed them over... why so shy?” he muttered, opening the heavier bag. His eyes widened.

This... this was the top-tier gaming console on the market! Since when was she this generous?!

He unwrapped the chocolates while booting up the console. Near the end, one piece felt oddly shaped. He pulled it out—a heart-shaped chocolate. The last piece in the bag matched it.

The corner of his mouth lifted.

“Thanks.”