Ling Luo arrived early near the milk tea shop. After all, she hadn’t come out just to meet her deskmate—she also needed to scout for a suitable contract candidate.

Truth was, she had zero concrete plans. How to find the right person? How to approach them, extract intel, then persuade them into making a proper wish and signing the contract? She hadn’t seriously thought any of it through.

Thanks to her mom’s frequent absences and lax parenting, Ling Luo had grown lazy by nature. Last-minute scrambling was her norm; “take it one step at a time” was basically her life motto.

To conserve magic, she went out in her true form, planning to shift into a male appearance only upon meeting him. Before leaving, she tucked away her wings and tail. Beyond the trouble of non-human features being spotted, those parts were just… sensitive. A stray touch would be awkward. The tiny wings on her head reshaped into hairbands, tying her hair into twin tails. A T-shirt, shorts—done.

The clothes were her mom’s picks. Otherwise, her old outfits would’ve been comically oversized—people might’ve thought she’d fled wearing her boyfriend’s clothes. Dresses were in the mix too, but she still wasn’t used to them. Not that she’d feel shy wearing one; she’d secretly tried her mom’s dresses as a kid! …Uh, maybe not a brag-worthy memory.

She slung her new over-ear headphones around her neck—music to beat boredom, plus a dash of cool.

She left just after two, took the bus near school. Saturday + summer break = crowded streets. Even in plain clothes, zero makeup, Ling Luo’s stunning looks drew stares. Add her active Succubus nature? Irresistible.

Wherever she passed, people’s eyes locked onto the adorable little girl—whispering, sighing. Like iron filings on glass, all aligning toward a magnet sliding beneath.

Ling Luo ignored it, only noticing the unusual noise around her. She *did* care about stares—deeply, even fearfully. So she deliberately tuned out reactions to ease her mind, crafting her current “unbothered” facade.

Too bad this trick failed on stage. With gazes pinned right in her vision, ignoring them was impossible. Hence, she still stumbled when speaking publicly. Telling her deskmate she was “more timid than him” wasn’t modesty. She truly was introverted.

After a short walk, she reached the shop. Packed. Bustling. Couples everywhere, though girls dominated the crowd—rumor said girls loved sweets. Made sense.

Did *she* now crave sweets too? Hard to say. Ever since learning she was a Succubus and eating was just pastime, she’d flipped a switch: ultimate omnivore. Meat, veggies, sweet, salty—anything. Even joked about wondering what people from Fujian tasted like.

She checked her phone: 2:35. Plenty of time. But loitering to scout? Risky. Too many questions. So she joined the queue tail, planning to order, then hunt for a seat.

The guy ahead turned. “Little girl, cut in front. I’m not rushed.”

“That’s… not right. And I—"

*…am already an adult…*

“No worries! Seriously, go ahead.”

“Th-then… thank you, big brother.”

Her unintentionally sweet tone melted him instantly. He stood dazed. Ling Luo happily slipped forward, ignoring the unwitting pawn captivated by her charm.

It happened again. And again. Men, women—all surrendered spots to her accidental cuteness. In two minutes, she reached the front.

“I’d like double-skin milk pudding.”

The flustered staff member instantly softened, flashing a warm smile. “Here’s your receipt and number tag, little girl. Find a seat—we’ll bring it over.”

“Thank you, Sis. You look really tired.”

*Sweating buckets. Obvious. …Oh right, I’m not human.*

“It’s busy today, but manageable!”

“Mm, I won’t keep you. Keep it up, Sis.”

“Thanks. I will.”

Watching the quietly departing girl, the staff thought, *What a considerate child.* She rallied and returned to work.

“Next! Sir, what’ll you have?”

Ling Luo’s kindness had purpose. Earlier, the staff seemed worn out, barely polite. Since her deskmate would order soon, a little warmth now might earn him a friendlier welcome.

If she’d been in male form? Far less effective. But she’d still do it.

With few friends, she cherished every genuine connection. Being introverted made friendships rare. Lucky her deskmate was too—they clicked.

She never spared kindness for those she valued. But she showed it in subtle, overlooked ways. Few noticed. This quiet devotion was hard to put into words.

Miraculously, she spotted an empty table. She hurried over and plopped down. Unseen: nearby guys, about to offer their seats, now awkwardly reseated.

Settled, she scanned the room, mentally chanting *“suitable candidate… suitable candidate…”*

Only to face flirting couples everywhere. As a single soul, she felt critically hit.

“Why’d Yixiao pick this couple-central spot…? Though… near school, this *is* the only sane place. Who’d brave the scorching sun?” she muttered.

The AC hummed powerfully. So comfy she almost napped on the table.

Her pudding arrived. She dug in. Eating endlessly without fullness? Normal now. Grabbing a large milk tea later? Zero guilt.

Mmm—rich milk flavor, silky smooth. Red beans, peanuts, raisins added perfect texture.

“Not bad at all,” she murmured, taking another bite.

Truthfully, this was her first time eating dessert *in* a shop. Grueling high school life left no free time. Not a social butterfly—school, dorm, home. Rarely went out.

She finished the bowl in seconds. Lost in the aftertaste, the little loli forgot contract scouting entirely, already eyeing the menu again.

“Oh? Message?” Phone check. “Yixiao… Hm? He’s nearby.”

2:55. Appointment at three.

She scanned the crowd. Still packed. No empty seats. Relocating later? Ugh. No thanks.

“Wait—have *him* hold this table! …Need a solid reason to lure him over though…”

Her mind, home to a tiny devil, whirred to life.