The little girl before her began to blur with the image of the tiny demon. To confirm her suspicion, Jinghua hesitantly asked, “Are you… Lady Lilim?”

“Correct. Indeed, this princess.” Ling Luo replied, handing her a tissue.

“Th-thank you…” Jinghua accepted the tissue, wiped away her tears, and slowly gathered her composure.

“Anything you want to say? It helps to talk. And I’d like to know what happened to you,” Ling Luo said.

For some reason, Jinghua felt today’s Lady Lilim was different from their first meeting. Before, she’d been a proud, whimsical little princess with a sharp temper. Now, she seemed gentle, sensible, and quietly considerate.

“Why stare at me like that? Because of how I look now?” Ling Luo asked.

Jinghua shook her head—then gave a slight nod.

“Well, for certain reasons, I can’t revert to my true form right now. It’d cause trouble. Also, tonight’s plan is canceled due to an unexpected disruption. We’ll need a new one.” Ling Luo sat beside her as she spoke.

“Is it… because of Haolin?”

“Not him. Just an unexpected intruder.”

“That girl?”

Ling Luo’s brow furrowed. After a pause, she asked, “So, Sister—what did you see?”

Jinghua recounted everything she’d witnessed.

“Oh, *that’s* why you were crying your eyes out,” Ling Luo said lightly, though her frown remained.

“Lady Lilim… what should I do now?”

“Don’t ask me. I’m just a demon honoring a contract. Your choices are yours alone.” Ling Luo’s tone was detached.

A chill pierced Jinghua’s heart. Freshly shattered, she’d hoped for even a sliver of comfort—and received none. She nearly blurted, *“Don’t you feel a thing?!”*

“You think I’m heartless,” Ling Luo cut in, “and wonder if my conscience aches. Right?”

Jinghua flinched in surprise.

“Reminder: demons don’t *have* consciences. We only uphold signed contracts.”

“Contract… uphold…” Jinghua’s eyes widened. “My contract—is it still valid?”

“Naturally.”

“Even if Haolin’s fallen for someone else… can you make him return to me?”

Clutching Ling Luo’s arm like a lifeline, Jinghua’s grip tightened until Ling Luo winced.

“Absolutely.” Ling Luo didn’t pull away.

“Then please—”

“I know what you’ll say.” Ling Luo raised a hand. “I need time. A new plan’s ready. Barring surprises, by tomorrow evening, I’ll give you a solid answer. I’ll message the time and place. Until then, Sister—act normal. Wait quietly.”

“Really… it’ll be okay?” Jinghua asked, doubt flickering in her voice.

“Doubting *this* princess’s ability?” Ling Luo’s voice turned icy.

That gaze froze Jinghua mid-breath. *This gentle girl… was just a mask.*

“N-no! I’d never—” she stammered. “I’ll… go now.”

“Mm. Close the door behind you. I’m not leaving that way,” Ling Luo added.

Only after Jinghua vanished did Ling Luo exhale. The pain she’d hidden surfaced—sharp, raw. With barely ten percent magic power left, hunger clawed at her relentlessly.

“Sorry, Jinghua. I know you’re hurting… but I couldn’t offer comfort.” She whispered to the empty room.

Jinghua was too fragile. A kind word might make her cling—and that was a risk Ling Luo refused to take. Coldness was the only choice.

“Ugh. Shi Wuyou… wrecked tonight’s plan *and* stirred this mess. Is she heaven-sent just to haunt me?”

Originally, Ling Luo planned a private talk between Haolin and Jinghua—honest words, her subtle guidance.

Noon’s events suggested Shi Wuyou, the Demon Hunter, could track her. So Ling Luo used her Demon Eye to hypnotize Ning Shuang, Shi Wuyou’s roommate, betting friendship would delay her.

Theory was perfect. Reality? Shi Wuyou stormed in minutes after Haolin arrived. Ling Luo barely escaped after a rushed excuse.

What happened next? Unclear. But Jinghua’s description—and the empty sixth-floor library—pointed squarely at Shi Wuyou.

Still… Shi Wuyou confessing to Haolin? Absurd. Haolin adored Jinghua. And Shi Wuyou still pined for Xiao Luo. *Impossible.*

No matter. Truth would surface soon. No need to dwell.

Later, testing her suspicion, Ling Luo confirmed: maintaining her true form revealed her location. *Human radar.* Likely a Demon Hunter trait.

But as the saying goes—*for every hunter’s move, the demon has a counter.* Now she could adapt.

Still… magic power was critically low. And fixing Haolin and Jinghua’s mess would cost more.

“Ugh. Better call first.”

Ling Luo pulled out her phone.