What does one even prepare for a date?
Back in the day, Jiang Jiu would always spruce himself up thoroughly.
Shower, fix his hair, pick an outfit based on the venue—casual for amusement parks, polished for Japanese or Western restaurants.
Dressing thoughtfully made others feel at ease, even sparked goodwill. Sometimes he’d add a matching spritz of perfume.
Not today.
Because today was… the day it all ended.
Jiang Jiu glanced down at his screen.
QQ chat interface. The sender’s profile pic: an adorable black cat lounging lazily, tail curled playfully into a spiral—mysterious, elegant.
He’d labeled her *Lady Witch*.
Of course, real witches couldn’t exist. Even if they once did, they’d vanished long ago—hunted in medieval Europe or crushed beneath modern science’s relentless march.
Under technology’s brilliant glow, no room remained for mysticism. He’d chosen *Lady Witch* simply because her aura mirrored that black cat: enigmatic, graceful.
Like storybook witches—pointed hats, broomsticks, wands casting odd spells, brewing potions with bat wings and snake fangs.
She was just that kind of unusual girl.
Even among Jiang Jiu’s double-digit exes, she stood utterly apart.
He could never read her.
But it no longer mattered. Tonight’s date existed for one reason: to say goodbye to Lady Witch… or rather, *never* see her again.
Just like all the times before—routine, almost natural. Jiang Jiu intended to break up with her.
…
A little past nine p.m. A discreet bar tucked deep in a downtown alley.
Where he and Lady Witch first met. Where their story would now end.
A twisted fate begun here deserved to conclude here.
Jiang Jiu nodded to the familiar bartender and settled into a corner booth—punctuality was virtue; arriving early, grace.
He ordered her favorite cocktail (mint leaves were finally good enough this season), one for himself, then nestled into the sofa to wait.
Minutes later, the wind bell chimed softly. Jiang Jiu looked up.
She wore the same black dress from their first meeting.
Simple cut, impeccable tailoring—evoking a Siren’s hair flowing through deep water, cool and fluid. Jiang Jiu always sensed its luxury, yet never spotted it on any runway.
Maybe some people could make even a burlap sack look haute couture?
Like Lady Witch.
Ink-black hair. Eyes of pure black, veiled in mist. Lips pale from never wearing lipstick. Tall, legs impossibly long. Even wrapped conservatively daily, her silhouette spoke volumes.
Calm-faced, she nodded to the bartender, then walked straight to him.
“Good evening.”
Jiang Jiu smiled warmly.
“Good evening.”
Lady Witch gave a slight, graceful nod and smoothed her dress before sitting.
“I ordered your favorite cocktail,” he said gently. “Mint’s finally good this season.”
“Mm.”
“Season’s changing fast. Bundle up—watch for flu.”
“Mm.”
“Why this dress again today? You wore it when we met, right?”
“Mm…”
Her habitual reply paused.
She lifted her gaze. A flicker of confusion in those pitch-black eyes.
“I wore it when we met. Now we’re breaking up… is revisiting that feeling so wrong?”
“…”
Jiang Jiu’s smile vanished.
Like a mask ripped away—the tender boyfriend transformed into a cold, manipulative jerk.
“So you knew why I asked you here.”
He tapped the table lightly.
“Fine. Cards on the table. No more pretending.”
He met her eyes squarely, nodding candidly.
“Yes. I’m here to break up.”
Lady Witch’s expression didn’t shift. Not a trace of surprise.
She furrowed her brow, tilted her head adorably.
“But… why?”
Jiang Jiu shrugged. “Maybe I just… stopped liking you.”
He sighed, adjusted his glasses.
“Feelings fade. It’s normal. Ours was Platonic—you never paid, we never slept together. You didn’t lose anything, right?”
Her eyes drifted, recalling. Then she nodded.
“Exactly,” he smiled. “No money, no body—just faded feelings. Ordinary.”
He pointed at himself.
“Call me a jerk if you want. I owe you that. But… I can’t be your boyfriend anymore. Sorry.”
“…”
Lady Witch stared silently.
Helpless. Facing a jerk who laid bare every fault, every transaction, every rational thread.
He *had* taken nothing but her feelings—and feelings held no price.
She could call him shameless, a heartbreaker, an emotional fraud… but couldn’t rage.
Reasonable people don’t act unreasonably.
With that alone, Jiang Jiu had seized her weakness. Unassailable.
Truly… a jerk who understood hearts too well. All the more detestable.
Lady Witch sighed softly.
She drew her Enchanted Wand.
Jiang Jiu froze.
Before him, a twig sprouted from nowhere—fresh green leaf still clinging. She lowered her gaze.
“Before… when you broke up with the others… did you say the same things, Jiang Jiu?”
“!”
Speechless.
She swayed the wand gently.
A light chant rose above the jazz music, whispering in every ear:
“Sleep.”
Bartender, patrons—all living souls except them sank into deep slumber.
Jiang Jiu gaped. An impossible thought surged. He stared at the wand.
Lady Witch anticipated him. “Six and one-third inches. Elder wood. *My* Enchanted Wand.”
Matter-of-fact, as if saying: *A mechanic carries a wrench. A witch carries her wand.*
He didn’t care. *Why does this exist?!*
Slumped in the sofa, he watched his twenty-year worldview shatter with a deafening crash.
Heart trembling. Body shaking.
“…Witch?” he whispered. “You’re… a witch? This world… *really* has witches?”
She didn’t answer.
Holding the leaf-adorned wand, she studied his pale face.
Then—*for the first time since they met*—she smiled.
“You never took my money or body. You always paid. Your logic was sound… disliking is disliking.”
“But the one whose heart you deceived… is still angry.”
“You told me: *Vent anger, or it breaks you.* So, Jiang Jiu…”
Her voice turned icy.
“Are you ready to bear an Archwitch’s wrath?”
Something stirred. Slithered. Left murky trails across floor and tables.
*Tentacles.*
Suckers. Eye-like patterns. Emerging from behind her, beneath her dress. Spreading through shadows, filling half the bar, making candlelight flicker.
One tentacle extended—a shimmering, multicolored potion dangling before Jiang Jiu.
Seated in darkness, Lady Witch fixed him with a glacial gaze.
“If you delight in breaking girls’ hearts… this potion is perfect punishment for a jerk like you.”
“Drink it.”
“And you shall become an Apprentice Witch.”
[To be continued.]
