After a brief exchange, Gu Qinghan grasped the full picture.

"So… Mr. Richard asked you to stand in for him due to an unexpected matter?"

A faint twitch tugged at the corner of Gu Qinghan’s lips.

"Yes."

Hearing Liana’s reply—lips gently bitten, cheeks burning crimson—Gu Qinghan’s hope finally shattered.

*Seriously? Such a cliché plot actually happened?*

*What kind of bizarre move is this?!*

This banquet was originally Gu Qinghan’s precaution—a trap set to prevent Liana from falling deeper under hypnosis.

Yet now, Richard was practically delivering her straight to his door, utterly unconcerned about worsening her condition!

Why?!

Gu Qinghan felt like he was wearing a mask of pure agony.

How could someone like *him* have a fiancée?

It made zero sense.

Watching Liana’s flustered state sent a chill down his spine.

Something was off.

Her cherry lips parted slightly; breath came quick and warm.

A fine sheen of sweat glistened on her skin, carrying a faint, uniquely feminine scent.

A delicate blush tinged her cheeks, ears, and neck.

A bad premonition stirred. A shadow flickered in Gu Qinghan’s eyes.

*Wait… shouldn’t Liana have refused Richard’s request?*

*At the very least, postponed the banquet? Why did she agree?*

A chilling possibility dawned. His gaze darkened. Silently, he intoned:

"Hypnotic Depth Perception."

Magic drained from his core. Instantly, Liana’s status flashed before him—

**Hypnotic Depth (Loyalty): 65**

*[She harbors intense feelings for you. At the mere sight of you, her heart flutters with anticipation.]*

*[Caution: Emotions are overwhelming rationality. Subtle psychological shifts detected.]*

Gu Qinghan: ?

After triple-checking, he sucked in a sharp breath.

Damn it.

Game over.

He’d planned to test Richard… but the real target—Liana herself—showed up.

Flustered. Sweating.

What now?

Gu Qinghan’s mind raced.

In this state, he couldn’t possibly let her inside.

One slip, and she might spiral into arousal—irreversible consequences.

And the feedback warned of unpredictable personality shifts.

No time to hesitate.

Refuse.

"Miss Liana," he said, voice carefully neutral, "there’s something you should know."

He took a slow breath, face stern.

"Per Kingdom regulations, an unmarried man and woman cannot be alone in a room. You’re aware of this."

"So please, turn back. For both our sakes. Don’t you agree?"

His tone carried a faint, deliberate chill.

Liana’s ears flushed deeper red. She lowered her head slowly.

Gu Qinghan remained stone-faced.

Silence thickened the air between them.

Then—a voice, smooth as silk, broke the tension.

"No need to worry. This doesn’t violate regulations. I can vouch for it."

Gu Qinghan frowned.

Liana hadn’t moved.

"…What did you say?"

"I said," the voice chimed, playful, "two women and one man? That’s hardly ‘alone together,’ is it?"

Gu Qinghan froze mid-sentence.

That wasn’t Liana’s voice.

A third person.

From behind Liana, a poised figure stepped forward.

"Mr. Hohenheim," she said with a graceful smile, "I’m truly pleased you uphold the Kingdom’s rules so diligently."

Eyes twinkling, lips curved in quiet amusement, she regarded him like a cat savoring the chase.

"Katarina?" Gu Qinghan stammered.

"Hello, Mr. Hohenheim. We meet again."

He stood frozen, mind reeling.

Events had spiraled far beyond prediction.

"Y-you too…"

Trembling, he reached out—and accidentally clasped Liana’s slender, soft hand.

Katarina merely smiled, unfazed.

"Hearing you were hosting a banquet, I simply *had* to come! Tonight promises to be… lively, don’t you think?"

"I do hope my presence doesn’t disturb your… *intimate* chat."

Meeting Katarina’s sharp, knowing gaze, Gu Qinghan forced a brittle smile.

Numb.

Totally numb.

Her arrival twisted the already bizarre banquet into something far more dangerous.

Refusing her now would scream guilt.

She’d already sealed his escape.

"Welcome, Miss Katarina… heh."

Lips twitching, he shook her hand.

What came next? He had no clue.

…

Moonlight pooled on the floor like liquid silver.

Exquisite dishes adorned the table, tempting the senses.

Three sat in silence, glancing at one another, no one reaching first.

Cold sweat soaked Gu Qinghan’s back.

Only now did he grasp the horror:

Letting Katarina in was a catastrophic mistake.

This "hypnotic feast" now lay fully exposed before the Kingdom of Pure Love’s own Inspector.

*What was he even thinking?!*

Hypnotizing a royal inspector?

A crime worthy of 24 hours "juiced" in the Underground Dungeon—and still not enough.

"Ahem… this spread feels a bit humble. Shall I prepare something better?" he rasped.

"Eh? Why?" Katarina giggled, nibbling a fry. "It’s delicious! Right, Miss Liana?"

Liana, blushing, gave a tiny nod.

Gu Qinghan’s eye twitched.

*Crispy potato strips… with 0.5g Hypnotic Powder.*

He clenched his fists. "Miss Katarina, these were just snacks for Mr. Richard. Far too casual for you. Perhaps we dine out properly?"

He offered a strained, friendly smile.

"—Ooh! What *is* this?!" Katarina squealed, eyes sparkling.

Gu Qinghan’s blood ran cold. He glanced at Liana’s plate—

*Crispy Sichuan pepper chicken leg… with 3g Hypnotic Powder.*

*Highly effective.*

His face turned ashen.

"Miss Katarina, wait—we really should—"

*Gulp gulp gulp!*

Katarina set down her wine glass with a sigh, tongue tracing her lips.

*White wine… laced with 20g Hypnotic Powder.*

Gu Qinghan paled.

Moonlight caught Katarina’s dewy profile. Her eyes gleamed like blades.

"Mr. Hohenheim," she murmured, leaning closer, lashes fluttering, "you seem… tense. Are you *unhappy* I came?"

Panic flickered in Gu Qinghan—not because she’d eaten the powder.

But because she’d consumed *massive doses*… and showed *zero* effect.

"Oh?" Katarina’s smile deepened, slow and knowing. "I think I see…"

She held his gaze, voice dropping to a whisper.

"These banquet dishes… hide a little secret, don’t they?"

Her smile said everything.