I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

Sakura playfully slapped Xi Wang's hand, as if in protest.

But... she couldn't hide the smile on her lips.

Chapter 55 A Thousand Tribulations: You tricked me into coming here to cook, didn't you?! (4075)

"Xi Wang, what's that on your head...?"

"It's an ear~"

Seeing Eden's puzzled look, Xi Wang happily shook her head, causing her pair of long, thin, blue animal ears to sway. They were soft, looked fun, and were quite cute.

"Ah...it's Sakura, isn't it? No wonder, she seemed so happy when she left earlier."

Recalling the smile on Sakura's face earlier, she no longer deliberately kept the beast ears on her head stiff. Instead, they trembled slightly and naturally, showing others her happy mood... Eden understood.

"That's great... Xiwang helped her again. Ying is always like this, sometimes she gets troubled by things... But now she has met someone who can comfort her and someone she can rely on~ That's great..."

Eden gently stepped forward, approached Xiwang, tilted his head slightly, and gently sniffed at his neck. The scent of flowers wafted from his nose.

"It all smells like cherry blossoms... I'm a little jealous!"

Will you be unhappy?

"Kind of."

"So?"

"hug me."

Eden straightened up, a gentle smile on her face, and opened her arms to Xiwang.

"Okay~"

He slowly reached out and gently touched her side waist, then slowly, little by little, moved his hand back, letting his fingertips brush against her clothes, just to feel the warmth that was only insulated by the clothes.

Then, he took a half step forward, moved closer, and welcomed her outstretched arms, letting her wrap her arms around his neck. He then leaned back slightly to receive her weight as she deliberately pressed down on him.

He felt a squeezing sensation on his chest, and his wine-red hair floated down, intertwining with his white hair ends, which resembled waves.

"Haha~"

Eden's voice whispered in my ear, his laughter gentle and joyful.

She affectionately nuzzled his cheek, the sound of their hair rubbing against each other filling her mind, their warmth flowing between them. She leaned back slightly, letting her bright golden eyes meet his... She especially loved the deep color of the night sky, the gold of the stars, and the faint crimson ring around it.

With a smile in her eyes, she slowly... approached, and then...

"Hmm... perhaps I've come at the wrong time?"

"...No, not at all~"

Eden turned his head to look at Alicia, who was peeking out from around the corner.

"Um...excuse me, did I disturb you?"

Realizing she had been discovered, Alicia coughed lightly, a little embarrassed, and then walked out confidently, looking with some curiosity at the pair of slender animal ears on Xiwang's head that were swaying happily.

"But Xiwang, your ears are... just like Sakura's? How did you do that?"

"It's very simple, just like this..."

He parted slightly from Eden, took her hand with one hand, and placed the other hand lightly on his chest, then sang a syllable softly.

?——

A gentle breeze stirred up the animal ears, imbuing them with color, and finally enveloped them, turning the faded animal ears back to a vibrant green.

"Like this will do."

"Wow, that's amazing... Can I touch it?"

"Sure, but it just doesn't have a physical feel."

Noticing the curious yet eager looks in their eyes, Xi Wang smiled, took the initiative to reach out and fiddle with the animal ears, and then tilted her head towards Eden, causing the slender animal ears to fall in front of her, waiting for her to touch them.

"...How wonderful, a wind that can be seen and touched."

Eden touched it with some curiosity, and then tried to feel it. There was no real physical sensation in his hand, only the feeling of a gentle breeze.

"Ah... what a pity, I couldn't catch it~?"

Alicia also leaned forward to touch Xiwang's pair of strange ears, trying to grab them... but unfortunately, the ears brushed past her hands like the wind, and even when she made the "grab" motion, they would slip away from her hands, which made Alicia feel amused and amused.

"After all, it's 'wind'."

Xi Wang shrugged and straightened his head.

"So, Alicia, what brings you here?"

"Oh, right... I'm here to invite you to tonight's dance! We have new friends joining us, so we should celebrate a little. Consider it a small welcome party!"

"New companion?"

"Yes, he's actually a fan of yours... Oh right, there's another little surprise~ Xiwang, are you looking forward to it?"

"Okay~"

"Well... I won't bother you any longer~ I have other people to inform~ See you tonight~?"

Alicia smiled at the two of them, said goodbye in a light tone, winked at Eden as if to encourage her, and then left with light steps.

"...Shall we go and get ready first?"

Eden watched Alicia's figure disappear around the corner, then gently tugged at Xiwang's hand to link arms with him, turning to look at him with a faint smile in his eyes.

"You're saving your dance partner for me tonight, okay?"

"Good~"

"I have to choose the clothes too, right?"

"Okay~"

"Humph~?"

Eden hummed a few times happily, and walked forward arm in arm with Xiwang, never letting go. Facing the surprised and delighted expressions of others, she raised her chin slightly and revealed a smug smile, which seemed to be a declaration of her sovereignty.

After that, it was time to wait for the night ball to begin...

…………

"Um... Eden... do you really want to go out wearing this...?"

"What's wrong? Don't you like the outfit I prepared? Or... isn't it pretty enough?"

"Of course I like it, but... isn't it a little too beautiful?"

Xi Wang looked at herself in the mirror, blinked, and casually lifted her skirt, saying with a hint of helplessness.

"It would be better if you were prettier!"

Eden drank the last drop of wine in his glass, feeling slightly tipsy, and walked over to Xiwang's side.

"After all, you're going to dance the ladies' part tonight~"

She took Xi Wang's hand, gave him a graceful bow, lightly touched his fingertips with her lips, and then revealed a slightly sly smile.

"You belong to me tonight, don't you?"

"Good~"

Xi Wang tilted her head and responded with a smile.

As for whether she was dressed as a woman, Xi Wang didn't mind. After all, it didn't matter who did it for the two of them. Exchanging clothes, identities, and dance steps brought a unique kind of romance and fun... She believed that the scene that followed would leave a vivid mark in other people's memories.

"In that case... let's do it a little better."

Xi Wang blinked, placed her hand lightly on her chest, and adjusted her breathing and voice.

"Ahem... How about this~"

"Be careful not to get someone else's infatuation with you later!"

"No way~ I'm already taken, aren't I?"

"Humph~?"

Eden hummed merrily twice, and then, holding Xiwang's hand, slowly led him toward the venue of the ball.

Ahem... I won't go into the details of the gazes and expressions of others along the way. Some were strange, some were curious, some were joking, and some even said something like "I'll just die right now"... Well, it doesn't matter. Anyway, Xi Wang doesn't care about these things, and the others just think it's a "little flirtation" between Xi Wang and Eden.

After all… you know what, Xi Wang is actually quite pretty right now. With the clothes Eden chose for him and the simple makeup, Xi Wang is quite charming. Coupled with his gentle voice and those particularly captivating tricolor eyes, he might even make an unsuspecting person fall in love with him.

However, the steady movement in front of him still allowed people to vaguely guess his true identity; otherwise… the misunderstanding would be huge!

"I've had enough!"

They continued walking forward, but before they even reached the dance hall, Qianjie's frantic voice pierced through the walls and reached their ears.

"Senju... there's no need to be so angry... Alicia just wants her new companions to get to know you better..."

It was Aponia who was calming him down.

"Yes, Qianjie, your new companions would be so happy to know you're such a great chef!"

"Companions? Hahaha... I don't need any companions! I only need enemies! Let them flood in like a tide! And I will tear them to shreds!"

"Thousands of tribulations?"

Xi Wang, with Eden by her side, quietly peeked out from the doorway and looked at the group inside.

"Who?!"

A dangerous gaze swept over them instantly, and the unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar voice made Qianjie feel suspicious.

"...It's you? What happened to you, you freak of a coin?"

Noticing the familiar long hair that gradually transitioned from dark to white, and the familiar aura of wind surrounding him, Qian Jie frowned and spoke in a strange and disgusted tone.

"Xi Wang...you..."

"Wow, you look so beautiful! I'm even captivated by you!"

Aponia looked slightly surprised, while Alicia, after a brief moment of astonishment, showed a delighted expression.

"Doesn't it look good? This outfit is clearly very pretty!"