Once the affection level is maxed out, the rivalry begins!

"If you have time next time, come and teach me about anomalies, just like we agreed before."

When the two returned to the open space outside the factory, Bai Ze said goodbye to Leia beside him.

After the entire cult was wiped out, the "Living Factory," which had been breathing like an organic organism, also ceased to function. Rhea cleaned the runes that had been engraved on the ground and then set it on fire.

Now, the abandoned factory behind them is burning fiercely, and the smoke rises into the sky like a black pillar.

"OK……"

Leia grabbed a strand of hair that fell across her cheek and answered softly, "If Bai Ze is willing."

"What are you saying? Didn't I already agree to that last time?"

He immediately reminded him.

"Then I will try my best to find a time when you and the witch are not together."

She still seemed hesitant, waving her gloves goodbye to Bai Ze.

"By the way, I'll also report the unknown anomalies we encountered to the Spirit Disaster Bureau... Is that alright, Bai Ze?"

"I was the one being rescued, there's no need to ask for my opinion."

Rhea probably still harbors some doubts about him.

But the fact that he had a close relationship with the witch alone meant that she wouldn't rashly do anything to test him.

The remnants of the cult in Dongming have also been eliminated, and they shouldn't be able to cause any trouble for a while.

So the only thing to prepare is to be there to witness the Bureau of Spiritual Disasters' plan to seal the anomaly.

After parting ways with the succubus girl, Bai Ze was deep in thought when he suddenly heard a message notification.

It was sent by Lu Xingyao.

[Senior, where are you now?]

[After I got home, I did a divination on your location, and it turns out you're in the suburbs.]

What are you doing there?

Why go there?

[...with whom?]

……

A sense of dread washed over me, as if someone had secretly planted a GPS tracker on me. Human emotions are truly complex.

Bai Ze quickly replied to her message as he walked home.

Don't use your prophetic abilities to become a stalker!

I happened to encounter members of the cult and took care of them.

The chat interface first displays an "Eh~" apology emoji with hands clasped together.

【I see.】

I thought you were just saying I should go home with Lin first, but actually you were trying to get me out with her.

She sent me a picture of a two-dimensional anime girl holding a kitchen knife, with bloodstains on her dress and a dark line on her forehead.

Terrible.

[Senior: Actually, I've been going out with you alone quite a few times lately.]

In the warm and brightly decorated bedroom, Lu Xingyao lay on the bed, kicking the bed board with her two little legs.

Upon seeing the new message, she turned over, held her phone to her chest, and closed her eyes contentedly.

"I have more here..."

Question: Does the magnitude of the quantity have any special significance?

The silver-haired girl, who looked like a doll, sat on the bedside table and calmly raised her hand to ask a question.

"Miss Core, you probably don't understand."

Lu Xingyao sat up abruptly, grabbed her and ruffled her hair until her neat silver hair was all messed up.

"Slightly angry: Although I can't understand it, I can sense the superiority emanating from the Admiral."

"That's right, it's a sense of superiority!"

Lu Xingyao raised her index finger and poked the doll's nose. "Just like how I know things you don't, the frequency of these interactions can build a girl's sense of superiority!"

"The following constitutes medical advice: Based on information collected from the internet, children who can readily identify as girls generally have a tendency to suffer from narcissistic personality disorder. @#woopoo."

The doll girl's face was flattened from the left and right sides.

"I didn't expect you to be so skilled in the art of satire."

Lu Xingyao grabbed her head and lifted it up with a forced smile.

"I will teach you the correct attitude you should have towards your master!"

—It seems she's stopped replying to messages.

When he got to his doorstep, Bai Ze looked at the last text message he had sent; the conversation was still there.

He took out the key and inserted it into the lock, only to find that the door was already ajar.

Pushing open the door, I could hear the sound of running water coming from the kitchen.

"You're back?"

The uninvited guest poked his head out and greeted him as if he were in his own home.

"Since I got to leave school early, I bought some good ingredients—let's have hot pot today!"

Lin Tingwan made the proposal with great enthusiasm.

Was giving her the spare key the right decision?

As Bai Ze changed her shoes, she walked out of the kitchen and spun around in place as if showing off something.

"...Do you want to participate in a competition where people spin and collide with each other like tops?" he asked, puzzled.

"What kind of dark duel was that?!"

The girl pouted unhappily, "I meant for you to see what's on my body!"

She was wearing a thin apron decorated with cat paw prints on the chest, the ribbons outlining her slender waist and tied into a large bow at the back, which fluttered like a tail when she turned around.

Bai Ze had never seen her wearing an apron before.

However, people with good looks can wear anything without looking bad; even an ordinary apron can create a cute, homey style.

"How is it? How is it?"

Lin Tingwan raised her sleeve and looked over expectantly.

"It suits you perfectly..."

[Witch Transformation Progress: 31% → 32%]

"...But I still look better in my usual outfits!"

[Witch Transformation Progress: 32% → 33%]

Damn it, changing my mind is useless!

She hummed a song as she walked back into the kitchen, firmly refusing even when Bai Ze offered to help.

"Even I can handle hot pot ingredients!"

Why say something like, "Even I can fight!"—that kind of passionate line?

It's not like we're challenging an invincible enemy boss.

Finally, after a fierce battle with formidable opponents such as sliced ​​beef, baby bok choy, and mushrooms, Lin Tingwan placed the full hot pot onto the set-up induction cooker.

Congratulations! Congratulations!

"Eating hot pot in summer is the best."

Bai Ze turned the air conditioner down by one degree and sat down at the dining table.

"Wait a minute, I have something to give you."

Lin Tingwan stopped him, reaching into the pocket of her apron. "It's a gift."

Preparing dinner, giving gifts, spending time alone together...

"Are you... are you going to propose?"

"Pfft—cough cough cough—"

Bai Ze hugged himself in horror, watching the girl opposite him cough incessantly from choking on her own saliva.

"No way! Why do you assume I'm the one pulling out the ring?! If you want to propose, then you do it yourself!"

She glared at her angrily and slammed the gift onto the table.

"There will be a fireworks display and drone show at Ninghai Bay on the 30th."

"A kind person gave me a ticket, and I even asked for a second one."

She picked up two brightly colored paper tickets and swung them around.

"Anyone want to come with me?"

—Isn't that the location where the Bureau of Spirit Disasters is preparing to seal off the anomaly?