Fairy Tail: This Healing Mage's hits hurt so much!

As the hot pot meal drew to a close, the table was piled high with empty plates.

On the red broth side, only a few peppercorns remained swirling on the oil noodles, while on the clear broth side, the tomatoes had been overcooked and were reduced to a thin layer of broth.

In front of each person was a small pile of used tissues and dipping sauce dishes, with chopsticks lying haphazardly on the bowls.

Lucy leaned back in her chair, rubbed her stomach, and let out a burp.

"I'm so full! Free stuff always tastes better."

Levy was lying on the table, her glasses askew on the tip of her nose.

I want to sleep.

Erza's strawberry cake boxes were stacked six or seven times, and the spoon was still stuck in the last unfinished cake.

"Hmm, the strawberry ice cream cake is delicious. I'll pack a few more to take home later."

Mirajane wiped his mouth with a tissue and pushed the plate aside.

"You barely ate any hot pot, just cake."

Riyao leaned to one side, one hand resting on the back of Mirajane's chair, the other hand drawing circles on the table with his fingers.

"Hiccup~~~"

Let's tidy up and get ready to pay the bill.

Just then, the door of the hot pot restaurant was pushed open.

Elfman stood in the doorway, wearing a black tight-fitting T-shirt that clearly showed his muscle definition.

He stood at the door, glanced around the shop, and then saw Riyao and his group's table, and paused for a moment.

Riyao immediately stood up, his face beaming with smiles, and went to pull Elfman to the table, pressing his shoulder to make him sit down.

"Why are you only arriving now? Come on, have something to eat."

Riyao shoved a pair of clean chopsticks into Elfman's hands and pushed the half-eaten plate of fatty beef toward him.

"Eat more beef. You're at the age where you're growing, so eat more."

The service was incredibly warm and welcoming.

Levy looked at Elfman's massive frame.

Growing up? Are you serious?

Elfman was a little embarrassed, and his hand holding the chopsticks was a bit stiff.

He had actually arrived quite some time ago, but he had been wandering around outside the mall, hesitating whether to come in.

If he hadn't seen Lisana's post on her WeChat Moments, where she posted a picture of hot pot with the caption "Free food is always the best," he would still think it was a trap.

But now it seems that everyone is indeed here, they are indeed eating hot pot, and Riyao is indeed smiling.

It should be fine, right?

He reached into the pot with his chopsticks, picked up a slice of fatty beef, and stuffed it into his mouth.

Sunlight winked at Mirajane.

Mirajane's lips curled up slightly, and then the two of them stood up at the same time, their movements extremely natural.

"Let's go next door and buy a cold drink."

After saying this, Riyao took Mirajane's hand, and the two of them walked out of the hot pot restaurant at a leisurely pace.

The door closed behind them with a soft click.

Once outside the store, Mirajane poked Sunshine's arm and gave his upper arm a hard shove with his finger.

"Didn't we agree that you were treating?"

Riyao chuckled twice and rubbed the spot where he had been poked.

"It feels more interesting this way."

He squinted, revealing a set of white teeth.

Mirajane looked at his smug expression and shook her head helplessly, but she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

In the shop.

Lisana sat in the chair, staring at the empty seat opposite her, when something suddenly popped into her head.

She knows these two people of hers too well.

The two disappeared at the same time, saying they were going to buy cold drinks.

Cold drinks? Don't hot pot restaurants have cold drinks? Why go next door to buy them?

It's definitely not good news! Get out of here!

She became alert, stood up, and picked up her small bag.

"I'll go next door to find my sister."

After saying that, she walked quickly towards the door, her small bag swaying at her waist, her shoes making a clattering sound on the floor.

Erza put down her spoon, watched Lisanna's retreating figure as she pushed open the door, and frowned slightly.

She stared at the still-shaking door for several seconds, and then an idea formed in her mind.

She's known Riyao for a long time, since high school.

She was all too familiar with this person's every expression and every tone of voice.

That wink just now definitely wasn't the wink you used to go buy a cold drink.

After some thought, she stood up, picked up the strawberry cake box from the table, and spoke calmly.

"I'll go next door and buy some more strawberry cake."

Lucy couldn't help but complain, her voice carrying a weariness that suggested she had given up thinking.

"How much do you love strawberry cake?"

Something clicked in Levy's little head.

She watched Erza push open the door and leave, then glanced at Lisanna's empty seat, before leaning close to Lucy's ear and whispering something to her.

Lucy's expression changed from confusion to sudden realization, and then to shock.

The two looked at each other, then stood up at the same time, their movements perfectly synchronized, as if they had rehearsed countless times in private.

"Haha, let's go to the bathroom."

Lucy laughed, her voice a little loud and dry.

"Take your time eating."

Levy added a sentence, and then the two of them held hands and walked quickly out of the hot pot restaurant.

Elfman met Lucy and Levy for the first time and wasn't familiar with them.

He was somewhat shy and didn't dare to ask any more questions, so he just nodded.

"Okay."

He continued eating hot pot.

There was still quite a bit left in the pot: several shrimp balls, a few slices of lotus root, and tofu that had absorbed the flavor of the red broth. He picked it up with his chopsticks, blew on it, and popped it into his mouth.

"Hey hey hey, a real man needs to go back and train hard after eating!"

After chewing twice, I picked up another piece.

When eating hot pot alone, the speed of cooking the food slows down noticeably. You pick up a piece of food with your chopsticks, pause for a while, pick up another piece, pause for a while again, as if you are passing the time, or as if you are waiting for something.

Jelf sat behind the counter, holding an account book in his hand, but his eyes weren't on it.

He watched Elfman sitting alone at the large table, head down, his chopsticks rummaging through the pot, with a large circle of empty seats around him.

He shook his head, turned a page in the ledger, and muttered something under his breath.

"Such an innocent child."

After a period of time.

Elfman scooped the last slice of lotus root out of the pot, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it.

He looked up and glanced around.

There were hardly any customers left in the hot pot restaurant; the tables next to him had long since left, leaving him alone sitting in the corner.

The red cloth strip from the air conditioner vent is still fluttering.

He finally realized something was wrong.

"Why aren't they back yet?"

He turned his head to look outside the door, then looked at the time on his phone.

Almost twenty minutes have passed.

It takes twenty minutes to buy a cold drink? Did the shopkeeper just freeze the ice?

It takes twenty minutes to buy a strawberry cake? Does the owner pick strawberries fresh from the orchard?

It takes you twenty minutes to go to the toilet? Are you constipated?

He put down his chopsticks, pursed his lips into a thin line, and then thought of a possibility he least wanted to consider.

"No way..."

Jelf came over and placed the bill in front of him.

The bill was a pink slip of paper with a long list of dishes on it, and the bottom line was the total amount followed by three zeros.

He pushed the bill toward Elfman.

"Please settle the bill."

Elfman immediately made a face, his eyebrows furrowed into a frown, his mouth turned down, and his whole face scrunched up.

It was a trap after all! I'll never trust my sister or that bastard Riyao again!

No, I still believe in my sister, but I absolutely cannot believe in Riyao! Absolutely!

I do not agree to this marriage!