I'm in Mota, and they all want me to confess my feelings!

Why is she here?

Phoebe pursed her lips, her face full of embarrassment.

Looking at the delicate pastries, she seemed to see the expectant eyes of the children in the orphanage before her, but in the end, she could only sigh helplessly.

"Maybe... forget it."

"I'll buy them food next time I get my teaching salary."

Just as the kind-hearted priestess was silently making her decision, a familiar voice suddenly came from beside her.

"I'll pay for these snacks. How much is it in total?"

Phoebe looked up in a daze at the young man beside her, unconsciously clenching her fingers, and exclaimed softly, "Mr. Duanmu?"

Duanmu Yan smiled slightly at her, made the payment using the terminal, then picked up the bag of pastries and gently handed it to Phoebe.

"What? Is today Miss Priest's day of indulgence, buying so many pastries?"

Phoebe instinctively pinched the hem of her skirt, her ear tips turning slightly red. She quickly shook her head and explained, "No... these are for the children. Every Wednesday, the priests from the religious order go to the orphanage to take care of the children, so... I thought I'd bring them some snacks."

"Is that so?" Duanmu Yan was somewhat surprised.

It seems that this religious order isn't as useless as I thought.

"In that case, please consider these snacks a small token of my appreciation. Miss Phoebe, please pass them on to the children for me."

Phoebe looked at the pastries Duanmu Yan handed her, her voice a little soft: "But, but I just received help from Mr. Duanmu last time, and I feel really bad accepting your kindness again for no reason."

"What's there to worry about?" Duanmu said casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Just like I said before, it's just a small token of my appreciation. You can take it to the children."

Phoebe blushed slightly, hesitated for a moment, and finally reached out her hands to gently accept the bag of pastries.

"Well, thank you so much, Mr. Duanmu."

She carefully held the pastries to her chest, looked up at him and gave him an exceptionally pure smile, like a gentle breeze caressing a newly blossoming flower, pure and innocent.

—It only cost a pittance of money, yet it brought me such a genuine and innocent smile from the girl.

That money was well spent.

"Goodbye then, Mr. Duanmu."

Phoebe, holding the snacks, waved to Duanmu Yan and ran lightly out of the shop.

"Okay, be careful not to spill the dessert."

Duanmu Yan watched her hurried departure and couldn't help but raise his voice to remind her.

Just then, the shop door was pushed open again, and a scarlet figure brushed past Phoebe.

Floro walked straight toward Duanmu Yan, a meaningful smile appearing on his usually indifferent face.

"Oh, it seems you're quite popular with ladies. So you actually like this type?"

"I'm just a kind-hearted person." Duanmu Yan met her gaze, his tone calm. "Besides, I wasn't late today."

"Oh, that's great." Floro tilted his head slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Do you need me to praise you?"

"You've already praised me."

The two sat down by the window. Floro picked up the menu and examined it carefully, her fingertips wandering among the desserts before finally choosing a few sour ones.

"You like strong flavors so much?" Duanmu Yan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Floro chuckled and countered, "If sour and astringent tastes are considered strong flavors, then what should we call salty and spicy?"

Duanmu Yan was speechless.

“Okay, let’s get straight to the point.” Floro looked him straight in the eye, his tone crisp. “What do you need me to do?”

This almost blunt way of asking the question caught Duanmu Yan off guard.

He thought that Floro would, as usual, throw out some difficult questions to test him.

"To perform on stage."

Floro picked up her coffee and looked at him with a cold gaze, as if questioning him.

"For whom?"

Book 1: Chapter 25 Floro's Resentment

"For whom?"

This inexplicable question left Duanmu Yan momentarily at a loss for words.

Why would she ask me such a question?

What does this have to do with the performance itself?

Duanmu Yan looked at her with a puzzled expression, and for a moment he felt like he wasn't talking business, but rather being questioned by his girlfriend.

"Uh, do you care about that?"

“Of course.” Floro’s expression was calm, but his tone left no room for doubt. “I don’t want my musical talent to become a tool for others to make money. I need a reason—a sufficiently legitimate reason.”

She leaned forward slightly, looking directly into Duanmu Yan's eyes, her voice soft yet clear: "Isn't this the very reason you came to me?"

"In this world where religious orders firmly control secular rules, finding an independent musician who insists on their own style is like finding a needle in a haystack. And I happen to meet your needs."

"As far as I know, you currently work at Everard Bank, but were recently transferred to another position for other reasons."

"This new job is very different from your previous responsibilities."

"I want to know...why?"

Duanmu Yan's pupils contracted slightly: "You're investigating me?"

"Don't be nervous. Before cooperating, you always need to understand the other party's background, right?" Floro's fingers gently clenched, her posture composed. "Besides, didn't you secretly investigate my identity? Although... you didn't find anything, right?"

Duanmu Yan fell silent.

Indeed, as she said, he had tried to investigate Floro's background, but to no avail.

Only in some scattered rumors is there a mention of a once-famous musician whose characteristics vaguely match hers.

"So, what's the answer?"

“If your reason can convince me, I will grant your request and give Laguna a performance that everyone is eagerly anticipating.”

Floro's voice brushed past his ears like a feather, carrying a subtle allure.

Duanmu Yan's heart tightened.

Want to say something?

Should I confess everything to her?

But how should we explain this to the second young lady?

Will she be angered by my preemptive action?

"I'll give you ten minutes to think about it."

Floro picked up a piece of pastry, took a small, elegant bite, and said nothing more.

Duanmu Yan hesitated, staring at Floro in front of him.

—Scarlet, dangerous, and unpredictable.

Ultimately, he chose to trust his intuition.

"Because I am carrying out a mission."

"I need your help to attract everyone's attention at the concert."

Floro tilted his head slightly, examining him with interest: "You've decided so quickly? Aren't you afraid I won't trust you?"

Duanmu Yan shook his head: "Trust is the necessary foundation of any relationship."

This answer brought a flicker of surprise to Floro's eyes. Her tone was slightly cool, but a complex smile played on her lips: "So, you understand this principle too. It's just a pity that my past 'trust' has been completely ruined by someone."

Her words were loaded with meaning, and her gaze deepened.

“That’s not me.” Duanmu’s tone was sincere, tinged with a hint of helplessness. “I understand that perhaps it’s because my face resembles his that you find it hard to let your guard down. But I’m really not the person you know—please believe me, I will never let you down.”

Floro glanced at him indifferently and said softly, "Hard to say."

"Trust me this once!" Duanmu Yan leaned forward, his gaze intense. "I will prove that I am more trustworthy than him."

The girl gazed at his slightly anxious appearance, a hint of smugness quietly creeping into her heart.

She had been waiting for this moment—his expectation, his request, even his unease gave her a subtle sense of satisfaction.

“So,” Floro said slowly, picking up his teacup, a faint smile playing on his lips, “what exactly is this mission you’re talking about?”

“I’m going to infiltrate Giacomo Facibina’s office and find evidence of his involvement in plotting to harm the Motari family.”

“Family feuds…” Floro tapped the table thoughtfully. “So, you’ve already joined the Mortari family?”

Duanmu Yan shook his head: "No."

Floro's eyes showed doubt: "That's strange. You haven't joined the family, so why would you take such a risk? Although you work at Everard Bank, this is clearly beyond your job responsibilities."

She paused slightly, as if she had suddenly realized something.

"—Unless, it's for someone else?"

Otherwise, what other reason could there be?

Duanmu Yan nodded without hesitation: "That's right, it's for Miss Koleta."

“Miss Koleta? Oh, I remember now, the second young lady of the Mortari family.” Floro scoffed, his tone growing colder. “Not only the priests of the order, but even the second young lady of the Mortari family, you want to lay your hands on her?”

"You've already tainted yourself with two of the three major powers in Laguna. What's next? Shouldn't it be the turn of the head of the Fesalie family—Cantrera?"

"I've heard that she... is also a rare beauty."

The girl's tone was inexplicably filled with a sense of melancholy.

Duanmu Yan felt a slight sweat break out on his forehead as he listened.

What is this all about?

Putting aside the question of when I got involved with the Order and the Mortari family, how did I end up being dragged into this?

I've never even seen a Cantrela.

Moreover, her tone...

No matter how you look at it, it carries a subtle hint of sourness.

Is this wrong?

Is it...

Did she really mistake me for that person she used to know?

Actually, am I a meal replacement?

“That’s a misunderstanding,” Duanmu Yan corrected. “My relationship with Miss Phoebe and Miss Coleta is completely pure. As for the head of the Faisalie family, Cantrera, I’ve never even met her.”

"Is that so?" Floro raised an eyebrow and asked, "If you two aren't related, why did you agree to Koleta's request to carry out this kind of mission?"

"Uh... what does this have to do with our cooperation?" Duanmu Yan asked, somewhat puzzled.

Floro nodded slightly, a subtle sharpness in his voice: "Yes. Because I want to know—is that reason enough?"

That's enough.

Since you've already said that, what else is there to say?

I'll tell you everything.

"Because Miss Koleta trusts me completely, and I have made my own promise," Duanmu Yan said solemnly. "Whatever promise I make, I will fulfill it no matter what!"

Floro frowned slightly: "Just because of... a promise?"

"Ah."

"asshole……"

She unconsciously clenched her fists, her knuckles turning slightly white, but she didn't lash out. Instead, she glared at him fiercely with her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Just then, a figure pushed open the shop door and walked straight toward them.

"Oh my? Isn't this Duanmu Yan? This must be the musician you were talking about, right?"