Elfman Falls into a Trap

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

On the spicy broth side, only a few peppercorns remained, swirling on the oil's surface; on the clear broth side, the tomatoes had been overcooked, leaving only 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 the best."

Levy 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, you just ate 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 off his muscles.

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, 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 clean pair of 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 friendly.

Levy looked at Elfman's massive frame.

Growing up? Are you serious?

Elfman was still 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 Lisanna'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 everyone is indeed there, they are indeed eating hot pot, and Riyao is indeed smiling.

Shouldn't be a problem?

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

Riyao 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 nudged Riyao's arm and gave his upper arm a hard shove with his finger.

"Didn't we agree that you'd treat us?"

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

"It feels more fun 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.

Inside the shop.

Lisanna sat in the chair, staring at the empty seat opposite her, when something suddenly clicked in her mind.

She knows these two people of hers too well.

The two disappeared at the same time, claiming 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'm going to 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-swaying door for several seconds, and then an idea formed in her mind.

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

She knew this person's every expression and every tone of voice all too well.

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

After a moment's 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 exchanged a glance, then stood up simultaneously, their movements perfectly synchronized, as if they had rehearsed countless times in private.

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

Lucy laughed, her voice a little loud and dry.

Eat slowly.

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

Elfman was meeting Lucy and Levy for the first time and didn't know them well.

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

"Okay."

He continued eating his 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, a real man needs to go back and train hard after he finishes eating!"

I chewed it twice, then picked up another piece.

When eating hot pot alone, the speed at which you cook the food noticeably slows down. You pick up a piece of food with your chopsticks, pause for a moment, pick up another piece, pause again, as if you're killing time or waiting for something.

Zeref sat behind the counter, holding a ledger 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 of 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 to look outside the door, then glanced at the time on his phone.

Almost twenty minutes have passed.

It takes twenty minutes to buy a cold drink? Did the vendor 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..."

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

The bill was a pink slip of paper with a long list of dishes written 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 lips 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, my sister still believes in him, but I absolutely cannot believe in Riyao! Absolutely!

I do not agree to this marriage!