Unexplained Favorability

"So, are we even with each other regarding yesterday?"

Looking at Kiana, who appeared somewhat flustered and shy before him, Dong Moxuan's attention was elsewhere.

Kiana: "..."

Upon hearing Dong Moxuan's words, Kiana's expression froze.

The blush faded from her face, and she said to Dong Moxuan with a somewhat gloomy expression, "Even. We're even regarding yesterday. You can get lost now!"

Seeing Kiana's sudden change in demeanor, Dong Moxuan had no idea what he had done to upset her.

He gave a wry smile, reached out, and produced a pair of white charms. "Alright, alright, I shouldn't have said that. Here, this is for you, Miss Kiana. Calm down."

"Huh...? Huh?"

Seeing the items in Dong Moxuan's hand, Kiana's expression faltered.

"Are these for... for me?"

For some reason, Kiana felt her heart rate quicken slightly, and her cheeks grew warm.

"Yeah, consider it a thank-you gift for treating me to lunch. I figured you really wanted them."

Although he personally felt the charms were a bit overpriced, he couldn't resist Kiana's liking for them.

After all, he had gotten a free lunch from Kiana, so a return gift was only proper.

As for the money...

Didn't he have the allowance Mei gave him?

Using Mei's money to flirt with Kiana, how exciting!

Meanwhile, the white-haired ball of fluff on the other side couldn't help but curve her lips slightly upon hearing Dong Moxuan's words.

She took one of the charms from Dong Moxuan's hand and said with a rather tsundere tone, "Since you're so sincerely trying to please this young lady, then this young lady will reluctantly accept it!"

"Um, Kiana, don't you want the other one?"

"You keep the other one."

Hey, Paramecium, do you know what you're saying?

Hearing Kiana's reply, Dong Moxuan couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

These were couple's charms, after all. It would have been fine if Kiana had taken both, but leaving one for him... wouldn't that imply something?

He sighed inwardly and didn't say anything more to the white-haired ball of fluff.

"It's getting late, I should be going."

With that, Dong Moxuan turned and left.

As soon as Dong Moxuan's retreating figure disappeared from her sight, Kiana quickly took out her phone and attached the charm to it.

Looking at the item in her hand, she grew more and more satisfied, a sweet smile subtly appearing on her lips.

Suddenly, she seemed to sense something, and the expression on her face froze slightly.

"What... what was happening to me just now?"

She finally put away her girlish demeanor, her eyes filled with seriousness.

Why did she feel like a girl in love just now?

Kiana was actually quite aware of the inexplicable sense of closeness she felt towards Dong Moxuan.

But she hadn't expected it to be so intense.

Just by receiving a small gift from Dong Moxuan, she had become so easily swayed.

If Dong Moxuan were to actively pursue her, wouldn't she...

She, Kiana, wasn't some black-hearted French saintess; she wasn't someone so easily won over.

That guy named Dong Moxuan was too strange. She needed to stay away from him in the future.

With this thought in mind, Kiana's gaze shifted to the charm hanging on her phone.

Dong Moxuan, that strange guy, must have sent a strange gift. Should she just throw it away?

As the thought crossed her mind, Kiana stood rooted for over ten seconds, unable to bring herself to throw the item away.

"Forget it..."

With a soft sigh, Kiana put her phone back into her pocket.

If it was in Kiana's hands, it was Kiana's possession. Wouldn't throwing it away be making things difficult for herself?

As for whether she would distance herself from Dong Moxuan in the future...

She thought so, but she wasn't sure if she could actually do it.

After all, she hadn't originally planned to ask Dong Moxuan out today, but the result was...

"Dong Moxuan... who exactly are you?"

Recalling everything that had happened today, Kiana's heart was filled with complex emotions.

"Something feels a bit off..."

Over on the other side, Dong Moxuan rubbed his chin, also sensing that things weren't quite right.

He felt like he was being a little too friendly towards that ball of white fluff.

Even though he had been a Captain in his past life and naturally held a favorable impression of his former Valkyries, Kiana was an exception.

After all, he harbored an incredibly deep-seated hatred for a certain elder of this Paramecium.

If he ever had the chance, he would have absolutely no hesitation in killing Kiana's elder.

Dong Moxuan considered himself not a very magnanimous person. Before meeting Kiana, he had even entertained the dark thought of capturing her and using her as a tool for his plans.

But after meeting Kiana, he felt an inexplicable sense of closeness towards her, even more so than towards the cook, treating her with more gentleness and affection. This was clearly not normal.

"Could it be... I'm actually a hidden Paramecium fan, and I just didn't realize it?"

After much fruitless thought, Dong Moxuan could only attribute the reason to his profound love for a certain black-suited bald man in his past life. He gently shook his head and didn't dwell on it further.

"Hmm, it's getting late. Might as well go pick up Mei..."

"Um, Mei, could you help me move these files to the teacher's office?"

"But... didn't the teacher ask you to do that?"

Sitting at her desk, Mei put down her pen, which she had been using to work on problems, and looked at the short-haired girl in front of her with a troubled expression.

"I made plans with Yumiko and the others this afternoon, so could you help me out, Mei?"

Clasping her hands together, the short-haired girl pleaded with Mei.

Hearing the girl's words, Mei frowned slightly.

Even if she had plans, did she really not have time to move some files?

However, Mei had a pretty good relationship with that kind and diligent female teacher. If the files weren't delivered, the teacher would be the one in trouble.

Thinking this, Mei sighed inwardly.

"Alright!"

She nodded softly.

"Thank you so much, Mei!"

The short-haired girl said gratefully to Mei, but as soon as she turned around, her expression turned sullen.

"Who do you think you are, acting so high and mighty? Do you really think you're still the young lady you used to be?"

"..."

Mei's expression froze, and she clenched the ballpoint pen in her hand.

The short-haired girl had spoken very softly, but she hadn't expected Mei's hearing to be far superior to that of ordinary people.

"Mei!"

Just then, a voice called out from outside the classroom.

The next second, a silver-haired, blue-eyed young man walked in.

"It's been a long time since school ended, why are you still in the classroom?"

"Dong... Mr. Dong Moxuan?"

Her eyes widened slightly, Mei felt that the number of surprises she had experienced these past few days was more than in her previous dozen years.