Bronya: Sorry, Mei

After Bronya's analysis, she realized there was another way that would be even more devastating to Raiden Mei.

Just imagine: what if she used her own charm and frail constitution to win Su Moqian over?

And then had him confess to her in front of Mei? What would happen then?

Picturing the scene, Bronya silently apologized to Raiden Mei in her heart:

"Sorry, Raiden Mei. To help Mother Cocolia carry out her plan and rescue Seele, Bronya can only take Su Moqian from you!"

After untying her, Su Moqian smiled. "Bronya, I'll carry you to the living room for breakfast. The wheelchair arrived first thing this morning."

Bronya nodded gently and forced a smile. "Thank you, Brother Moqian. I'm really happy you've done all this for me."

It was hard to imagine that these two, who had been at each other's throats just last night, could get along so harmoniously this morning.

They even seemed to have affection for each other in their eyes.

But unfortunately, they were only putting on an act to win each other over. By a twist of fate, though, they'd reached the same understanding.

Since they both had their own motives, there was absolutely no chance of their act turning real!

Absolutely none!

I'll make Bronya fall in love with me and abandon Cocolia! Su Moqian thought.

Bronya will make Su Moqian fall in love with me and abandon Raiden Mei! Bronya thought.

And so, these two schemers began their daily routine.

Over breakfast, Su Moqian asked curiously, "Bronya, where are you going to school later? Do you need me to push you there?"

"Bronya will be going to Senba Academy. I'm transferring there today. If it's on your way, I'd appreciate it if you could take me, Brother Moqian."

"You're going to Senba Academy too?" Su Moqian looked surprised.

"I've been attending classes at Senba Academy lately. What a coincidence."

"Really? You're at Senba Academy too, Brother Moqian? I guess we really are fated to meet!" Bronya put on a surprised expression as well, emphasizing just how much fate had brought them together.

Just then, Su Moqian's phone rang.

He picked it up and was surprised to see his father calling.

"Hey, Dad. What's up?"

"Son, do you know Bronya?" Su Hengyu's voice came through the phone.

"Bronya?" Su Moqian glanced at the girl sitting in front of him and replied quietly, "I know her. Why?"

"Ah, that bitch Cocolia wants me to get Bronya into Senba Academy, and she specifically asked for her to be in your class. I was curious, so I thought I'd ask."

As he heard his father's words, Su Moqian's expression grew increasingly complicated.

"Ohhh, so that's what's going on."

Bronya: "..."

Exposed, Bronya awkwardly lowered her head and picked at her food.

"So, what do you think, son? If you don't mind, I'll go ahead and arrange it."

Su Moqian spoke into the phone. "No need, Dad. Just put her in the first year of high school."

"No problem. I'll get that arranged, then. Bye."

After hanging up, Su Moqian smiled at Bronya.

"Come to think of it, it really is quite a coincidence that we're at the same school, huh?"

Bronya: "..."

Bronya: Sorry, Mei

Just as Bronya was beginning to sweat, Su Moqian pressed his advantage.

"What, Bronya? You want to be in my class that badly?"

Faced with Su Moqian's deadly question, Bronya inwardly cried out in alarm.

She was trying to win him over, sure, but if she made herself seem too easy to get, there was no way she could make Su Moqian confess to her in front of Mei.

That would make it difficult to carry out her plan perfectly!

In the blink of an eye, the Ural Silver Wolf came up with a solution.

She raised her head slightly, her beautiful eyes glistening with moisture, and said bashfully, "Because Brother Moqian is the only friend Bronya knows. I only made that request because I wanted you to take better care of me..."

"Does Brother Moqian really not want to?" Bronya blinked her beautiful eyes, looking utterly pitiful.

On a fresh morning, a delicate girl in a white dress, with pale gray twin tails and tearful eyes full of vulnerability, sat before him, as beautiful as a doll.

When such a lovely girl looked at you and asked, "Do you really not want to, Brother?"...

How many men could possibly resist?

Any guy who liked younger girls would probably fall to his knees and surrender on the spot.

Unfortunately, Su Moqian was into older women—big sisters, and big sisters.

As for Bronya?

Su Moqian looked her up and down, then pursed his lips and thought, A-cup. No thanks.

When Bronya noticed him staring, her heart sank.

Why do I get the feeling he's thinking something really rude?

Of course, despite her suspicions, she stayed in character.

"Brother Moqian, do you really not agree?"

Bronya had to admit, her acting skills were excellent, as one would expect from someone trained as an assassin.

Even though Su Moqian suspected she might be putting on an act, and wasn't into younger girls, he still felt a little moved when he saw her like this.

But only a little.

"All right, first year of high school is perfect for you. Study hard and keep improving, got it?" Su Moqian patted Bronya on the head.

"But don't worry. I'll pick you up and take you home from school every day."

At dinner the night before, Bronya had said she didn't have a place to stay in Changkong City, so she wanted to borrow a guest room at Su Moqian's house for a while and pay the usual rent.

Su Wuxian hadn't objected, either, so taking Bronya to and from school was no trouble.

"Mm, all right." Bronya nodded, looking a little disappointed.

But when she lowered her head to resume eating, a thoughtful look appeared in her eyes.

That didn't make sense. On previous assassination missions, her looks and acting had fooled plenty of wealthy merchants and gang leaders. What had gone wrong?

Could he be one of those damn busty women enthusiasts?

Bronya's eyes immediately turned sharp.

Ah, I can only blame bad intel this time. I should've looked into his preferences first.

Realizing that Su Moqian hadn't fallen for her little act, Bronya quickly changed tactics and decided to spend the day investigating his tastes.

And so, the morning's clash ended once again in Bronya's defeat.

As it neared time to head to school, Raiden Mei left her home and waited at the intersection.

She'd finished breakfast a while ago, but she'd deliberately waited until now so she could walk to school with Su Moqian.

At last, Su Moqian appeared around the corner of the road, just as Raiden Mei had hoped.

She instinctively started toward him to say hello, but then she noticed that Su Moqian was pushing an incredibly cute girl in a wheelchair.

Who was she? Why did she seem so close to Moqian? Raiden Mei furrowed her brows.

In such a short time, another beautiful girl she'd never seen before had appeared at Su Moqian's side!

Sensing something was off, Raiden Mei instinctively hid so she could see what was going on.

At the same time, Bronya, sitting in her wheelchair and chatting with Su Moqian, glanced toward a corner.

That must be Raiden Mei, right?

Trained as an assassin from childhood, Bronya was highly sensitive to her surroundings. She quickly realized that the figure hiding nearby was Raiden Mei.

The corners of Bronya's mouth lifted, as if she'd thought of something amusing.

Then she spoke up with a smile. "Moqian giegie~"

"Eugh!" Su Moqian shuddered and looked at Bronya in confusion.

What was wrong with this girl? Why was she suddenly acting weird?

He was about to ask when Bronya continued, "I'm such a bother to you, making you push me to and from school every day. Won't that get in the way of you going to school with your girlfriend?"

The figure in the corner shifted.

"Huh? Why would you suddenly say that?" Su Moqian waved it off. "It's no bother. I take classes at Senba Academy too, so it's no trouble at all."

"Besides, I don't have a girlfriend right now. I'd be going to and from school alone anyway. With you there, Bronya, I won't be so lonely."

The figure in the corner began to tremble.

"Then thank you, Brother Moqian. Bronya will definitely repay you properly one day!" Bronya put extra emphasis on the word "repay."

At that, Raiden Mei, hiding in the corner, completely lost it—her fists were clenched tight!

"What is going on with that girl?" Raiden Mei gritted her teeth without realizing it.

Her instincts told her that the girl had noticed her—and that she'd said all that on purpose for Mei to hear!

But just as Raiden Mei's expression darkened, Bronya's voice rang out again.

"Huh? Brother Moqian doesn't have a girlfriend? I think Raiden Mei, your classmate, would be a great match for you. You two seem especially well suited!"

Raiden Mei: "!!!"

Listening to Bronya's lovely voice and looking at her delicate, harmless face, Raiden Mei hesitated.

She looks so innocent. Surely she wouldn't be that calculating? Maybe I'm overthinking it... Raiden Mei thought uncertainly.

Yeah, she looks even more innocent than Kiana. There's no way she's trying to provoke me on purpose, right?

And she just said Su Moqian and I are a perfect match! She really has a good eye!

Thinking that, Raiden Mei calmed down and decided she shouldn't get angry so easily.

There was no harm in a sweet, obedient girl like that spending time with Su Moqian.

Meanwhile, Bronya, who'd been watching Mei's reactions the whole time, looked pleased.

That had only been a little test to gauge the other girl's reaction. For now, she'd keep her calm. The real show was yet to come!

Once she'd finished researching Su Moqian's preferences and knew exactly what he liked, she'd be able to win him over with ease!

And then, in the not-too-distant future...

Raiden Mei would have to watch as she and Su Moqian showed off their affection, while Mei sat alone in a corner, reduced to a mere passerby...

Thinking about it, Bronya couldn't help feeling a little cruel. But she had no choice.

"Sorry, Mei. To rescue Seele, I have to do this!"