"You're right. It was definitely your imagination!"
(ì_í)
Annie said firmly. Then, to make herself sound more convincing, she hurriedly added:
"It's probably because you feel close to me, since I saved your life!"
(`)~
"So you've come to feel fond of my bear because you're fond of me?"
(.)
"Exactly! That's it!"
(⊙⊙)
"Don't let its appearance fool you. It's really ferocious!"
o(｀ー)o
"It's the kind of monster that... strips young ladies like you bare and tosses you straight into its mouth, then chews you up with a 'crunch, crunch'—one bite, and you won't make another peep. It's super scary!"
(˙o˙)
As she spoke, she flailed her arms like a monster, trying to make her story more convincing.
"..."
Lin Daiyu wasn't stupid.
The more she listened to Annie's increasingly exaggerated, hole-riddled account and saw how Annie was clearly feeling guilty and trying to act calm, the more suspicious she became.
Fortunately, she had been sensitive and perceptive since childhood, and exceptionally clever. How could she not see that Annie was being evasive?
Still, Annie had saved her life. Since Annie didn't want to say more, Lin Daiyu neither wanted to nor dared to contradict her or press the matter.
So!
She obediently nodded, then replied softly:
"Perhaps... you're right."
"I suppose I was mistaken."
Even so, her bright eyes couldn't help flicking toward the bear again. That inexplicable sense of closeness and familiarity still lingered in her heart, impossible to shake.
"..."
(｀)
Annie didn't care about all that. Seeing that Lin Daiyu wasn't asking any more questions, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, carefully tucked Tibbers back onto her waist, and quietly decided she would have to hide him better whenever Lin Daiyu was around.
At the same time, she was already plotting how to punish