Saying I Like You

3 PM, Piltover Council Building.

The circular building at the very top pierced the clouds. Through the glass exterior, one could see the continuously flashing blue Hex Gates and the bustling Piltover harbor with its endless stream of ships. White doves flew by under the bright sun.

At the council round table, white light shone down from the dome. Mel, clad in golden attire, occupied a seat. Not far from her sat a tall, robust, and handsome young man in white.

To Mel's left sat council members from various families.

As a newly appointed councilor, Jayce Talis, though young, had become an influential figure in the council thanks to his Hextech patents.

No one dared to underestimate him, even if he was a political novice, knowing nothing and understanding less.

But his close relationships with Mel Medarda and Councillor Giramann were common knowledge.

He had received support from the Giramann Family, was now on good terms with the Medarda Family, and was a beloved disciple of Professor Heimerdinger. Naturally, he had become a sought-after figure among the councilors, a future leader—no, this was no longer the future, but reality.

Among Piltover's eight councilors, three were on good terms with Jayce Talis. Coupled with Jayce himself being a councilor, it was only natural that, without Jayce even realizing it, he had formed a faction and become a leader of this city-state.

At the far left of the round table, a councilor with a sharp, thin face and fair skin suddenly raised his hand and spoke loudly, "Everyone, I recently learned some things about the Undercity."

"The Undercity? Haven't they been quite peaceful lately?"

"Peaceful? Councillor Hoskall, when you say peaceful, are you referring to the incident where one of our buildings was bombed and Hextech Gems mysteriously disappeared, never to be recovered? Or are you referring to the port attack where Enforcers were killed and the culprits still haven't been found?" Councillor Saro said, rolling his eyes.

"But wasn't the bombing of the building an accident?" Hoskall scratched his cheek, his beard puffing out.

"An accident?" Saro was even more speechless. "How could you possibly think that was an accident?"

"Actually, I also think it's time we dealt with Zaun," another councilor chimed in. His name was Borborok, and judging by his appearance, it was impossible to tell he was human.

With a deep, resonant voice, he continued, "Glow is poisoning Piltover. I saw many of our people using that stuff at the recent ball."

At these words, Saro suddenly flinched and leaned back.

But he quickly straightened up and said, "Councillor Borborok is right, which is why I propose it's time we controlled Zaun."

"The messes they create, we end up cleaning up after them. So why not just handle it cleanly? It'll be good for everyone, won't it?" Saro said with a smile.

Heimerdinger clasped his small hands together, looking from one side to the other. Then, he tapped the table and said, "I disagree. We've been too fragmented for too long. The original intention of this city was to be a beacon of enlightenment, independent of a world ruled by power and the pursuit of fame and fortune.

But look at us now: indulging in pleasure, complacent in comfort, relaxing our moral constraints, trading genuine credibility for false prestige. We were once united, but now, we are nothing but a pile of loose sand."

Heimerdinger continued, "Therefore, I do not agree with suppressing Zaun. We should guide them, help them change, shouldn't we?"

Saro frowned upon hearing this and exchanged glances with two councilors at the table.

"I support it," a councilor was the first to raise her hand. She wore a strange iron ring around her neck, and her raised hand made Mel look at her in surprise.

"I support it too." Saro raised his hand.

Borborok raised his hand next.

Seeing Saro and Borborok looking at him, Hoskall followed suit and raised his hand.

"Councillor Giramann, what do you think?" Saro looked at the middle-aged woman in the room.

"I do not agree. Our conflict with the Bottom City is already great enough. Suppressing them and cracking down on Zaun at this time is not a good thing. Moreover," Giramann glanced at Mel and shook her head.

Noxus has come to Piltover, and we are still thinking about internal strife?

Of course, Giramann agreed that Zaun could be dealt with after the Noxians left.

As Borborok said, Glow was poisoning the Bottom City, and it had now spread to the Upper City.

Mel lowered her eyes, remaining silent.

She, Councillor Giramann, and Heimerdinger had all expressed their stances.

But at this moment, a hand was raised.

Mel's head shot up, and she looked at the person who raised their hand, asking in surprise, "Jayce?"

"I support it." Jayce stood up.

"Jayce, how could you—"

"Enough, Professor." Jayce looked at Heimerdinger and continued, "Glow is rampant in the Bottom City, causing disaster. Thugs attacked the Upper City, killed Enforcers, and blew up buildings and the port. Now the Enforcers don't even dare to go to Black Alley!"

"I'm sorry, Professor, but pretty words are not enough to govern this city. You have repeatedly warned everyone about what lines cannot be crossed, but I have to ask, what solution can you offer?"

Heimerdinger was stunned and looked at Jayce blankly, saying, "How can you speak like that?"

Jayce looked at the councillors, a flicker of pain crossing his face, but then he became resolute.

He couldn't back down. Viktor couldn't wait any longer.

"I support cracking down on Zaun, controlling Glow, and fighting criminals." Jayce placed his hands on the table and then loudly added, "At the same time, I think we should let the founder who has dedicated himself to this city and deserves it retire in peace."

"This requires the consent of all councillors."

"!"

Ms. Giramann's face showed a hint of panic. She raised her hand, clenched it into a fist, and looked at Heimerdinger with her mouth open, then at the others.

The other councillors exchanged glances.

Mel looked at Jayce. Seeing his determined eyes, she bit her lip.

She knew why Jayce had done it.

Looking at the scene, apart from Heimerdinger, whose ears drooped as he looked at Jayce dejectedly, the other councilors hesitated. Mel hesitated for a long time before raising her hand.

"Snap!"

The spotlight shone down. As Mel raised her hand, one by one, other hands followed.

Finally, Jayce raised his hand.

Heimerdinger's pupils contracted, and he looked at Jayce emotionally.

But Jayce kept his head down, not daring to look at Heimerdinger.

Zaun, In the Hope Community, which could be described as flourishing, Li Ke was sitting in front of a mirror. Behind him, Jinx grabbed his hair and was styling it, tying it all up. Then she put a hat on Li Ke.

"What do you think of this hat?" Jinx asked.

"I don't think it's very good, Jinx." Li Ke looked at himself in the mirror and gave a wry smile.

Bad. He had become Jinx's toy.

She was no longer satisfied with just playing with Isha.

"How could it not be good?"

Jinx slung an arm over Li Ke's shoulder and casually flicked the hat on Li Ke's head with her other hand, saying with a grin, "This was made by me and Isha. Press this button, see? This button is for poison mist. After pressing this button, glasses will pop out to cover your eyes, providing night vision. And there's this button, Li Ke, this button is my favorite!"

As she spoke, Jinx pressed it.

"Ta-da~~~" she exclaimed dramatically beside him, spreading her arms wide. If she had a party popper, she definitely would have set it off.

She bent down and leaned beside Li Ke, looking at Li Ke in the mirror, chattering:

"Cute cat ears!"

"I love this so much!"

Li Ke looked in the mirror.

Inside, it was him wearing a blue hat. On either side of the hat, a pair of large cat ears had popped out, looking very cute. On the front, there were drawings Jinx and Isha had made together—three simple smiley faces drawn with crayons, each with an exaggerated expression: one blue, one brown, and one black.

Li Ke recognized them. They represented Jinx, Isha, and himself, respectively.

"Say you like it!" Seeing Li Ke's silence, Jinx pouted and pulled at Li Ke's cheeks with her hands, lifting them up as she said.

"Okay, I like it very much. Thank you, Jinx."

Jinx immediately turned back, meeting Isha's gaze.

The big one and the small one both started laughing.

Li Ke touched his Hat, and also started laughing.

Forget it, it's just wearing a Hat. Although it's Cute, it'll feel strange wearing it.

But, this is Jinx's kind gesture.

Li Ke pulled the Hat down a bit further.