After returning from Star Dou Great Forest, life at Eastsea Academy seemed to have returned to its normal rhythm. Class Zero's training was still intense, lunches beneath the ginkgo tree still arrived on time, and Xie Xie still had new flaws pointed out by Lu Menge after every combat class. But Tang Wulin noticed something—Sister Lu had been in an especially good mood lately. Not her usual lazy, effortlessly composed kind of good mood, but a delight she simply could not hide, one that made the corners of her eyes and brows seem to shine. She would suddenly laugh while reviewing training logs, linger a few seconds longer when placing food on Wu Changkong's plate, and even hum an unfamiliar tune while grooming Little White Tiger.
"What's been up with Sister Lu lately?" Tang Wulin asked Gu Yue in a low voice over lunch one day.
Gu Yue picked up a piece of pork rib, her tone calm. "Last week, she asked me which restaurant in Eastsea City would be good for two people to eat at. Not with us—she meant with Teacher Wu. And she asked about the kind of restaurant that required reservations in advance." Tang Wulin froze with his chopsticks suspended in midair and exchanged a look with Gu Yue. The two of them turned at the same time toward Lu Menge, who was placing food onto Wu Changkong's plate beneath the ginkgo tree, then turned back at the same time and tacitly said nothing more.
On Saturday evening, Lu Menge stood before her dormitory wardrobe, holding up a third dress for comparison. Two tops, a pair of pants, a pair of stiletto heels, and a pair of low-heeled ankle boots were already spread across the bed. Little White Tiger lay on the wicker chair, its tail