Jun Yi returned to his Palace, the emotion in his eyes gradually fading until they were as still as an ancient well once more, his expression indifferent. Shrouded in shadow, he spoke with his usual coldness:
"As expected, the sooner the better. This boring game of pretend has lost all meaning. Tch, this seal really is a nuisance."
A trace of impatience and exhaustion showed on his usually impassive face...
Meanwhile, things went remarkably smoothly for Pupula in the Human World. As soon as she arrived at Andromeda Park, she made her way to the vicinity of Xia Mu's research institute. Pinpricks of starlight shimmered in her hand, and a flash of light appeared inside the building before vanishing. By the time she finished, Lily, who was considerably slower than her, had also arrived in the Human World.
Sensing the familiar presence, she gave a faint smile, and her figure slowly disappeared. Not long after she vanished, the plant Xia Mu was studying inside suddenly withered. Its withering interrupted his research. Resigned, he stood up, glanced out the window, picked up an umbrella, and left the institute.
Even after he left, his voice could still be faintly heard:
"What on earth happened? Why did the plant wither...?"
As though someone had heard him, silvery laughter rang out from a corner. In that deserted spot, the sound was jarringly out of place, carrying a hint of eeriness that inspired an inexplicable fear...
Compared with Pupula, Lily had a much rougher arrival in the Human World.
She was drenched from head to toe, holding an odd-looking white cat in her arms. Even soaking wet, she was no less beautiful.
Water glistened on her hair, as dark as aquatic weeds. Her skirt was still full, a testament to its fine quality, but the wet fabric clung around her waist, outlining its curves. Her blue-and-white dress and hair accessories were soaked, yet they only made her look gentler and more beautiful.
She stirred an inexplicable desire in others to draw closer.
Xia Mu was no exception. He walked over almost involuntarily, abandoning even the research plant he had just found. Once he was close, he asked shyly, "Miss, do you need an umbrella?"
Even as he spoke, he had already moved the umbrella to shelter Lily from the rain. She noticed his little gesture and smiled gently, accepting his offer and following him to the research institute.
Back at the institute, Xia Mu saw the withered specimen and only then remembered that he had gone out to find a new research sample. How had he forgotten to bring it back?
He sighed, and the little yellow puffball on his head sighed along with him. Still, he stole a glance at Lily. She was the best thing he had brought back.
Lily also noticed the specimen on the lab bench and gave Xia Mu a questioning look. He held his right fist beside the well and coughed lightly twice, not daring to meet her eyes as he explained:
"I was going to find a new sample... but after what happened, I forgot."
Lily froze for a moment, then a blush spread across her face like the glow of sunset, vivid yet lovely. The cat, whose white neck looked as though it had a scarf wrapped around it, slept peacefully in her arms, occasionally letting out a meow. It was a heartwarming sight...
Outside, Pupula dropped her invisibility and watched the scene. She traced a speck of white light with her fingertip. It floated indoors and settled on the withered specimen, restoring its vitality. The two inside noticed only that the plant was brimming with life again.
Xia Mu smiled at Lily:
"Look, it's happy you're here. Now that you've come, it's full of life again."
Lily thought nothing more of it, assuming that her flower fairy aura had revived the plant. She failed to notice the trace of magic emanating from it. She should have sensed it, but all her attention was on Xia Mu, so that small anomaly escaped her notice.
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