The Campus Belle's Homemade Treats

"Did you notice any areas where I fell short?"

Lin Qianqian asked casually.

Before they started, she had told Zhou Fan that she wanted his advice.

If she was going to put on an act, she had to see it through.

She still had to ask, at least for appearances' sake.

Of course, she didn't think there was anything wrong with her performance.

Nor did she believe Zhou Fan could actually spot any problems.

At her question, Zhou Fan actually fell silent and began to think.

Then he said, "You have quite a few problems."

"Your physical conditioning is poor, and your reactions are too slow. Although your [Divine Paper Art] is powerful, your attacks are fairly one-dimensional. There isn't enough variety..."

Zhou Fan pointed out her problems one by one.

Lin Qianqian's expression darkened little by little.

Wait.

I was just asking out of politeness.

You're seriously giving me pointers???

"I'm not a Taijutsu Esper. Isn't it normal for me to be weak at Taijutsu?"

"For anyone else, that would be understandable. Different types of superpowers have different focuses, after all. But you have an S-Rank Superpower, so you should hold yourself to a higher standard. Even if you aren't a Taijutsu Esper, you should still train harder in Taijutsu," Zhou Fan said.

"Otherwise, when you face a Taijutsu Esper, you'll be in serious danger if they get close."

He was being serious.

Their fight just now had shown him how severely lacking Lin Qianqian was in Taijutsu.

This was also one of the weaknesses shared by most Espers who didn't specialize in Taijutsu.

Lin Qianqian said, "I'm not afraid of Taijutsu Espers."

She had [Paper Transformation], so Taijutsu Espers were the last people she feared.

Zhou Fan was seriously underestimating her.

Zhou Fan said, "I'm just offering advice based on your actual situation. Whether you believe me is up to you."

He didn't elaborate.

Lin Qianqian was the one who had come to him for advice in the first place.

Now he had given it. Whether she listened was her own business.

Lin Qianqian said, "..."

"...Thank you for the advice."

Although she really wanted to leave right then and there, the system's task forced her to stay.

"If you don't mind... I'd like to keep coming to you for advice on Taijutsu training. Would that be okay?" she said.

Now she had to find an excuse to keep asking Zhou Fan for guidance.

She had to do it for at least three days to complete the system's punishment.

"Do you genuinely want my advice?" Zhou Fan's expression turned a little peculiar.

Mostly, it was because nothing about the way Lin Qianqian was acting suggested that she sincerely wanted his guidance.

"Obviously."

"Lin Qianqian, do you mind if I ask you something unrelated?" Zhou Fan said.

"What?"

"Did you lose at truth or dare, then pick dare, and that's why you came to me?" Zhou Fan voiced his suspicions.

He really thought Lin Qianqian was acting strangely.

The contrast was too jarring!

It didn't quite fit her image as the "aloof Campus Belle."

Lin Qianqian said, "..."

In a sense, Zhou Fan wasn't wrong.

She had indeed lost, which was why she had no choice but to come to him and do this.

Of course, she couldn't reveal the system's existence.

"No... I really do want your advice. It's just that you pointed out so many flaws that I couldn't take it all in at once..." Lin Qianqian said.

That was half true and half false.

She didn't sincerely want Zhou Fan's advice.

But having him point out so many problems really had been more than she could accept all at once.

"I learned a lot from our sparring session today. Thank you."

"I brought you something as a little token of thanks for your effort."

Lin Qianqian took out the box of treats she had brought with her.

"What's this?" Zhou Fan looked suspicious.

"They're... treats I made myself. Try one." Her voice was soft, and she seemed afraid to look at Zhou Fan's reaction.

It wasn't because she was shy.

It was because she felt mortified.

Giving someone treats she had made with her own hands... that was simply too embarrassing for her.

"You made them yourself?" Zhou Fan frowned.

Something's wrong.

This is beyond suspicious!

He caught a whiff of danger.

The aloof Campus Belle giving him homemade treats... it sounded rather romantic.

Yet Zhou Fan had a faint sense of foreboding.

Could there be some kind of trap inside this box?

Like a spider or a snake jumping out the moment I open it.

He was a little afraid to open it.

"What's with that look? You don't believe me?" Seeing Zhou Fan's expression, Lin Qianqian immediately grew displeased.

She had made these treats herself!

"Ahem... Of course I believe you."

Still doubtful, Zhou Fan opened the box.

A burnt smell hit him in the face.

There weren't any treats in the box, just pieces of some unidentified substance burned pitch-black!

"Are these... really treats?" Zhou Fan's brow furrowed even deeper.

Will I actually survive eating this stuff?

"Of course I made them myself. They took quite a lot of effort."

"Try one and see if you like it," Lin Qianqian said.

Zhou Fan said, "..."

Looking at the contents of the box, he couldn't bring himself to reach for them.

In the end, reasoning that he had no grudge with Lin Qianqian and she probably wouldn't poison him, he picked up a small, blackened treat and put it in his mouth.

"How is it?" Lin Qianqian watched him with a hint of anticipation.

Although she had been very reluctant to make treats for Zhou Fan,

these were the first treats she had ever made herself, which gave them special significance.

Zhou Fan was also the first person to taste her homemade treats.

Deep down, she still looked forward to hearing his opinion.

Zhou Fan regretted it the instant he put the treat in his mouth.

He mentally reviewed every bad thing he had done lately.

I haven't offended Lin Qianqian, have I?

If he had to name one possible occasion, it was when they had helped the Esper Bureau complete that mission. Lin Qianqian had seemed a little unhappy then.

But surely such a minor incident wouldn't make her hold a grudge this long and drive her to poison Zhou Fan??

That single treat made Zhou Fan remember every bad thing he had ever done in his life.

"It tastes... okay, right?" Lin Qianqian waited nervously for his verdict.

Then-

"Bleurgh!"

Zhou Fan couldn't hold back anymore and spat out every bit of the treat.

Lin Qianqian's expression changed instantly.

Zhou Fan said, "Lin Qianqian, I admit I might have accidentally upset you somehow back in the Chaos Secret Realm. I apologize."

"If you're angry with me, just say so. You don't have to torture me like this. I know I was wrong."

He apologized sincerely.

There was no helping it.

He simply couldn't stomach this blessing.

The aloof Campus Belle's homemade treats... tasted absolutely awful!

"I'm not angry. I really did make these treats myself."

"Do they really... taste that bad?"