Mina continued, "Do you want to join Yuto Saito's team?"
Hu Tuan'er hesitated for a moment before responding, "I do, but... I'm just an ordinary person without any awakened abilities. I'm afraid Yuto Saito will think I'm useless. He's surrounded by people like Ni Shuang and Mina, and so many other talented beauties. I don't stand a chance. What could I possibly offer?"
Hearing Hu Tuan'er's vulnerable confession, Mina, Ruoruo, and Orange shared a glance, their earlier teasing replaced with understanding. They hadn't realized how deeply Hu Tuan'er admired Yuto Saito, or how much her lack of special abilities made her feel inferior.
Ruoruo, ever the mischievous one, grinned and asked, "So, if you joined Yuto Saito's team and he asked you to be his wife, would you?"
Hu Tuan'er blushed slightly but replied honestly, "Of course I would! He's exactly my type—strong, capable, and protective. I'd feel safe with him around. Just today, I saw a huge spider and nearly freaked out. With someone like Yuto Saito, I wouldn't have to worry about anything like that."
Ruoruo giggled, sticking her tongue out playfully. "Looks like Sister Yun has some competition."
Mina asked a few more questions before releasing Hu Tuan'er from her charm spell. The moment it lifted, Hu Tuan'er's dazed expression cleared, and she blinked in confusion. "Wait... it's over? Why can't I remember anything?"
Mina offered her a gentle smile. "You'll find out in due time. For now, rest assured that your answers were satisfactory. I'll discuss it with Yuto Saito. Go back and wait for our decision."
Hu Tuan'er stood, her long, snow-white legs catching everyone's attention as she awkwardly thanked them. "Thank you, Sister Mina, Orange, Ruoruo. I'll head out now."
Once she left, Ruoruo sighed wistfully. "Hu Tuan'er's legs are just... wow."
Orange nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she's so tall."
Mina gestured toward Orange. "Bring in Rice Noodles next."
Orange complied, stepping out to call Rice Noodles in. When she entered, Nako followed and took a seat nearby. Mina quickly used her charm spell again, and Rice Noodles' eyes glazed over, falling under her control.
Mina's tone shifted slightly as she asked, "Rice Noodles, have you ever been in a relationship?"
Surprising everyone, Rice Noodles calmly responded, "Yes, I have."
The room collectively raised their eyebrows. This revelation lowered Rice Noodles' chances of joining the team, as her past romantic experience made her less desirable for certain roles. Mina, however, continued her questioning. "When was that?"
Rice Noodles answered without hesitation, "During my sophomore year."
Mina leaned forward. "Tell us about your boyfriend."
"He was Ye Hao from the photography department. During my second year, my father had a serious car accident, and my family needed a large sum of money for the medical bills. Ye Hao pursued me around that time, and I came up with an idea to make money. I started modeling in sexy outfits, and Ye Hao helped take the photos. We sold them as photo albums to raise money for my father's treatment."
The air in the room softened with understanding. Rice Noodles wasn't selling photos for attention; she had done it out of filial duty. Mina, who had initially judged her harshly for selling pictures, now saw her in a different light.
Ruoruo, recording the conversation on her phone, asked the next question. "How far did things go between you and Ye Hao?"
Rice Noodles' response was measured. "We only held hands. He knew about my family situation and never pushed me to do anything I wasn't comfortable with."
Everyone in the room exhaled, relieved by her answer. It seemed Rice Noodles might still have a shot at joining Yuto Saito's team after all.
Orange, now more curious than judgmental, asked, "What have you done against your will?"
Rice Noodles replied quietly, "Taking those pictures for LSP fans. I hated it, but it was the quickest way to raise the medical bills for my dad. I'm just a student. My credit card limit was too low, and when I tried to borrow money, some male friends offered but only if I... well, you know. I couldn't do that. So, I sold the photos instead."
Nako, silent until now, interjected, "And your boyfriend? Ye Hao didn't help?"
Rice Noodles shook her head. "His family is just as ordinary as mine. He could only offer 10,000 yuan, which wasn't even close to covering the 300,000 yuan surgery cost."
Mina pressed on, "So, if you join Yuto Saito's team, would you be willing to farm for us if we provided food and housing?"
Rice Noodles didn't hesitate. "Yes, I'd be happy to. I grew up farming with my parents. I know how to do it."
Orange squinted, taking in Rice Noodles' flawless skin. "But your skin... it doesn't look like someone who farmed."
Rice Noodles chuckled softly. "Our land was requisitioned in high school for a commercial street. That's when I stopped farming. My skin cleared up over time."
Satisfied with her answers, Mina nodded. "Alright, you can leave now. We'll let you know the decision soon."
As Rice Noodles exited the dorm, Mina, Orange, and Ruoruo exchanged thoughtful glances. Even if she didn't make it into the combat team, she could certainly be useful in other ways.