Leaving the Sanctuary of Surasthana, Luo Qing was ready to head home for some well-earned downtime.
As he passed the Akademiya, a sharp voice suddenly called out behind him.
"Stop right there!"
Turning around, he saw a girl with ash-blue, twin-turbine-like hair standing a few steps away. Her gaze flitted nervously, and her cheeks were dusted with a faint blush.
"You're... Layla?"
Looking at the girl in front of him, a mixture of tsundere shyness written all over her face, Luo Qing was puzzled.
Wasn't she supposed to be scared of him? Why was she suddenly approaching him of her own accord?
"What do you need?"
"I..."
Layla hesitated, fidgeting for a moment before stammering, "I'm ready now..."
"Ready for... what?"
Luo Qing blinked, momentarily bewildered.
Who starts a conversation like that? Ready for what, exactly? Dinner? Bed?
"For the meal I owe you! I can pay it back now..."
Layla's face turned even redder.
For a proud tsundere like her, inviting someone she didn't like out to eat was harder than finishing a thesis.
But Luo Qing was her savior, and she wasn't the type to leave a debt unpaid.
"You're saying... you want to treat me to a meal now?"
"What's the problem? Can't I?" Layla snapped, crossing her arms and puffing up in indignation. "I already booked a table. Once we're done, we're square—no more strings attached!"
Ever since their last meeting, Layla had been planning to properly thank Luo Qing for saving her life. The only way she could think of was treating him to a good meal.
However, as someone who relied on her "outer persona" for day-to-day functioning, Layla had to sneakily hoard Mora whenever she could. She had painstakingly scraped together enough over the past few days to make this happen.
Her plan was simple: invite Luo Qing for a quick meal, thank him properly, then leave as fast as possible and pretend the whole thing never happened.
"..."
Luo Qing was momentarily speechless.
Why did this feel like a breakup dinner?
Should he suggest a "breakup bonus" while he was at it?
"But I already planned to have dinner at home today," Luo Qing said, feigning a conflicted tone.
This wasn't entirely a lie. At her insistence, he had developed the habit of returning home for all three meals unless something urgent came up.
If he skipped lunch to meet with another girl for a meal, he'd probably end up tied to the bed tonight for "disciplinary action."
In the past, it was manageable with just her.
But now, she had reinforcements—Theresa, of all people.
"Home for dinner? Someone cooks for you?"
Layla's instincts immediately went on high alert, catching a potential clue.
"Is it... a man or a woman?"
"Do I look like someone who'd live with another man?"
"..."
"I knew it!"
Layla glared at Luo Qing with a mixture of disdain and alarm, taking half a step back as if he were some kind of predatory beast.
"In that case, why don't we reschedule? That way, I can plan ahead," Luo Qing said casually, deliberately baiting her as he stepped forward, pretending to leave.
"No way! Today's the day! I worked so hard to scrape together the Mora and time!"
Layla moved to block his path, arms spread wide.
Her "outer persona" handled her basic needs, so she didn't have to worry about food or shelter. However, this also meant she had no control over her finances.
To avoid raising suspicion, Layla had been secretly siphoning small amounts of Mora from her "outer persona," hiding it away for weeks just for this meal.
And now, this ungrateful guy dared to decline?
Not happening!
She was determined to see this dinner—no, this thank-you meal—through to the end so she could clear her conscience and prevent Luo Qing from haunting her thoughts any longer.
"You sound... kind of broke."
"..."
"Is that really the point here?!"
Layla was furious.
She was treating him to a meal, and this jerk had the audacity to call her broke?! All her money went toward her research!
Glancing around, she noticed that her animated gestures had drawn the attention of several students in the plaza. They were starting to whisper among themselves.
"Hey, isn't that girl from the Rtawahist School? What's she doing here?"
"She looks familiar... Oh, isn't she that genius scholar? Is she arguing with her boyfriend?"
"Wow, even geniuses date?"
The murmurs made Layla flush in embarrassment.
If this continued, her "outer persona" would have to deal with unwanted gossip and complications.
"Hmph! Whatever. I already invited you. Whether you come or not, I've done my part!"
"And you're okay with leaving it like that?"
"..."
He's doing this on purpose, isn't he?!
Layla's frustration mounted. Luo Qing was so infuriating—what exactly did he want?
"How about this," Luo Qing suggested with a chuckle. "I still have some time before dinner at home. Why don't you help us cook? That can count as your thank-you."
"Huh...?"
Layla hesitated, caught off guard.
Her cooking skills were decent, so making a meal for him seemed like a reasonable way to repay her debt.
"But... I already paid for the reservation..."
"Weren't you planning to spend that Mora anyway? The process is different, but the result's the same."
Luo Qing's tone was light. "So, how about it? Want to come home with me?"
"Wha—stop saying it like that!" Layla hissed, glancing nervously around before lowering her voice. "I'm just cooking for you! Afterward, we're completely square!"
"Alright, alright. No strings attached."
---
Not long after, at Luo Qing's home...
The youthful and slightly flustered Layla stood at the doorway, watching as Luo Qing inserted the key into the lock, turned it, and slowly pushed the door open.
Glancing around cautiously, she quickly followed him inside.
The moment she stepped in, a gentle, feminine voice greeted them.
"You're back already? That's earlier than usual."
Turning toward the source of the voice, Layla spotted two women sitting on the living room sofa.
Both had violet hair and eyes, but their demeanors were vastly different. One had long hair cascading to her waist, exuding elegance and a regal aura. The other had a short, spunky hairstyle, her lively gaze brimming with mischief.
As Layla entered, both women turned their attention to her.
"Luo Qing, and who might this be?"
The long-haired woman rose gracefully, her hands clasped in front of her as she approached Layla.
"T-Two of you?!"
Layla stammered, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of the long-haired woman, whose gaze felt ancient and commanding—as if she were a deity.
"I-I'm Layla. I came to... to thank Luo Qing for saving my life by cooking him a meal..."
Layla's voice wavered. This woman wasn't just a girlfriend; she radiated the aura of an empress.
"A meal?"
The regal woman's piercing gaze shifted to Luo Qing, her expression seemingly amused.
So, you've already started bringing girls home, huh?
"And why didn't I hear about this earlier?"
"Ahem. I just found out myself," Luo Qing replied, attempting to placate her. "She originally wanted to take me out, but you insisted I come home for lunch."
"Oh?"
The woman's eyes swept over Layla appraisingly, her presence almost suffocating.
At that moment, Luo Qing truly felt the oppressive power of a legitimate wife's aura.
Even he was starting to feel the pressure.
This was clearly someone who had read too many novels about harems and power struggles.
---
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