“Not to say anything, but Liuli, you’re really too whipped. Do you have to ask Serveyia for permission on everything? If that’s the case, you’re really going to end up wrapped around her little finger.”
“No, it’s just that I don’t have her contact info either. This was our first meeting.”
“Really? First meeting and you already accepted her request? Liuli, I feel like one day you’ll be sold and still be counting the money for them. Serveyia, you should keep an eye on her. If she really does get sold one day, you’ll regret it too late!”
“As much as I don’t like you, Yike, I have to admit you’re right. But what the little fox does is her own business. With me around, no one can really trick her.”
“Fine, this is between you two. So, can you give me that person’s contact info now?”
“Of course. But let me warn you, Yiselinzhuo can be stubborn about some things. If possible, please be a little careful when you talk to her.”
“I understand. People like that are all the same—they have a sick obsession with their race’s specialties. If they keep that attitude, how are they supposed to sell anything?”
“That’s why I’m telling you not to be too direct.” Serveyia gave Yike a helpless glance. “After all, it’s their race’s matter. In other words, if Yiselinzhuo’s attitude or reaction displeases you, there’s no need to say it outright.”
“I get it, I get it. I know this kind of social etiquette. If you’re that worried, Serveyia, why not teach Liuli instead? I think she needs to learn noble etiquette more than I do.”
“Huh? How did the topic come back to me?”
‘I was just spacing out and eating melon for a bit, and the topic comes back to me?’
“Because you’re a princess now, Liuli. You’re not that college guy anymore. The people you meet and the problems you have to deal with are completely different now. So you have to make some changes too.”
“Mm, I’ve been studying, actually…”
Although she had been studying, Liuli knew these things weren’t easy to learn.
If she could master in just two or three months what others took an entire childhood to learn and master, wouldn’t that be a laughingstock?
“It’s good that you’re studying. As the princess of St. Laia, everyone will forgive you even if you make mistakes, but honestly, being charmingly clumsy is different from being charmingly smart. The feeling they give people is different too. I believe you’d prefer to be the latter, right?”
“W-Well, naturally.”
“Anyway, this isn’t something I should be saying. Serveyia must know better than I do. For a country’s princess to stoop to being your maid, Liuli, you really are lucky in romance.”
‘Mm, can this really be called romantic fortune?’
Liuli looked uncertainly at Yike, then at Serveyia. She didn’t understand why Yike was so bold, daring to say anything in front of Serveyia.
“Also, I don’t know what birthday gift you want, Liuli, so I prepared one based on my own ideas. I hope you like it.”
Yike placed a gift box in Liuli’s hands. It was very light. Honestly, Liuli had no idea what was inside, so out of curiosity, she opened the box. Inside was only a slip of paper that read “Pass.”
“What kind of pass is this?”
“A pass to the Fox Tribe. With this, you can enter Fox territory unimpeded, even some normally forbidden areas. It’s a rare honor.”
“Thank you. I didn’t expect you to get such a precious gift.”
“No need to thank me. I couldn’t have gotten something this valuable on my own. It’s actually a greeting gift from the elder to you.”
“Yike, you don’t actually think this counts as a birthday gift, do you?”
Before Liuli could say anything, Serveyia spoke up. It seemed they really liked bickering.
“Hmph, that was just from our elder. Liuli, take another look—isn’t there something small underneath?”
Hearing Yike’s words, Liuli curiously examined the bottom of the box and indeed found a USB drive.
“What’s on this USB drive?”
“That’s the real treat. I know you like games, so this drive contains all the setting collections, art books, and things like that for every game I could find on the market. So, is it a rare treasure or what?”
“Really? I really like this gift. Thank you, Yike.”
This thanks wasn’t just politeness. Liuli genuinely liked the gift Yike had given her, and she believed any gamer couldn’t refuse it.
The price was secondary; what mattered more was the effort put into preparing it.
Popular games were one thing—spending a bit more money could get you various secondhand collections. But for niche games, even with money, it might not be easy to get the setting collections.
“Hehe, my gift is more thoughtful than someone else’s, isn’t it?”
Yike shot Serveyia a taunting expression. Honestly, Liuli wondered why Yike showed such pure dissatisfaction toward Serveyia.
“Oh? So Miss Yike wants to compete over whose gift suits the little fox’s taste better?”
“What, is Serveyia scared?”
“Not scared, just think it would be too unfair to you. I’m planning to cosplay for the little fox—the character she likes most from her favorite game. Do you really think you can beat me, Yike?”
“You—you—you!” Yike’s face suddenly turned bright red, as if she had thought of something. “How can you do something so shameless!”
Liuli found it strange. When she and Yike were classmates, although they didn’t talk nonsense all the time, it was normal for guys to discuss some lewd topics.
Back then, Yike wasn’t this shy. Why was she blushing like this now?
“Oh? Just a normal cosplay, and I’ve checked the outfit—nothing scandalous. Why is Yike making such a face? Could it be that Yike thinks I’d cosplay some indecent character?”
“Hmph!”
Yike clearly looked flustered. Being choked up by Serveyia’s words didn’t feel good, and it seemed she didn’t know how to retort, which made her even angrier.
“If—if it’s cosplay, I can do it too!”
“Oh, really? I’m curious to see what lengths Yike would go to for the little fox.”
“Hmph, just you wait!”
After dropping that threat, Yike left unhappily, not even giving Liuli a chance to say goodbye.
“Serveyia, don’t you think you went too far?”
“Did I? I don’t think so, little fox.”
“And what was that last line? Why did you use the aggressive persuasion method to provoke Yike?”
“Don’t you want to see Yike in cosplay?”
“Well, I do want to see it, but did you have to do it that way?”
“Little fox, if you say that, I’ll get jealous, you know.”
Serveyia leaned close to her ear and whispered that sentence. Just that one line made Liuli jolt and obediently shut her mouth.
“Besides, haven’t you noticed, little fox? Yike’s feelings for you seem quite different.”
“A-Are they? We’re just normal friends, right? At most, sworn brothers?”
“Should I say you’re too dense, little fox? The way Yike looks at you is practically dripping with emotion, and you still think it’s just friendship? Honestly, if I hadn’t come along, I’m afraid one day she’d trick you into bed. And even at the last step, you’d probably still think it was a joke.”
“Is—is it that bad?”
“That’s why I’m really worried about you, little fox. That’s also why I won’t let you near those bad women. With your innocent and naive personality, how could I feel at ease?”
“Uh, let’s get back to Yike. If that’s the case, why did you let her cosplay?”
In other words, if she knew the other party was her love rival, why give her a chance to show off?
“I told you, little fox. As the princess of St. Laia, it’s normal for many people to like you. But some people’s fondness is shallow—they’ll back off at the first sign of difficulty. Others are more serious. I need to confirm what level Yike’s liking is at.”
“But, Serveyia, don’t you dislike her?”
“I do dislike her. But compared to those unknown bad women, Yike is at least someone I know something about. And I know her place in your heart. Giving a little face and opportunity is also a good way to show my magnanimity, isn’t it?”
“Uh, you didn’t have to say all that, Serveyia. Now I don’t know how to respond…”
“You don’t need to respond. Little fox, you only need to know that it’s normal for me to be unhappy, but for you, your feelings are more important. In other words, as long as you like it, you don’t need to consider my feelings. However, if I’m unhappy, I’ll come to you to settle the score, you know.”