When they first arrived at the arcade, Yang Mo was already eyeing the dance machine at the entrance with obvious longing.
After they played for a while, the people occupying the machine finally left, giving them a chance to try it out.
It was perfect—the machine supported two players competing at once.
For Qian Ling, this was the ideal stage for a showdown, so as soon as Yang Mo stepped up, she took her place beside her.
Yang Mo hadn’t thought much of it; seeing Qian Ling willing to play with her made her expression brighten with delight.
“Qian Ling, it’s your first time playing, right? Remember, the rhythm of the music is important. If you rely too much on the visuals, you’ll end up flustered.”
She thoughtfully explained her tips for playing, but Qian Ling didn’t really pay attention.
It’s a game that uses your body—how could I possibly lose?
As she was thinking this, the music’s prelude began to play, officially starting the game.
Just like with most of these machines, various blocks continuously fell down the screen in front of the stage.
Depending on where and what type of block appeared, players had to step in the designated spot and make the right movements, allowing the sensor modules under the stage to convert their actions into data to determine the score.
Qian Ling was most familiar with machines that had buttons on stage, but this one registered pressure across the whole platform and had cameras to track arm movements. Still, she had never actually played any of them before.
At first, both the music and the pace of falling blocks were quite relaxed, and she felt at ease, like she was just doing some gentle stretches—but this didn’t last long.
Once the music sped up, the blocks fell faster, with increasingly bizarre combinations of foot placements, “hold” mechanics, and the occasional swinging movement thrown in, which genuinely surprised Qian Ling.
“Huh? Here first, then there… and then there?”
Stepping over, sidestepping, retreating, smoothly sliding her feet and stomping in rhythm.
Qian Ling desperately tried to keep up with the blocks, but only ended up even more flustered, her body threatening to twist up like a pretzel several times.
And since she was a doll, if she wasn’t careful, some of her joints could really flip the wrong way.
To avoid that, she had to spend extra energy controlling her body, to the point she didn’t even notice her own score.
When the music ended, Qian Ling propped up her tired body and saw a huge “C+” displayed on the screen.
No surprise there—with all those misses and goods, it was inevitable.
On the other side of the screen, Yang Mo’s score was “A”.
“How did you do that?”
She turned to Yang Mo, who hooked her finger under her chin, looking a bit puzzled by the question.
“Just play a few more times, that’s all? It’s not my first time, after all.”
Then she quickly tried to comfort Qian Ling: “Qian Ling, it’s amazing that you got that score your very first try.”
“Even so, compared to your score, it’s still a crushing defeat.”
“Don’t focus so much on winning or losing! It’s important to take the game seriously, but even more important to enjoy it!”
Hearing Yang Mo’s open-minded words, Qian Ling fell silent.
“……”
Even her attitude towards playing games is better than mine… Maybe she’s right, maybe focusing on winning and losing was the wrong approach from the start.
Thinking this, she decided to do as Yang Mo said: give up on pointless competitiveness and simply enjoy the process.
Later, at a big table with a built-in screen, they played a fishing game.
Even when Qian Ling reeled in the line at a speed far beyond ordinary people, the fish still slipped away. After several tries, she realized effort didn’t really matter in this game.
There was also a bowling game.
There weren’t real pins inside the machine; the balls knocked down 3D models on a screen.
This one was right in Qian Ling’s comfort zone—what she was best at was adjusting her movements and strength.
After a couple tries, she could consistently knock down all the pins.
Yang Mo exclaimed, “Wow… Qian Ling, you’re totally pro-level!”
But Qian Ling knew the only reason she could do it was because the game had its limitations.
She told Yang Mo, “It’s just because this game’s pretty simple. If it were real bowling, knocking down pins involves way more variables.”
Then Yang Mo gave it a shot, and after a few throws, managed a strike.
“Ah, seriously, I’ve never played before—I didn’t think it’d be this easy.”
The two of them tried out every attraction, spent all their tokens, and by then it was already lunchtime.
To avoid getting their new clothes dirty while eating, Qian Ling and Yang Mo went back to the clothing store and changed back into their usual outfits.
Walking through the center of the mall, Qian Ling carefully observed her surroundings, and could still feel the occasional gaze directed at her, though not as much as before.
See, two attention-grabbers together really are more conspicuous than one!
Of course, it might also be because that outfit earlier was even more eye-catching than a maid uniform…
As she was still mulling over these things, Yang Mo spoke up: “Qian Ling, what do you want for lunch?”
Qian Ling wasn’t familiar with the mall’s food options, so she replied, “I don’t know, whatever you want.”
“How about burgers?”
“Sure.”
“Alright, it’s settled.”
Seeing Yang Mo’s cheerful enthusiasm, Qian Ling thought back to her eating habits at home.
So she really is a fan of junk food.
Yet Yang Mo had a slender figure, and Qian Ling couldn’t figure out where all those calories went.
Right after they settled on lunch, Yang Mo’s stomach let out a loud “gurgle~”.
“Hehe…”
She laughed awkwardly.
Just as Qian Ling was about to tease her, the mood in the air suddenly shifted.
Unease, agitation, a greasy, sticky discomfort prickled across her skin.
Yang Mo’s expression turned instantly alert, her gaze meeting Qian Ling’s at the same time.
“Qian Ling, it’s a Bad Fiend’s aura—do you feel it?”
“Yeah, and it’s a big one. Maybe because so many people have had a good time here, now’s the perfect time for them to reap some ‘regret’.”
That was the “Regret Bad Fiend’s” innate habit, born from the gaps in people’s hearts and sustained by creating new ones.
The magical energy generated when people fall from satisfaction into regret became their food, as if they were stealing a piece of someone’s heart to fill the void within themselves.
Yang Mo shifted to face the direction the magic was leaking from, frowning but showing no trace of fear or anxiety.
“I’ll fight it.”
Her voice was resolute. She turned to Qian Ling and said, “Qian Ling, you should—”
“I’ll cover you.”
Qian Ling’s words were always interrupted by Yang Mo; this time, she tried interrupting Yang Mo for once.
“I’m a battle doll, and today’s the first time I’ve gotten to use my real skills. Are you really going to steal this rare moment of glory from me?”
She raised her index finger and gave Yang Mo a heartfelt scolding, making Yang Mo’s stern composure immediately crumble.
“Hehe~ Sorry! Alright, I’ll leave support to you.”
Like always, Yang Mo lifted her sleeve to her mouth and let out a soft laugh.
Qian Ling added, “But the main work is still up to you. Even if I have stealth magic, I can’t just brazenly fight a Bad Fiend in front of everyone.”
Yang Mo teased, “Still afraid of drawing attention, even in a fight?”
“Can’t help it, that’s just who I am.”
Qian Ling shook her head, spread her hands in resignation, and the two of them smiled at each other. The next moment, their smiles vanished as they turned to face the source of the magic.
Qian Ling assumed a guarded stance while Yang Mo prepared to transform.
They both knew—the battle was about to begin.
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