—
“To abandon ethics, laws, and even life for him—your love for him has already reached such depths. Is there still a need to ask me?”
An spoke softly:
“Isn’t it enough to just follow your heart?”
“Follow… my heart?”
Eluka murmured in confusion:
“Miss An, are you suggesting that I give up? Just like I said earlier?”
“Oh? Is that what your heart truly desires?”
“Yes, of… of course.”
“Is it really?”
An suddenly leaned in, her face very close.
Her gaze was like a spotlight, piercing through Eluka’s clear eyes and shining deep into her heart.
It was as if she wanted to take in all of Eluka’s secrets with her eyes.
Eluka suddenly felt flustered, like a worm in the dark suddenly exposed to sunlight. The defenses in her heart were being chipped away, bit by bit.
Without the shelter of darkness, what filthy, foul things would be revealed under the light?
“Wait, Miss An, I…”
“Answer my question.”
An leaned even closer.
Eluka could feel An’s breath, the brush of her eyelashes, and the intensity of those eyes that seemed to see through everything, forcefully dragging out the most unsightly thoughts from the depths of her heart.
“Do you really… want to give up, Eluka?”
“I…”
Do I really want to give up?
Am I truly willing to let them be?
Am I really…
…
Not at all.
I don’t want to at all.
If Rod were to be with someone other than me, I would go mad with jealousy.
Especially that bitch—she should just die.
…
“It seems you understand now.”
An released Eluka.
Seeing the completely different look in Eluka’s eyes, An smiled with satisfaction.
“Love is something you have to pursue yourself. How could you give up?”
“But… I still don’t know how to do it.”
Eluka, like a drowning person clutching at a life-saving straw, tightly held An’s hands and earnestly asked, “Miss An, no, Master, from now on, you are my master. Can you teach me what to do? How can I win Rod’s heart?”
“Isn’t it simple? A person’s heart is inseparable from their body.”
An pointed a finger at Eluka’s chest. “So, to win the heart of the one you love, you naturally have to win their body. Though it may not happen overnight—it will take time.”
“Win… the body…”
Eluka’s heart skipped a beat.
She had perhaps had this thought long, long ago, but…
“But… Rod is so strong, I…”
“That spell you cast earlier was quite good.”
“What?”
“The charm spell.”
An rested her cheek on her hand, speaking with a hint of regret:
“It’s a pity I’m not skilled in magic; otherwise, I would definitely learn it.”
With that spell, there’d be no need for troublesome potions.
“The charm spell…”
Eluka’s breathing grew heavier.
That’s right, if the charm spell worked on the Lake Master.
Then on a person…
Or on Rod…
“But…”
Eluka swallowed hard:
“Isn’t that… wrong?”
“Indeed, it’s not ideal. But have you forgotten what you just said?”
An chuckled softly:
“For love, you’re willing to disregard life, ethics, and laws. Why care about this?”
“Ah.”
That’s right.
For love, she was willing to abandon life, ethics, and laws. Why care about this?
It’s just… using it on Rod once.
Perhaps, without realizing it, she had learned this spell for this very day.
Perhaps, her heart had long been rotten.
“I understand, I get it now!”
Even as she realized her own corrupt nature, a bright light shone in Eluka’s eyes:
“Thank you, Master. I know what to do now.”
“Good.” An nodded with satisfaction.
“But there’s one last thing I’m not clear about.”
Eluka asked seriously:
“What if Rod remains stubborn and refuses to acknowledge my love? After all, the charm spell has a time limit, and I’m only skilled in supportive magic. If he really tries to escape, I might not be able to keep him.”
“Hehe, since you’ve called me Master, I’ll tell you a secret.”
An leaned close to Eluka’s ear and whispered gently:
“No matter how strong a man is, if you break his limbs and put a sturdy collar on him, he’ll become a dog that only knows how to bark.”
…
…
An left.
The rain also stopped.
Eluka stood alone by the lake, gazing into the water.
Her reflection was clear in the lake.
Her smile was sweet, her appearance cute. Her pretty face no longer showed the frustration from before. Her eyes were as clear as the lake water.
“As expected of Master, she really made me see the light.”
“Why hadn’t I realized it before? This true self of mine.”
Eluka touched her cheek. It felt like something had changed, yet nothing had changed.
But overall, her thoughts were clear, and she felt much lighter.
She knew what she had to do now.
“I wonder what kind of person Master would fall for.”
“But now isn’t the time for that.”
Eluka looked away.
“Let’s go back. Rod is waiting for me.”
…
Tonight, in a romantic place meant only for the two of them, she would confess her love to the one she adored.
If she failed…
Haha, failure wasn’t an option.
…
…
Creak.
The heavy metal gate opened with a grating sound.
An stepped into the cell, a hint of moisture clinging to her.
“Young Master, I’m back.”
“Finally.”
Mu’en opened his eyes, hiding his exhaustion as he feigned complaint:
“I thought I was going to die without seeing you.”
“Oh my, has the Young Master finally been moved by me, willing to give me his heart and soul?”
An looked touched, her cheeks slightly red:
“Then, Young Master, please give me a kiss of love first.”
“It’s starvation! Starvation!”
“Tsk.”
An’s expression instantly returned to its usual calm, and Mu’en couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly this woman could change faces—faster than Sichuan opera.
“Here, Young Master, your fish.”
An opened the food box, and the aroma instantly filled the small cell.
Perhaps because he had been starving for so long, even Mu’en, who was used to delicacies, couldn’t help but salivate.
“It’s steamed and grilled. Which would you like first?”
“The steamed one.”
“Then, say ‘ah—’ ”
“Ah—”
The fish entered his mouth, its tender texture immediately stimulating his taste buds.
Though he had ulterior motives, Mu’en couldn’t help but admit—this fish was delicious.
“Young Master, be careful of the bones.”
“I’m not a child. How could I possibly… ouch.”
“What’s wrong?”
“…I think I really got a bone stuck.”
“Is that so? Then there’s no other way.”
An suddenly crawled toward Mu’en like a cat.
“Huh? An, what are you doing?”
“I want to kiss you, Young Master.”
“Now?” Mu’en’s eyes widened.
“Didn’t you say you got a fish bone stuck? If I kiss you and pinch your nose, with my lung capacity, maybe I can suck the bone out.”
“Wait, that’s not going to work.”
“…”
“Um… actually, I was joking.”
“…”
“You’re serious? An, no, that’s dangerous, you’ll kill me, ughhh…”
