Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

Just before dinner, a crisp knock on the door broke the silence inside.

The voice was completely unfamiliar to me, because during the few days I stayed here, I hardly saw anyone come to visit.

These two people probably don't actually have any friends at all.

The unexpected visitor made me put down the picture book in my hand and look curiously towards the door.

After all, Elhesen's cold personality makes him the type who doesn't easily make friends.

“These are herbs that Scribe Elhesen got from our forest ranger. I happened to be returning to Sumeru City, so I brought them over.” An uncle dressed somewhat like a hunter handed a delicate medicine bottle to Kavi, who went to open the door.

The visitor's attire was quite distinctive; his leather protective gear was still covered in dirt, and he carried a faint scent of grass and trees, clearly indicating that he had just returned from the wilderness.

“Hey, are you sick, Elhesen? This isn’t some kind of drug to help you commit a crime, is it?” Kavi placed the medicine bottle on the table in front of Elhesen. His gaze shifted back and forth between the bottle and Elhesen, his brow furrowed, as if scrutinizing something suspicious.

"Wasn't it delivered by Tina personally?" Elhesen pinched the bottle and examined it carefully before casually tossing it into the nearby trash can.

The movement was swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

"What are you doing!" Kavi exclaimed, quickly retrieving the medicine bottle from the trash can and carefully wiping it clean. "Tinari is so busy with the puzzle and the rainforest, and he took the time to make medicine for you, and you just threw it away." His voice was filled with obvious dissatisfaction, accusing Elhesen of desecrating his precious sentiments.

“It’s for Lu Ren.” After Elhesen calmly said this, Kavi’s expression changed instantly. As if he had been burned, he immediately threw the medicine bottle back into the trash can, even faster than Elhesen.

"At least after throwing it in the trash, don't give it to her..." Kavi guiltily looked away, not daring to meet my gaze.

The abrupt change in attitude confused me even more.

I stared intently at the medicine bottle in the trash can, my mind filled with questions.

Am I sick? Is being constantly sleepy and having a slight headache considered an illness?

I always thought these symptoms were normal reactions after coming into this world, and I never thought they might be manifestations of some kind of disease.

Why can't you eat something if you throw it in the trash? Why can't you eat something just because it was delivered?

why?

Could something go wrong along the way?

These questions swirled in my mind, but I couldn't find a reasonable explanation.

What problem could there be? I'm not some important person...

The moment that thought popped into my head, another idea followed: Oh right, I'm very rich.

The thought of murder for money sent chills down my spine and made the hairs on my body stand on end.

"Is someone trying to kill me?" I asked Kavi directly. (I was in the middle of a cold war with Elhesen, so I could only ask Kavi.)

"W-what? No, no, don't think anything of it." Kavi waved his hand frantically, his expression looking rather strange to me.

His eyes flickered, and the forced smile on his lips looked very stiff. These subtle reactions only deepened my suspicions.

I looked at Kavi with a questioning gaze, but those usually honest eyes avoided my gaze at this moment.

Kavi looked to Elhesen for help, as if hoping he could help explain the awkward situation.

Al-Hysen, instead, seized the opportunity to point out his mistake: "I said she's a fully developed adult with a mature brain."

“Uh…” Kavi looked away from the floor, appearing uneasy.

“I’m going to Huacheng Guo tomorrow, you’re coming with me,” Elhesen said to me, his tone completely unaffected by the Cold War.

I was busy giving him the cold shoulder, so I immediately hid behind Kave, temporarily putting aside the possibility that someone might be trying to murder me.

"Hmm? I don't want to go." He got up from the sofa and walked towards me.

The steady footsteps sounded particularly clear in the quiet room, each step feeling like a tap on my heart.

"Stop! What are you doing?" Kavi spread his arms and shielded me behind him like a mother hen protecting her chicks. "During this cold war, please keep your distance from her."

His voice carried a rare firmness.

"The Cold War? Really?" Elhesen tilted his head, his gaze bypassing Kavi's arm to look at me, his gray-green eyes filled with genuine confusion, as if he had only just realized this.

It turns out he never realized I was giving him the silent treatment!

I was both angry and aggrieved!

It turns out I was sulking all day, and he didn't even notice!

"Hmph." I turned my head away, using this gesture to express my dissatisfaction.

How awful! This guy doesn't care about me at all! Tears welled up in my eyes, but I held them back.

“Elheisen, how dare you say Lu Ren is your girlfriend? You didn’t even know she’s giving you the cold shoulder!” Kavi angrily spoke up for me, accusing Elheisen.

His voice trembled slightly with excitement, and his face flushed with righteous indignation.

“But she doesn’t talk to me much anyway. She talked to you for an hour alone with you more than she did in a week with me. How can I tell the difference?” Al-Hysen had his own reasons.

Did I really rarely talk to him? Looking back, it seems so. But wasn't he always busy? Reading, researching, handling official business... I just didn't want to bother him.

My feelings became complicated, a mixture of anger and guilt.

Oh no, I'm starting to feel guilty.

The confidence I had just felt gradually dissipated.

“I was going to introduce you to a friend with furry ears and a tail… looks like that will have to be postponed.” He leaned forward again to look at me, who was wavering, his voice carrying a subtle seduction.

A friend with furry ears and a tail?

Is it a small animal?

This description made my eyes widen, and all sorts of adorable creatures came to mind.

But is Elhesen the kind of person who can live in harmony with animals?

This question made me doubt his statement.

"Get out of the way," Al-Hysen said to Kavi. "Don't block my way while I'm trying to win over my girlfriend. Ending this cold war quickly will give us more time together."