With that, Kiana☆ resolutely stepped forward. Though her steps were light, each one felt like it landed squarely on Fu Lin's heart, making it race uncontrollably.
----------------------------------
As Kiana☆ got closer, Fu Lin's heartbeat quickened, and he could even feel his breathing becoming slightly rapid.
Finally, Kiana☆ stopped in front of Fu Lin, reached out, and tightly grasped Fu Lin's hand.
Immediately afterward, Kiana☆ gave a strong tug, pulling Fu Lin behind her and using her own body to shield Fu Lin.
After doing all this, Kiana☆ looked at Elysia with vigilance, as if she were a potential threat.
However, Elysia seemed completely unfazed by Kiana☆'s wariness. With a smile, she unhesitatingly reached out and tightly held Kiana☆'s hand.
Elysia's gaze was like two bright beams of light, shining directly at Kiana☆, her eyes sparkling as she softly said, "My name is Elysia. I've been thinking about how to greet you for a long time. Now that I can finally speak to you face to face, you're even cuter than I imagined~"
Kiana☆ was caught off guard by Elysia's sudden action and intense gaze. Her eyes involuntarily dodged slightly, and she subconsciously took a small step back, nervously shouting, "W-why are you suddenly getting so close!"
Elysia's lips curled slightly into a gentle smile. Her eyes still shone brightly as she softly said, "Don't be so distant~ Just call me Ely. I love cute girls the most~"
Elysia's voice was like a spring breeze, gentle and warm, as she continued, "You can look at me more openly. After all, I'm looking at you too. Come on, let's get to know each other better?"
However, faced with Elysia's direct approach, Kiana☆ suddenly began to stammer, her voice trembling slightly, "Y-you... something's wrong with you. Stay away from me... I-I only like Fu Lin, and you're someone trying to steal her from me."
Standing nearby, Fu Lin watched the scene unfold, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly as he silently thought, 'No wonder she's the queen of yuri. Just a small move and she's already got Kiana☆ on the defensive. Elysia, you're amazing!'
As Fu Lin was marveling internally, Fu Shi suddenly appeared beside him like a ghost.
One of Fu Shi's hands casually rested on Fu Lin's shoulder, while the other held a freshly cut piece of watermelon, which she was munching on contentedly.
After a while, Fu Shi spat out a watermelon seed with satisfaction, then looked at Fu Lin with a smirk and said, "Aren't you afraid Elysia will seduce Kiana☆ away from you?"
Before the words had fully left her mouth, Fu Shi's expression turned oddly conflicted, as if she suddenly realized something, and muttered to herself, "Oh no, wait, why did I remind Fu Lin just now? If Elysia really does flip Kiana☆'s orientation, then I can have Fu Lin all to myself!"
Hearing this, Fu Lin was speechless and let out a helpless smile. He reached out... and snatched the watermelon from Fu Shi's hand to eat it himself.
Fu Shi, "...."
Elysia playfully winked, a light smile on her lips, and softly said, "Aiya~ don't be so serious~ You like Fu Lin, and I like Fu Lin. Doesn't that mean we're destined to meet? We'll be one big family in the future!"
Kiana☆ instinctively nodded, but quickly realized and hastily pulled her hand away from Elysia, her eyes growing more alert, "...What family? You almost tricked me."
In her mind, Kiana☆ had already labeled Elysia as "troublesome," realizing that this seemingly pure and innocent woman might be far more difficult to deal with than she appeared.
Just then, with a "creak," the door to the room opened, and an excited voice called out from the doorway, seemingly unable to contain the joy within, "Fu Lin..."
Fu Shi elbowed Fu Lin, rolled her eyes, and said irritably, "Tsk~ another one."
Fu Lin gave an awkward chuckle and replied, "Mei☆, what is it?"
Mei☆ entered the room, a blush appearing on her face, and said, "Um, I have something..."
However, as Mei☆'s gaze swept over the room's scene, her voice abruptly stopped, replaced by a look of shock and surprise.
At that moment, Fu Shi, Kiana☆, and Elysia all turned their eyes toward Mei☆ simultaneously.
Fu Shi's gaze carried a hint of curiosity, Kiana☆'s expression was serious, and Elysia had an unreadable, faint smile on her face.
Now, with the four women gathered in one room, the previously light atmosphere instantly turned a bit tense, as if the air itself had become heavy.
Seeing this, Fu Lin broke into a cold sweat and wiped his forehead in confusion.
The suddenness of the situation caught Mei☆ off guard. Her raised hand quickly moved behind her back as if trying to hide something.
Elysia lightly stepped forward to Mei☆, her face beaming with a radiant smile as she gently said, "Mei☆, you're here~"
Mei☆ was startled by Elysia's sudden closeness and instinctively took a small step back.
But she quickly regained her composure and asked in surprise, "Elysia, why are you..."
Elysia seemed completely unconcerned with Mei☆'s reaction. She curiously glanced around Mei☆'s side, her big eyes spinning with excitement, then eagerly asked, "It's from the livestream reward, right? Mei☆, what did you get? Come on, show me!"
Faced with Elysia's questioning, Mei☆'s hand behind her back clenched slightly, and her already evasive gaze became even more dodgy.
Mei☆ hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke softly, "N-nothing special, just a regular red thread."
Hearing this, Kiana☆'s expression grew stern as she asked, "That thread, is it called the 'Red Thread of Fate'?"
Mei☆'s heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected Kiana☆ to know this and asked awkwardly, "How do you know?"
Kiana☆ frowned, shielding Fu Lin behind her, and said quietly, "Because I got one too."
Upon hearing this, Mei☆'s eyes suddenly burned with intensity as she stared straight at Fu Lin behind Kiana☆ and said, "Is it because of that red thread... that Fu Lin..."
Mei☆'s voice trembled slightly, carrying disbelief and anger.
However, before she could finish her sentence, Kiana☆ cut her off with a look of disdain.
"No. I burned it. If you love someone, why would you need something like that?"
At this moment, Kiana☆ didn't use any powers, but the pressure she exuded was overwhelming.
Her gaze locked onto Mei☆, as if warning her not to try anything foolish.
"You weren't thinking of using it on Fu Lin just now, were you?"
[T / N : Kiana☆: I didn't get to use it, how can I allow you to use it... ]
Kiana☆'s voice suddenly became low and commanding, "I suggest you forget that idea. Or don't blame me for being rude!"