The crisis on the Luofu continued. Although the Xianzhou had been sealed off, under the protection of the Cloud Knights, some areas still maintained peace. The Express Crew got a short break. For once, you decided to take a stroll on the Luofu streets.
There were fewer stalls on the streets than usual, but some people still set up shop as normal. After all, for these long-lived species, what kind of crisis hadn't they seen in thousands of years? There were quite a few who were already indifferent to it and just went about their daily lives. The three of you walked down the street, waiting for news from Diviner Fu Xuan and General Jing Yuan.
However, Stelle was preoccupied, not curious about everything as she usually was. She thought of something, then suddenly tugged at March 7th, who was walking beside her, and quietly fell back a few steps, letting you walk ahead.
"March 7th," Stelle lowered her voice and asked softly, "Have you... ever been in love?"
March 7th was startled by her abrupt question: "Huh? Why are you suddenly asking about that?"
Stelle didn't answer, just glanced at your back walking ahead, then looked at March 7th and pouted: "Never mind, looks like you don't have any experience either."
However, March 7th's gossip radar was unusually sensitive at this moment. She looked at Stelle, then at you walking ahead, and then thought of Stelle's strange attitude and reactions toward you these past few days. A mischievous smile appeared on March 7th's face.
"Stelle, are you finally willing to face your feelings and actively pursue him?"
Stelle's face instantly flushed red. She frantically waved her hands: "What are you thinking?! I never said that!"
March 7th chuckled, with an 'I understand, I understand' expression: "Hehe, don't worry, you've come to the right person for this! When it comes to relationship advice, listening to me is definitely the way to go!"
Stelle was a little skeptical: "You?"
March 7th puffed out her chest: "Don't underestimate me! Although I haven't dated, I've read plenty of romance novels and comics! I have a wealth of theoretical knowledge! Leave it to me!"
March 7th began to impart her love confession secrets to Stelle in a systematic manner. Stelle listened with skepticism at first, but by the end, her eyes lit up.
"Good idea!"
A moment later, Stelle seemed to have prepared herself mentally. She took a deep breath, tidied her clothes, and began her offensive.
You walked ahead, sensing everything around you, completely unconcerned by the whispers behind you. Suddenly, you felt a rush of footsteps from behind.
Stelle jogged to your side, a hint of unnatural blush on her face, holding a candied hawthorn skewer she had just bought from a nearby stall. She handed it to you, her voice trembling slightly: "Orion, this... this is very delicious, you should try it!"
You stopped and turned to look at her. Stelle's eyes dared not meet yours, her gaze flickering unsteadily.
You looked at her face, which was clearly filled with nervousness, and then at the large skewer of candied hawthorns in her hand, feeling a bit amused.
What kind of bad idea did March 7th come up with? Giving food?
You didn't immediately take it, just looked at her calmly. Stelle grew even more nervous under your gaze, her cheeks burning intensely. She stammered: "That... it's just, when... when you eat candied hawthorns... your mouth will be sweet... just like, just like..."
Just like... just like how I feel about you, sweet!
That's what March 7th taught her, but she just couldn't say it out loud!
March 7th, behind them, stomped her feet in frustration, silently urging her on with her mouth.
Stelle finally gave up. She slumped her shoulders in defeat, lowered her head, her face red. She lowered her head and bit into the candied hawthorn skewer in her hand as if in a huff. The sour and sweet taste spread in her mouth, but it couldn't dilute the nervousness and distress in her heart.
"Never mind... it's nothing..."
You looked at her like this and couldn't help but smile. This Stelle, indeed interesting. You reached out and took the candied hawthorn skewer from her hand. To her surprise, you bit off a piece from the spot where she had just bitten.
Stelle's cheeks instantly turned so red they looked like they were about to drip blood. You didn't look at her again, just said faintly: "It tastes good, thank you." Then, you continued walking forward, leaving behind Stelle, whose cheeks were still flushed, but wore a mix of happy and flustered smiles, and March 7th, who looked utterly disappointed.
The first attempt ended in failure. Stelle was a bit dejected but not discouraged.
This time, March 7th decided to try something more direct and impactful. March 7th leaned into Stelle's ear again and whispered something. After listening, Stelle hesitated for a long time, but was eventually convinced by March 7th.
A moment later, you were walking down a relatively narrow alley. You walked in front, with Stelle and March 7th following behind. Stelle took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and suddenly rushed forward a few steps. She calculated the distance, and then, 'accidentally,' her foot slipped, and she fell towards you!
March 7th's third trick for her: a fake fall! Then seize the opportunity to fall into his arms! This was a classic trope in romance comics!
Stelle closed her eyes, ready to embrace the impending physical contact. However, the anticipated embrace did not occur. You seemed to have eyes in the back of your head. The moment you were about to be bumped, your body suddenly dodged to the side. Stelle missed completely and fell straight to the ground.
"Ouch!" Stelle cried out in pain.
You turned around and looked at Stelle, who was on the ground, a little puzzled.
"Be careful when you walk, don't fall."
Stelle: "..."
March 7th: "..."
Stelle climbed up from the ground, wanting to cry but unable to, rubbing her sore knees, feeling completely out of sorts. Even March 7th began to doubt herself.
"This... this isn't scientific! It definitely didn't happen like this in the comics!"
"What in the world is going on?! Why doesn't Orion follow the script at all?!"
Under March 7th's unwilling urging, Stelle reluctantly tried a few more of March 7th's bad ideas. But each time, they failed in various unexpected ways. Stelle completely lost confidence and had no energy left to try again. She was feeling a bit down.
The three of them thus wandered aimlessly through the streets of Luofu, each lost in their own thoughts, until evening.
[Just then, a sudden change occurred!]