Chapter 338: Tea Ceremony Counterplay: You Smell Like Her Perfume! (1)
Shia walked up behind Lilith, placing both hands on her shoulders.
"You're upset?"
Lilith didn't shrug him off. She just huffed angrily.
Lately, Shia had been sticking close to her mom and ignoring her.
More than once, she could only stand there helplessly while her own mother bullied her man.
And he was actually letting it happen!
"Silly girl, I'm doing all this for you."
Shia leaned down slightly, looking into the mirror at their reflection, his voice soft.
"Always being mad gives you wrinkles~ cheer up."
Lilith was no naive girl. Did he really think a few sweet words would fool her?
"Did you give her the recipe?"
Shia didn't answer, just sighed softly.
That reaction was enough. He did give it to her.
Lilith got even angrier.
She shoved his hands away, stood up, and tried to push him out.
"Go away! I don't want to see you!"
She was about to explode from all the frustration.
He was her childhood friend! Why the hell was he cozying up to that old woman?
Wasn't he supposed to be on her side?
Why give the recipe to her?
But Shia grabbed her hands, gently pressing them to his chest.
"Lilith, listen to me."
Lilith struggled, not wanting to hear it.
But she couldn't break free from his grip.
"Everything I've done... it's all to prepare your dowry."
Lilith blinked, her resistance paused.
Huh? Dowry?
Shia sighed.
"Even though the Guen family is powerful, they don't have everything."
"You know what it means to sit and eat without producing."
"I could make a fortune to support you forever."
"But that money would always be seen as mine. Even if I give you everything, outsiders will talk."
"But if that wealth comes from your mother, then it becomes your dowry."
"No one could touch it. Not anyone but you."
"So I've been following her lead, brewing new wine... all to make your dowry richer. To show the world how strong you are."
With just a few words, Shia turned all his recent actions into some noble sacrifice.
Lilith was a little moved.
But it was still hard to trust that smooth talk.
She pouted, staring at him with teary, accusing eyes.
"But you smell like her perfume!"
The two were standing close. She could smell that familiar scent clearly.
Lilith had a dog's nose for this stuff. She immediately knew who the scent belonged to.
She wasn't exaggerating when she said she could recognize people by their fragrance.
So no matter how convincing Shia sounded, she wasn't buying it entirely.
With a scent that strong on him, what had they even done?
Lilith's brain started racing with all sorts of horrible images.
All of them were just Shia alone in a room, getting bullied by Sophia.
Before, that scent would've made her swoon.
Now that she knew who it belonged to, it only filled her with disgust and jealousy.
"Ugh..."
Lilith sighed, lowering her eyes, looking heartbroken.
Time for her tea ceremony performance. Showtime~
"I know... it's not like I don't understand you care about me."
"We've spent so many years together, always leaning on each other."
"But lately you've been so close to her, and it's like you're pushing me away."
"You know I only ever cared about you."
"Dowry, gifts... none of that matters. Not really. As long as it comes from you, it's enough."
"Don't you see that?"
Her gentle, melodic voice flowed like water.
Surrounded by her soft scent, staring at the top of her golden head, Shia was clearly touched.
They'd grown up together. As childhood friends, they'd spent the most time with each other.
What else mattered?
"Lilith..."
His voice trembled slightly.
Lilith lifted her eyes, meeting his gaze deeply.
Seeing the emotion in his eyes, she was secretly thrilled.
She wanted him to understand how deeply he felt for her.
She wanted to awaken all those shared memories.
Even if she couldn't match her mother in other areas...
This bond built over the years? Her mother could never compete with that!
He was her dog, and he'd always be hers!
Clearly, it was working.
Shia looked completely hooked.
"Shaaa—"
Her trailing sound vanished between their lips.
In the heat of the moment, Shia "couldn't help himself" and kissed her.
Her lips were soft and sweet, a flavor no mature woman could match.
Shia sank deeper, intoxicated in the taste of his childhood love.
Lilith, smug inside, thought: men are so easy to fool.
Just use a bit of charm and they crawl right back to you.
She was used to getting kissed now—she even had an excuse ready to go.
So a kiss? No mental pressure at all.
She even started to enjoy it without realizing.
But why couldn't this dog's paws behave?
Her long, smooth legs felt a burning tingle. She could barely stand.
Her body melted, growing limp.
She clung to Shia's shoulders, using his strength to stay upright.
She should have hated this.
But her body just kept getting softer... resisting felt impossible.
Lilith felt conflicted and sweet.
But was she really unable to resist?
Maybe she didn't want to.
Her mind grew foggy.
The question no longer mattered.
She just surrendered... and started to enjoy it.
And Shia? He handled them both with ease.
Two scummy women, both thinking they held the upper hand, while he raked in all the benefits.
Bad women?
They were just toys.
September 16th.
Three days until Sophia's birthday.
The maids were already busy preparing.
From this day on, relatives who had returned to the estate began mingling.
The elders were hosted by Sophia and Horace. The younger generation was Lilith's responsibility.
Of course, those who showed up early were mostly distant relatives.
—Their blood ties weren't close, so they had to make extra effort in other ways.
The more attention they drew, the more likely they'd catch someone's eye and rise to glory.
Even among distant relatives, each one was impressive.
Like the girl now standing at the main entrance.
Her makeup was immaculate, chestnut curls perfectly styled.
Dressed in a shimmering, lightweight dress adorned with jewels, her elegant posture showed off her beauty.
Her delicate, pretty face always lit up the room.
Not just because she was beautiful, but because of her identity.
A renowned socialite, beloved among nobles and royals across the land.
But even so, she was only known as Miss Brenda outside—not a Guen heiress.
Though technically Lilith's cousin, the relation was a bit distant.
Compared to Lilith, the true daughter of the head family, her status was awkward.
She couldn't reach the inner circle, and the gap was hard to cross.
But she was excellent enough that there were whispers of her being brought into the main line.
She had worked hard for years to raise her standing within the family.
As a fiercely ambitious bitch, Brenda had always understood her place.
She didn't dream of taking over. But sucking up to the real heiress—Lilith—that was her best shot.
And she had succeeded pretty well.
Even in the main house, the maids respectfully called her Miss Brenda.
And the best way to please Miss Lilith?
Was to bully her pet dog.