As agreed, Qin Yu arrived at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Soon, Hu Tao appeared, her attire unchanged as always.
"Yo, you're here! So you finally have some free time?" Hu Tao grinned.
"Yes, good morning."
"Morning, morning! Hmm—"
For some reason, Hu Tao pinched her chin and began circling Qin Yu, scrutinizing her from every angle as if calculating something. Feeling vaguely uneasy, Qin Yu forced a smile.
"May I ask—"
"Your complexion looks great! And I can faintly detect a scent that doesn't belong to you..." Hu Tao wiggled her nose, her expression thoughtful.
What, are you some kind of dog? Qin Yu quipped inwardly, but she was also surprised by Hu Tao's words. She couldn't resist lifting her arm to sniff.
I don't smell anything...
Could it be because...? Qin Yu instinctively touched her cheek, but quickly dismissed the possibility.
That's absurd! How could Lady Ningguang's kiss on my cheek possibly leave her scent on me?
The only logical explanation was now obvious.
"Please don't scare me."
Hu Tao chuckled. "Sorry, sorry! Just rambling. Your body scent smells lovely, Fishy Treasure."
Qin Yu was puzzled. She didn't wear any sachets, so where was the fragrance coming from?
Besides, the phrase "body scent" was a bit creepy.
"I suddenly feel like eating fish," Hu Tao said. "Speaking of which, I haven't had breakfast yet. Have you?"
Why does me being here make her crave fish? Qin Yu wondered. Does Hu Tao want to physically eat me? Absolutely not! She was already accustomed to Hu Tao's abrupt topic shifts.
Hu Tao had always been like this, her thoughts leaping wildly.
Qin Yu casually replied, "I've eaten."
"Then let's have another meal! Come on, let's go browse the morning market and see what looks good!" With that, Hu Tao grabbed Qin Yu's hand.
I didn't realize Hu Tao hadn't had breakfast yet at this hour. I should have brought her some takeout.
As Qin Yu was thinking this, Hu Tao said:
"Director, I'm a bit short on cash lately, so I'll have to ask you to treat me. As a thank you, I'll give you an exclusive discount when you book your new home with us in the future!"
No thanks!
Fine, I'll treat you, but saying something like that... Qin Yu felt a flicker of annoyance. But then she remembered, This is just Hu Tao being herself, and the annoyance vanished.
Besides, exploring the morning market with Hu Tao would be a novel experience. They had only bumped into each other there before; this time, they were going together.
So, what exactly are we doing today?
Qin Yu asked curiously, "What's the plan for today? Just wandering around and having fun?"
"Exactly! Just wander around and have fun. Could it be that Fishy Treasure has some special expectations for what might happen between us?" Hu Tao teased.
How could that be possible? Just getting through each day normally is a blessing in itself.
Yet, adhering to the principle that "if there are points to earn, you have to collect them," Qin Yu smiled and said, "Just being able to go anywhere with you, Hu Tao, is already wonderful enough!"
So please don't let things take a strange turn. Like... wanting to kiss me out of curiosity or something.
Evaluation: D
Hu Tao's cheeks flushed slightly. "Aww, you're making me blush! But I feel the same way! After all, being with Fishy Treasure never gets boring."
Why can't I feel happy about this at all?
If Shenhe had said it, Qin Yu might have felt a little better. But coming from Hu Tao, it felt like she was just treating me as a plaything to pass the time.
"Ah ha ha, I'm glad you feel that way," Qin Yu replied with a standard response.
Hu Tao suddenly leaned in a bit closer. "So... it wouldn't hurt to try that thing today, right?" she murmured, tapping her lips.
The implication was clear: she was still fixated on what had happened before.
Did she really bring me here today just for this? Qin Yu sighed inwardly. The thought of kissing Hu Tao flashed through her mind, her face burning. She shook her head frantically, banishing the wild fantasy.
Qin Yu could only reiterate, "Hu Tao, I've already told you—I can't accept doing something like that out of mere curiosity."
But Hu Tao was always adept at "interpreting" her true meaning.
Hu Tao's eyes widened in realization, a rare blush coloring her cheeks as she said, "You said you can't accept it because it's driven by curiosity. So, if it's not out of curiosity, but because you genuinely want to do it, then you would accept it, right?"
Evaluation: C-
Ha? G-genuinely want to do it? Then it's even more unacceptable!
Qin Yu thought to herself, I'm not that kind of woman... No, I mean, I won't become that kind of woman. Even if Hu Tao purely wanted to kiss me, I wouldn't agree, not a single word.
Absolutely not.
To avoid prolonging the conversation, Qin Yu abruptly changed the subject, saying stiffly, "Ah! There seems to be something delicious over there. Let's go check it out!"
"Oh, okay!"
They bought two steamed buns and sat in a corner. Qin Yu took a couple of bites, savoring the savory meat filling and the hearty, chewy dough. A wave of happiness washed over her, instantly dispelling her earlier panic and mental fatigue.
Life really does need good food to keep going, she mused.
"This is actually pretty delicious!" Hu Tao said with a smile.
"I agree!"
Hu Tao leaned her head against Qin Yu's shoulder.
The sudden weight startled Qin Yu so much she nearly dropped the steamed bun in her hand. Realizing it was Hu Tao leaning on her, a flicker of confusion crossed her mind.
"What's wrong?"
Hu Tao looped her arm around Qin Yu's, looked up bashfully, and said, "I just... well, I'm going to try really hard to create an atmosphere that might... you know, make you think about things."
Evaluation: C+
Qin Yu was even more startled by this statement. Was Hu Tao actually serious? If so... no, no, no, she still couldn't accept it.
Why did a perfectly good day off suddenly turn into this?
The more Qin Yu thought about it, the more chaotic her thoughts became. She was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond to such a direct declaration, yet a faint curiosity lingered. What exactly did Hu Tao mean by creating this "atmosphere that might make you think about things"?
Though, maybe it's best if she doesn't create any such atmosphere at all.
Qin Yu said with a nervous edge, "I think it's fine just to spend the day normally."
"Absolutely not."
Why is she so insistent about something like this? Unbelievable.
As Qin Yu grumbled inwardly, Hu Tao chuckled again. "So you should really look forward to it!"
She leaned closer, whispering into Qin Yu's ear, "I'll make you think that way."
Qin Yu involuntarily tensed her shoulders, wondering, Is she really so fixated on kissing? If she fails this time, will she pull some other stunt?
Maybe I should just... No, what "just"?
If something's impossible, it's impossible.
But according to Hu Tao, does this mean they're... on a date? Qin Yu grew even more anxious. She hadn't expected today to turn out like this.
She hadn't wanted a date at all; she just wanted to clear her head and relax. But Hu Tao had already laid down the gauntlet, signaling that tranquility was no longer an option.
Sneaking away was out of the question.
That would be out of character and inappropriate. But kissing Hu Tao was even more unthinkable—both impossible and inappropriate.
If Hu Tao was intent on creating a romantic atmosphere, Qin Yu only needed to maintain her composure.
She had to keep her inner self as solid as bedrock.
Qin Yu took slow, deep breaths. The crisp morning air gradually calmed her racing thoughts.
"Awoo."
Hu Tao suddenly opened her mouth and took a bite of the steamed bun in Qin Yu's hand.
Ah!?
"It's delicious, as expected!"
Having one's food stolen was an unforgivable offense. Even Hu Tao, who had brazenly leaned in and taken a huge bite of Qin Yu's steamed bun without permission, could not be tolerated.
Unforgivable! Qin Yu's displeasure surged.
No, calm down. It was just one bite of a steamed bun. There was no need to let the carefully constructed persona she had cultivated for so long crumble over something so trivial.
Qin Yu thought to herself, but seeing the bite mark on her bun—a mark that wasn't hers—she still couldn't shake her unease.
Out of sight, out of mind. Qin Yu decided to toss the rest of the bun to Hu Tao.
Hmph, eat it if you want.
Forcing a smile, Qin Yu said, "Hu Tao, are you hungry? If you don't mind, I'll give you mine—Ugh?!"
Hu Tao stuffed her own steamed bun into Qin Yu's mouth.
After hastily taking a bite, Qin Yu's displeasure deepened. Who does that?!
"Hu Tao, what's going on here?" she asked, still maintaining her persona.
Hu Tao said sheepishly, "Don't romance novels often have scenes where characters feed each other? I thought I'd try it out. Did you feel your heart skip a beat?"
Yes. But not in the way she meant.
Hearing Hu Tao's response, Qin Yu felt utterly drained.
If Hu Tao wasn't just messing around... no, even with no dating experience, she shouldn't be doing this, right?
This isn't feeding; it's seizing and stuffing!
Absolutely zero romance!
Qin Yu's dissatisfaction reached its peak. She vowed to retaliate.
"No, no, this is how you're supposed to do it," Qin Yu said, tearing off a small piece of the steamed bun.
"Hu Tao, tilt your head back and open your mouth."
"Hmm? Sure, I can do that."
Hu Tao leaned back against the bench, tilted her head, and opened her mouth wide, revealing everything inside. Qin Yu's face suddenly flushed, but she forced herself to remain calm as she dropped the torn piece of bun into Hu Tao's mouth from above.
Evaluation: B
"I-I think this is the right way to do it," Qin Yu lied through her teeth.
"Hmm~ Is that so?" Hu Tao seemed half-convinced, half-skeptical.
"Probably."
Completely wrong.
But as long as she acted like she "didn't quite understand it either," it would work.
If Hu Tao questioned her later, she could just say, "I learned it from a book. I've never done this before."
Perfect.
Hu Tao said with amusement, "Alright, let's switch. Fishy Treasure, you try."
"Eh?"
Damn it.
Qin Yu hadn't anticipated Hu Tao pulling such a stunt. Her planning hadn't been thorough enough... But this could be salvaged! In a moment of quick thinking, Qin Yu placed her hand on the back of Hu Tao's hand.
"Can we not switch, Hu Tao?"
Hu Tao blinked rapidly, then nodded with a smile. "Sure, that sounds kinda fun."
Phew... At least she'd managed to smooth things over.
But if Hu Tao felt no shame, then this couldn't really be considered revenge.
To Hu Tao, who found it amusing, this was more like a reward.
No helping it. I'll just get this over with half-heartedly. Revenge isn't worth it anyway.
Qin Yu sighed inwardly. Seeing Hu Tao strike her pose again, she tore off another small piece of the baozi and dropped it into Hu Tao's mouth.
Unexpectedly, the moment the morsel landed in Hu Tao's mouth, she snapped her teeth shut like a fish biting a hook, clamping down on Qin Yu's finger.
"Ah!? Wait, Hu Tao, what are you doing—"
Qin Yu tried to pull her finger away, but Hu Tao held fast, gently biting down without releasing. The slippery sensation wrapped around her fingertip. Qin Yu's mind went blank with a bang, her face flushed crimson as she stared dumbly at Hu Tao, unable to utter a single word.
Satisfied, Hu Tao released Qin Yu's finger and licked her lips.
"Doesn't really taste like anything," she remarked.
Evaluation: A-
"Hu Tao, that's... that's really strange! Why would you do that?" Qin Yu wiped her fingers with a handkerchief, her ears burning even hotter when she noticed the teeth marks on her knuckles.
"Just tasting the Fishy Treasure."
I'm seriously going to get mad! Qin Yu thought irritably.
"Are you angry?"
"No."
Thank goodness this place was secluded; no one would notice them. Otherwise, Qin Yu might have jumped into the sea to contemplate her life choices.
"Even though it doesn't have much flavor, the texture is great!"
Annoying. Shut up.
Hu Tao offered her steamed bun. "Sorry, sorry! As an apology, why don't you have mine?"
No way. You've already eaten it.
Qin Yu sulked, itching to throw the handkerchief in Hu Tao's face but managing to restrain herself.
"It's okay," she said. "I'm not angry."
"Really?"
Liar. But she wouldn't let Hu Tao know.
"Really," Qin Yu insisted.
Hearing this, Hu Tao looked utterly bewildered.
Even in her current state, Qin Yu showed no signs of displeasure.
In truth, Hu Tao had sought this private moment with Qin Yu primarily for one purpose: to provoke her anger.
More precisely, she wanted to see Qin Yu display dissatisfaction. Hu Tao had no particular fetish for this, she simply wanted to experiment.
Only when emotions reached their breaking point could vulnerabilities be revealed.
Joy, happiness... emotions like these were far too difficult to elicit. Displeasure, dissatisfaction... feelings that could ignite anger were far easier to provoke.
Why do this? Partly because Hu Tao herself wanted to see it, and partly because of a client's request.
"Please take good care of my troublesome daughter," Qin Yu's mother had pleaded, and Hu Tao had accepted her quest.
The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor prided itself on meticulous execution. Matters of the living and the dead alike had to be handled flawlessly. And with Qin Yu's deceased mother as the client, Hu Tao was even more determined to excel.
In the past, Hu Tao had merely found Qin Yu's behavior amusing, never interfering.
But this time was different.
Since it was a quest, it had to be done properly!
Thus, Hu Tao had decided: she would tear down Qin Yu's mask.
Provoking Qin Yu's anger was merely an experiment, a test to see if her anger might reveal any hidden vulnerabilities.
By giving Qin Yu expectations and then acting in ways that defied them, Hu Tao hoped to uncover the cracks beneath her perfect facade.
Regrettably, Qin Yu possessed exceptional emotional control, never allowing even the slightest hint of her displeasure to show on her face.
Over the following days, Hu Tao repeatedly tried to provoke Qin Yu's anger.
Yet Qin Yu remained as composed as ever, even seeming to grow accustomed to Hu Tao's antics. Hu Tao couldn't help but marvel at Qin Yu's extraordinary composure.
But this couldn't go on.
Since subtle methods had failed, direct confrontation was the only option. However, one misstep could lead to unpredictable and potentially disastrous consequences.
There was a risk.
Hu Tao hesitated briefly, her thoughts racing.
If I keep going like this, won't I still be able to complete the client's quest? Exposing the truth might only cause Qin Yu pain.
But she quickly dismissed these doubts.
Life is fleeting—just a few decades at best. As her friend, I can't bear to see Qin Yu live behind a mask forever. Given her personality, she must be reaching her breaking point.
Moreover, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor demanded perfection in its work.
There was no room for half-hearted efforts.
This task falls to me alone.
Hu Tao considered the people in Qin Yu's life.
Shenhe? She'd undoubtedly declare unconditional acceptance, but she'd never dare to deliberately "offend" Qin Yu's true feelings. She'd only express her affection relentlessly. While that approach might eventually work, it would take far too long.
Ningguang? She wouldn't care whether Qin Yu was putting on an act. She valued genuine character and saw through people's facades, which meant she'd never actively intervene.
Yanfei? Qin Yu had her completely flustered, making her unreliable for this.
Keqing? Qin Yu didn't know her well, but she was the one who would make Qin Yu the most uncomfortable. Qin Yu wasn't particularly bold; her hesitation would only suffocate her.
I'm different, Hu Tao thought to herself.
Because I'm thick-skinned.
With this in mind, Hu Tao led Qin Yu out of the city.
Qin Yu was puzzled. Why are we here? Didn't we say we'd go shopping and have some fun around town?
"Qin Yu."
"...Huh?"
Qin Yu was a beat slow to realize Hu Tao was calling her.
Not "Fishy Treasure," but "Qin Yu." This change in address brought with it not only novelty but also a deep sense of unease.
Hu Tao never called her that.
This means... right now, this very moment—is something special.
"What's wrong?" Qin Yu asked, suppressing her anxiety and forcing a smile.
Hu Tao replied calmly, "It's time."
"I don't quite understand..."
"I mean, you don't have to pretend anymore."