(Rover's POV)
Before Jeff even set foot on the training grounds, the girls had already gathered near the corner of the courtyard in a patroller's base outside the city of Jinzhou.
Chixia tilted her head with a mischievous grin. "So, Rover, did you finish calling Jeff?"
I nodded, trying to play it cool. "Yeah. He got the weapons from Uncle Wei. He's planning to test them out in the simulation grounds."
Yangyang's eyes lit up, her soft smile warm as always. "Oh, that's the perfect place for it."
I thought the conversation would end there, but then Chixia's expression suddenly shifted, her brows furrowing like she'd just had a brilliant—if troublesome—idea.
"Girl talks!" she suddenly shouted, throwing her hands up dramatically. "Man, patrolling is boring. I need some juicy talk to keep me alive."
Yangyang chuckled. "Juicy talk? What are you on about now?"
Chixia's sharp eyes zeroed in on me, her grin widening. "You. I want you to spill it, Rover."
I blinked, tilting my head in confusion. "Spill… what?"
Yangyang sighed, shaking her head as if she'd already guessed where this was going. "Chixia, leave the poor girl alone."
But Chixia leaned closer, her elbows resting on her knees, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Come on, Yangyang. We both saw what happened back at Panhua's Restaurant. Don't even try to deny it. They were holding hands right in front of us! And Jeff—" she gasped theatrically, "—Jeff kissed her on the lips."
Heat rushed to my cheeks at the memory. My hands instinctively went to cover my face, but Chixia was faster, pulling my wrist down so she could watch me squirm.
"So, spill it," she pressed, grinning ear to ear. "Are you guys dating or what?"
Even Yangyang, usually the calm one, leaned forward slightly, curiosity written all over her face.
I swallowed hard, my voice small but firm. "No, we're not."
A pang of disappointment curled in my chest as I added in a softer voice, "...Not yet, anyway."
Yangyang blinked in surprise. "Really? I honestly thought you two already were."
"Yeah, same here!" Chixia chimed in, clearly delighted by the confession.
My heart fluttered nervously. "Is that… bad?"
Chixia tilted her head, her grin softening into a teasing smile. "Not really. Just surprising, that's all."
Yangyang's eyes narrowed playfully, her tone gentler. "So, do you like him?"
I hesitated, my lips parting without sound. My chest tightened—why was admitting this so hard? Finally, I lowered my gaze and let the truth slip out in a whisper.
"Yes… maybe a bit."
Chixia squealed so loud a couple of patrollers glanced our way. Yangyang burst out laughing, covering her mouth with her sleeve.
"She admitted it!" Chixia cried, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me lightly. "Our little Rover is in love!"
I covered my face again, groaning. "Stop it, Chixia…"
Yangyang leaned in, her curiosity far from satisfied. "What do you like about him? I mean, you two were already together when you woke up in the Gorge's Spirit, right?"
I nodded slowly, recalling those moments how Jeff's presence had been the only anchor I had in that terrifying beginning.
Chixia clasped her hands under her chin, leaning closer. "I'm curious too! What made you fall for him so fast? Did you get butterflies in your stomach? Did he make your heart pound? Come on, spill!"
My cheeks burned hotter. Their expectant eyes on me made it impossible to hide. My lips parted, but the words tangled in my throat.
I was already red-faced from their endless barrage of questions, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my sleeve, when Yangyang finally stepped in.
"Come on, Chixia. Let Rover breathe," she scolded gently, though her lips curved into a knowing smile.
Chixia blinked, then raised her hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay! Sorry, I got carried away."
I exhaled, trying to steady my pounding heart. My voice came out softer than I intended, but I pushed through. "It's okay. I… I don't mind telling you."
That made both of them instantly perk up, leaning in with wide, expectant eyes.
I swallowed hard, my face already burning. "He's just… really, really handsome."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I covered my face with both hands. Why did I say it like that? The heat crawling up my neck was unbearable.
Chixia gasped dramatically, her grin stretching from ear to ear. "So it was love at first sight, huh?"
"No, no!" I waved my hands quickly, shaking my head so hard my hair brushed against my cheeks. "I don't even know how it started!"
Both of them leaned closer, practically holding their breath, waiting for me to continue.
"There was one time…" I hesitated, glancing at Yangyang. "Before Baizhi's test at the academy. You remember that day, right, Yangyang?"
Yangyang tilted her head, her eyes soft with memory. "I do. Jeff asked me where he could get weapons, and I told him Uncle Wei was the best place. You went with him, didn't you?"
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips despite my embarrassment. "After he commissioned some weapons from Uncle Wei, he… he took me on a date."
Chixia squealed so loudly I thought half the courtyard might hear. "A date?! Why didn't you tell us about that? That's so unfair!"
Yangyang's chuckle was lighter, but her eyes glimmered with curiosity. "Go on, Rover."
I bit my lip, trying to keep my voice steady. "We went to Panhua's Restaurant first. Then… he dragged me to pick clothes for him. And let me tell you—" I shook my head, laughing despite myself, "—he has absolutely no fashion sense."
Both girls burst out laughing, and for a moment the tension lifted.
"After that," I continued, my tone softening, "we walked through the shopping district. He wanted to buy me something as a thank-you, for… saving his dignity, I guess. And then he bought me this."
I gently lifted the small pendant from under my collar, letting the light catch on the red gemstone. The Red Lotus necklace.
Both Yangyang and Chixia gasped, their eyes sparkling like little children at a festival.
"That's so romantic!" Chixia gushed.
"I agree," Yangyang nodded, her voice warm.
Chixia clutched my arm, shaking it slightly. "Then what happened after that?"
My smile faltered as my chest tightened with the memory. "We… went to an empty bench overlooking the river. I kind of blurted out that I wanted to learn more about him, and… he said he felt the same way. We almost kissed."
Yangyang's eyes widened. "Almost?"
I sighed, cheeks heating up all over again. "You called us back to the academy. Baizhi was ready to test us."
Yangyang slapped her forehead, groaning. "To think something like that was happening… and I ruined it. I'm so sorry."
I shook my head quickly, smiling faintly. "Don't worry about it."
Chixia huffed, crossing her arms. "Still! To think something that romantic was happening right under our noses and we had no idea."
Her mischievous grin returned as she leaned closer. "So… is that the reason you fell in love with him?"
I fiddled with the edge of my sleeve, cheeks warm as I finally admitted, "A bit… but at the time, I still wasn't sure what I felt about him."
Yangyang tilted her head, her voice calm but curious. "Then… when were you sure?"
I lowered my gaze, the memory tugging at me. My voice softened, almost wistful. "It was after Qichi Village."
"Qichi Village, huh…" Yangyang murmured, thoughtful.
Chixia groaned dramatically, throwing her hands up. "Damn it! I was stuck patrolling that time—I didn't get to come with you three!"
I gave her a small smile. "Yeah. After the events at Qichi Village, before we went to see the Magistrate. Jeff… he was down in the dumps. Completely shaken by Scar's words, and by the appearance of that woman in red." My lips pressed into a thin line. Even saying her name left a bitter taste. "Phrolova. Scar mentioned it back at City Hall."
Yangyang's brows furrowed. "What happened?"
I exhaled slowly, eyes lowering as the scene played in my mind. "He admitted he was scared of the future. And I—" my hand drifted unconsciously to my chest "—I told him I'd be there for him."
"And then?" Chixia prompted eagerly, leaning so close I could feel her breath on my shoulder.
My cheeks warmed at the next memory. "He said Scar's words might be right. That maybe he was just using me… as some kind of anchor."
Yangyang gasped. Chixia slapped her palm against her thigh. "He really said that?"
"Yeah." I nodded firmly. "But I wiped that silly thought away immediately." My lips curved, bashful. "And then I did something that… even I didn't think I had in me."
Both of them leaned forward, eyes wide in anticipation.
"I kissed him."
Their squeals echoed through the camp grounds like excited schoolgirls.
Chixia practically bounced in her seat. "What the hell, Rover?! That's so bold! I didn't know you had it in you!"
Yangyang tried to play it cool, but even she leaned in, eyes glittering. "Go on. Don't stop there."
Heat spread across my face at the memory. "He was so flustered… and the expression he made—" I chuckled softly, covering my mouth. "—it was so cute I still remember it perfectly. He even said it was too fast, but I didn't care. I told him he didn't have to feel guilty. That he had my permission to rely on me. To take advantage of me. To use me if he needed to."
Yangyang's lips parted slightly, moved by the weight of my words.
"I told him he didn't need to carry all that guilt anymore. That if leaning on me made him stronger, then let me be that strength. And that it would make me happy… because it gave me the chance to be there for him, the way he's been there for me."
"Damn, Rover…" Chixia whispered, looking half impressed, half envious. "That's… that's so cool. Even I'd be moved if someone said that to me."
My face heated up, my hands gripping my knees. "And then… Jeff did something that made my heart skip a beat, even now when I think about it. He kissed me."
Both girls squealed again, louder than before.
"Oh my god, he did?!" Chixia clutched at her chest dramatically. "I'm so freaking jealous I could scream!"
"Knock it off, Chixia," Yangyang scolded lightly, though she was smiling too.
"Sorry, sorry—" Chixia grinned mischievously. "Just… continue this wonderful love story of yours."
I hesitated, but then my heart softened as I remembered. "After that… he said something I'll never forget."
Both girls leaned in, their faces glowing with anticipation.
"He made a vow to me." My voice trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the weight of recalling it. "He said—word for word—" I swallowed, repeating it in his tone, deep and steady:
'From this moment on, I'll stand by your side. Through every storm, every triumph, and every damn moment in between. I promise with everything in me that I'll be someone you can rely on. No matter how uncertain the future gets, no matter how insane this world throws its shit at us… I'll fight with everything I have to protect the present—the present where I can be by your side.'
Yangyang's lips parted, breath catching. Chixia clutched her hands together like she was watching her favorite romance drama unfold before her eyes.
They both squealed again, like excited schoolgirls at a festival.
"And that," I admitted softly, smiling despite my burning cheeks, "was when I knew for sure. That was the moment I was certain of what I felt about him."
Yangyang's lips curved into a soft smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "What a wonderful love story," she teased, tilting her head toward Rover.
Chixia, on the other hand, nearly jumped out of her seat, throwing her hands up dramatically. "That's practically a proposal at that point! What the hell— and you're still not dating yet?" Her jaw dropped in mock disbelief.
Rover stiffened, her cheeks blooming red. "W–what?" she stammered, blinking rapidly as if she hadn't heard correctly.
Chixia crossed her arms, her expression hardening with sudden resolve. "Yosh, that does it. You have to tell him how you feel. Straight up. No running and no hiding away." She jabbed a finger toward Rover's chest, her grin mischievous.
Rover's eyes widened, panic written all over her face. She waved both hands frantically. "No, no, no!"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Chixia sang back, leaning closer with a wicked smile.
Yangyang placed a hand on her chin thoughtfully, her tone calm but firm. "I do agree with that course of action."
Rover whipped her head toward her. "Yangyang— you too?!" Her voice cracked, half-pleading, half-mortified.
Chixia smirked like a cat who'd cornered its prey. "Come on, Rover. It's freaking obvious you like each other. You even admitted Jeff was handsome— don't deny it. Me and Yangyang both agree with that."
Yangyang nodded without hesitation, a faint blush creeping up her neck. "Jeff is indeed handsome."
"So?" Rover asked weakly, her voice thin as if clinging to the last threads of denial.
"So," Chixia leaned back and spread her arms wide, "that means a lot of girls will be eyeing him like hawks. You let your guard down, and poof, some other girl's going to snatch him away."
Rover's lips parted, but no words came. The thought alone made her stomach twist. She looked away, hiding her troubled expression.
Yangyang, ever the honest one, added thoughtfully, "Based on what you've told us, Jeff seems… well, used to dealing with girls. He reminds me of one of those playboys who attract attention everywhere."
The word playboy hit Rover like a slap. Her eyes widened, and she clutched her chest instinctively, fear mingling with a sharp sting of jealousy.
Chixia's eyes narrowed, almost dramatically. "Exactly. He must have tons of experience. Rover— you can't let him slip away."
Something shifted in Rover's expression. She clenched her fists, inhaling deeply. Then she straightened her back, determination replacing her hesitation. "Yoosh! When we get home, I'll tell him straight up. And… and ask what he feels about me."
Chixia's grin lit up her entire face. "That's our Rover! Get your man— don't let him get away."
Yangyang gave a soft nod of approval, her voice warm. "Good luck in your endeavors."
Chixia, however, sighed dramatically and slumped her shoulders. "Man, you two are making me feel lonely now. I'm still freaking single! I wish something like that would happen to me too."
Yangyang chuckled and patted her on the shoulder gently. "There, there. I'm still single too."
Rover glanced between them, her embarrassment softening into gratitude. She smiled shyly, fiddling with her gloves. "Thank you, guys. Really."
Both of her friends blinked at her sudden sincerity, then burst into laughter.
"Don't worry about it," Chixia said with a playful wave of her hand.
But Yangyang suddenly perked up, her eyes widening. "Wait—patrolling duty! We still have to finish it."
"Yep, yep. Duty calls," Chixia groaned, stretching her arms overhead. "But man, nothing beats a break with a juicy love story from a friend."
"Stop it!" Rover sputtered, covering her burning cheeks. "Let's just go."
Chixia leaned in with a sly grin. "What? Embarrassed?"
Rover growled under her breath and stomped ahead, making both Yangyang and Chixia laugh as they followed. Together, the trio resumed their patrol across the Central Plains, blades and guns ready striking down Tacet Discords on sight as the light atmosphere still lingered in the air.