episode_0062

“Um, Captain, Qingya says she wants to go in with you.”

After getting out of the car, the six of them regrouped, and Xu Nian immediately brought this up to Xiao Ge and the others.

Xiao Ge’s gaze fell on Su Qingya. “Can you protect yourself?”

“Mhm.”

Su Qingya nodded. Though she wasn’t entirely confident, she stubbornly responded with that single word.

“Fine, then keep up.”

Xu Nian’s heart skipped a beat.

Was it really that simple?

Just one question and that’s it?

“Then I’ll also—”

“You stay on the perimeter. No going inside.”

“O-okay.”

“Xu Nian, you still haven’t given up? Not that I blame the captain or anything, but everyone knows how rough the early stages of the Joy Path are. Those Emotion Beasts won’t listen to any extra nonsense—even if you have the ability, you can’t activate it.”

Gu Tong, also a Joy Path practitioner, stepped forward with a perpetual smile on her face.

“Paths have their phases. For us Joy Path folks, the early stages mean relying on others like this.”

“Fine.”

Xu Nian instantly deflated.

But she still had one more question.

“Captain, don’t you have a driver’s license? Why did you make me drive?”

“I do.”

“Then why didn’t you drive?”

“I’m on the [Wrath] Path.”

“Huh?”

“I have severe road rage.”

“HUH???”

Afterward, the three of them strode into the hospital, each carrying a case.

Only once they had completely disappeared from sight did Gu Tong sidle up to Xu Nian.

“Xu Nian, what’s your relationship with that Su Qingya? You two seem… not exactly ordinary.”

“We’re… in a romantic relationship.”

“R-romantic relationship?! That’s just too much! Has the world finally become the way I like it?” Clapping her hands together, Gu Tong couldn’t hide her delight.

Xu Nian was baffled.

“What do you mean, ‘the way you like it’?”

Without explaining, Gu Tong suddenly pinned Jiang Xue against the car hood in a kabedon. “See, I told you this kind of relationship is common! I’m Joy, you’re Sorrow—we’re practically made for each other.”

“Y-you—! Have some self-respect! Wuwuwu, I only ever saw you as a good friend!”

“Come on, Xuexue, give me a kiss~”

“N-no! Stop it! There are other people here!”

Holy shit! A fellow sapphic!

Xu Nian was stunned.

Oh, right, I’m one too. Never mind.

Damn it, I have a girlfriend—how did I end up the third wheel here?

Unfortunately, Jiang Xue’s resistance was unusually strong, and Gu Tong eventually gave up.

“Haha, I was just teasing you. The shy look on Xuexue’s face was great—my Joy energy shot way up.”

“Ah! Tongtong, you’re the worst! Always bullying me, wuwuwu~”

As a fellow Joy Path practitioner, Xu Nian could see Gu Tong’s attempt to find joy in hardship.

“I’ve got a red clown nose here. Want to wear it?”

Gu Tong froze.

“Oh? You little brat, trying to farm emotional energy off me, huh?!”

“You’re going about this all wrong. I happen to have experience in turning straight girls. Need me to teach you?”

“You… know how?”

“How do you think I got my girlfriend? Qingya used to be as straight as a ruler.”

“Senior, please enlighten me.”

Gu Tong quickly pulled Xu Nian aside, whispering conspiratorially to keep Jiang Xue from hearing.

“Just pretend to let her hit you once, then milk it for compensation—demand she forcefully becomes your girlfriend to make it up to you.”

“Would that even work?” Gu Tong was deeply skeptical.

“It’s how I succeeded.”

“I don’t buy it. Jiang Xue and I have known each other for so long—how could I possibly stoop to that? Maybe it worked for you because Su Qingya was already into girls and just went along with it?”

“N-no way! Then, here’s another method—find an excuse to lure her to your place, lock the door, and go straight for the kiss. While kissing, confess your love, then slowly open up and reminisce about the past.”

“Y-you—that’s not right, is it?!” Gu Tong was horrified.

Do young people these days play this wild?!

Or are their minds just that open?!

The age gap between her and Xu Nian wasn’t even ten years, yet why did it feel like there was an insurmountable wall between them?

“What if it fails? I’d never be able to face her again.”

Xu Nian wasn’t sure either—after all, she’d gotten the idea from some weird manga.

[Joy Level: 73%]

“Then, I’ve still got this red nose. Want it?”

“You little—!” Gu Tong’s face flushed with anger.

“Okay, here’s another plan—barge in while Jiang Xue is using the bathroom, then confess on the spot. She’ll be too flustered to refuse.”

“Just stop giving me advice.”

“That won’t work either? Then I’ve got one more—”

“AHHH!!! No more, no more!”

Gu Tong covered her ears, ready to flee.

What kind of terrible ideas were these?!

“Hey! Hear me out—I think my suggestions have merit. Think about it, how old are you and Jiang Xue now? This is the age where women are at their most… eager.”

“Th-this is…”

“And think about it—at her age, isn’t she getting pressured by her parents to marry? What if one day she brings home a boyfriend and says she wants you to meet him?”

“This…” Gu Tong still wanted to avoid it, preferring to take things slow, testing the waters bit by bit.

But Xu Nian wouldn’t let her keep running.

“Answer me! Look into my eyes and answer me! Sister Gu Tong, tell me—if that really happened, what would you do?”

“AHHH!!! Jiang Xue cries so easily—what if I make her upset?!”

“Don’t you think it’d be moving to hear her soft sobs while confessing your love, riding the tide of the times, and reminiscing about the past? What if she’s crying just because she’s a Sorrow Path practitioner? Has she ever used her ability on you?”

“Answer me.”

“You… You might really become a powerful Joy Path practitioner in the future.”

Gu Tong clutched her head, squatting down in agony.

Xu Nian patted her shoulder. “Relax, I believe in you. You and Jiang Xue are just one step away.”

“Really?”

“Trust me. You won’t regret it.”

“Then… I’ll believe you this once.”

“Wh-what are you two whispering about over there?”

Perhaps noticing their exaggerated gestures, Jiang Xue approached.

“Nothing, Sister Jiang Xue. We were just discussing Joy Path training techniques.”

“R-really?”

“Of course.”

At that moment, Gu Tong glanced at Xu Nian, who gave her an encouraging look.

Steeling herself, Gu Tong spoke up.

“Xuexue, wanna come to my place tonight? My dog can do backflips—I mean, there’s a new drama I’ve been wanting to watch. Could you keep me company?”

“O-oh? If I’m free, sure.” Still suspicious, Jiang Xue pressed, “What drama is it?”

“The Legend of Pinru—it’s about a closet, I think…”

Watching the two of them banter and parry, Xu Nian couldn’t help but want to hide her grin behind something.

With a flick of her fingers, a folding fan snapped open in her hand.

She burst into muffled laughter.

[Joy Level: 85%]