A Morning of Discontent and Negotiation

The next day.

It was the fifth day since she had met Mo Linyu.

“Mmm…”

Li Yue awoke to an indescribable sensation, groaning softly as she sat up in bed.

This was the first time Li Yue had woken up as herself, in her female form, after all. Alezno was right beside her, and according to the Goddess, as long as an otherworldly soul was near her, she wouldn’t be able to revert to her original body.

“Haaah—”

A sigh escaped her lips.

A longing for her male form, which she wouldn’t see again anytime soon, filled her. Even before her eyes were fully open, Li Yue sat on the bed and let out a sigh.

“Good morning, you don’t seem to have slept well.”

It was Alezno’s voice. Li Yue opened her eyes to find her seated on a chair beside her bed.

Not only that, but she was also idly fiddling with the “Holy Sword.” The golden baseball bat was propped between her legs, her hands resting on its tip. The height was just right for her to brush her cheek against it.

Though it was an unintentional gesture, it was the source of Li Yue’s strange sensation.

It had already been confirmed when Su Luoli held the baseball bat previously, but the bat’s touch seemed to evoke certain physiological responses that shouldn’t exist… No, it wasn’t even quite the same as that feeling.

There had been no such phenomenon back in the other world.

“Indeed, not very well… *cough*, Ale, please don’t rub against the Holy Sword like that.”

Alezno carefully placed the Holy Sword back on the desk.

“My apologies, I shouldn’t have moved your weapon without permission.”

She mistakenly believed Li Yue was upset because she had touched the Holy Sword.

“…There’s no need to apologize. I wasn’t scolding you.”

Li Yue cast off the blanket covering her. She glanced at her lower body, ensuring the sensation she’d just felt was merely a phantom limb pain. Only then did she sit on the edge of the bed, searching for her slippers.

Then she asked, “What about you? Did you sleep well last night?”

“Mmm, I’m still a little unaccustomed to it,” Alezno replied with a wry smile.

Last night, Li Yue had arranged for her to sleep in her mother’s room, which was currently vacant.

After all, they couldn’t actually sleep together, could they?

Li Yue still identified as male. And Alezno’s situation was similar, though Li Yue had always viewed her as a timid elven girl.

With both of them currently inhabiting female bodies, sharing a bed would make them equally uncomfortable.

“But I didn’t sleep well.”

Li Yue rubbed her eyes, speaking with a hint of distress. “I had a nightmare. I dreamt that the viewership for my prime-time evening stream was still lower than the Demon Lord’s afternoon stream.”

Alezno scratched her cheek.

“Moon, that wasn’t a dream.”

“Ugh…”

Alezno’s words only intensified Li Yue’s anguish.

Perhaps Mo Linyu had, in essence, already seized control of her live stream.

Just then, a knock sounded on the bedroom door.

Li Yue turned her head to see Mo Linyu standing at the doorway, hands on her hips.

“Well, finally awake? Now that you’re up, come have breakfast.”

The mere sight of the Demon Lord made Li Yue’s brows furrow. Then she glanced at the alarm clock on the desk.

“…It’s only six in the morning. Aren’t you coming earlier and earlier?”

A significant reason for Li Yue’s growing annoyance with Mo Linyu wasn’t that her past life had been that of the Demon Lord, but rather her complete disregard for Li Yue’s personal time.

Her self-absorbed mannerisms were akin to those of a spoiled young lady from a TV drama…

And frustratingly, that’s precisely what she was.

“What are you doing here so early?” Li Yue asked, her voice laced with irritation.

“Looking for someone.”

“Me?”

“Mmm~ I’m looking for you to look for someone.”

As Mo Linyu spoke, she walked over to the head of Li Yue’s bed. She crossed her arms across her chest… or rather, beneath her chest. Her breasts, supported by her arms, swayed slightly.

“You said yesterday wasn’t good, but today should be fine, right? It’s time for us to go find someone. Of course, you can eat breakfast first; I’ve already brought it for you. It’s on the table.”

Mo Linyu gestured towards the outside of the bedroom. Li Yue persisted in her plea.

“…I need some personal time. Even if I were going to a part-time job, I wouldn’t have to start this early.”

Mo Linyu glanced at the alarm clock and said,

“I can wait for you until eight.”

“But I don’t have an 8 AM shift!”

Despite her protests, she still got out of bed with a disgruntled expression.

****

“I can’t believe it, you actually eat sweet douhua (TL Note: A popular Chinese dessert or breakfast dish made from very tender tofu, often served with sweet toppings like syrup or fruit, or savory toppings like soy sauce and chili oil)!” Li Yue complained, her face etched with displeasure.

“There, there, I’ll buy you savory doufunao next time.”

“I eat spicy.”

“Fine, spicy doufunao. We’ve been out for half an hour, and you’re still grumbling about this?”

Having finished the street breakfast Mo Linyu had brought, the three left the residential area, entered the subway station, and boarded a train heading towards the city center.

Alezno’s understanding of transportation like the subway was limited to the knowledge Su Luoli had imparted to her.

Consequently, she behaved like a country girl visiting the city for the first time. Her gaze flitted erratically with the surging crowd.

She clung closely to Li Yue’s heels. At one point, she even instinctively reached out to tug at Li Yue’s sleeve, only to awkwardly let go each time she realized what she was doing.

Naturally, there were no seats available on the subway during rush hour.

Thus, they stood in the aisle between two carriages.

Li Yue sighed, then asked, “So, what’s your plan for today?”

“Just wandering around, same as before.”

“That hardly counts as a plan.”

“We can’t really have a plan. This matter can’t even be entrusted to others.”

Mo Linyu had no specific destination, as there were no clues or targets.

“Listen.”

Li Yue spoke in a very serious tone. “Before, I couldn’t move independently because if I left you, I might suddenly transform on the street due to another otherworldly soul.”

“Mhm.” Mo Linyu simply nodded.

Li Yue pointed at Alezno and continued, “But now that we’ve found Ale, I can move freely within the city even without following you.”

Mo Linyu glanced around. She raised a hand, making a shushing gesture.

Then she pointed downward, towards her chest.

[Don’t be too loud. This is a public place.]

The dialogue box hovering above her chest displayed this message.

Li Yue raised an eyebrow.

The subway during rush hour was indeed incredibly crowded. However, she had certainly noticed the gazes from their surroundings.

After all, Li Yue’s golden hair and Mo Linyu’s appearance were both quite striking.

Anyone would be tempted to take a second look… Alezno, on the other hand, was fine; no one seemed to notice her at all.

If they uttered anything stranger, it would only draw more suspicion.

Mo Linyu continued to convey her thoughts telepathically.

[You don’t have the sensing ability.]

“No, I don’t, and neither does Ale.”

Li Yue lowered her voice and continued, “So there’s absolutely no need for all three of us to search for someone. You go look, and if you find any clues, come find us… I don’t want to be tethered to you.”

This was indeed a more logical arrangement, and Mo Linyu found herself unable to refute it.

“Mhm, you are free, you always have been… but…”

[But acting alone makes me feel lonely, Hero. I need your help.]

[We’re still partners, are you really going to let me act alone?]

Mo Linyu’s telepathic thoughts caused Li Yue’s brows to furrow slightly.

Li Yue’s reaction, in turn, left Alezno bewildered.

Li Yue stated, “I don’t want to waste time.”

[We’ll get off at the next station and switch modes of transport. I’ve taken the subway a few times already; continuing on this route is unlikely to yield new discoveries.]

“It seems you’re not entirely without a plan after all.”

As Li Yue spoke, Mo Linyu finally opened her mouth.

“After lunch, you two can go home and stream. Just the morning should be fine, right?”

She had made a concession. Yet, Li Yue pressed for a further demand.

“From now on, don’t come to my place before nine in the morning. Let me get some proper sleep.”

[😞 Alright.]

[😑 That’s not an unreasonable request.]

‘Why can I even see emojis through telepathy?’

Li Yue, for her part, sighed.

Meanwhile, the subway train came to a stop at the platform.