This is a Problem

“Why was the timing so perfect?”

Linlin couldn’t help but question it in her heart.

Originally, she hadn’t really believed Xiao Lin’s words.

After all, Xiao Lin’s evidence wasn’t solid—there were too many doubts.

Deep down, Linlin still chose to trust Mavis.

But what had just happened seemed to support Xiao Lin’s claim.

She had just been ambushed by Alice, and Mavis just happened to show up and play the hero.

What was this, some TV drama or anime?

That kind of coincidence?

The only explanation was—Mavis had been following her.

Otherwise, why not earlier or later, but precisely at that moment?

Linlin pressed her lips together, her emotions tangled.

The scale of doubt was already tipping toward Xiao Lin.

“Mavis!” Linlin stopped walking.

Mavis halted as well, looking at Linlin, who had been silent ever since they left the Tribunal.

“Why did you show up at such a perfect time?”

Mavis scratched her head and said seriously, “I just happened to be patrolling that area.”

Linlin felt deeply disappointed.

Mavis panicked and immediately dropped her pride.

“Okay, okay, I’ll tell the truth. Actually, I was chasing a somewhat familiar suspicious person, and then I accidentally got lost… hehe.”

Linlin’s eyes lit up for a moment—
then dimmed again.

She still wouldn’t tell the truth?

She couldn’t even come up with a more reasonable excuse?

Heh. Got lost?

Who gets lost so perfectly—time, place, everything lining up just right?

Seeing that Linlin was still unhappy, Mavis grew confused and said softly, “Did I do something wrong, Linlin? Tell me—I’ll fix it.”

Linlin snorted, glancing away, and said:

“Yes, you did something wrong. Very wrong. You shouldn’t have come so early.

You should’ve come later wait until Linlin was completely desperate, then descend like a hero and save her.

That way, under the suspension bridge effect, Linlin would become emotionally dependent and cling to you even more.

No, no—that’s still not enough.

You should’ve ignored everything and only appeared after Linlin had been violated.

At that point, she’d be trapped in fear and anxiety.

All you’d need to do is comfort her a little, and she’d never be able to leave you again.

Not only that, this would become a permanent thorn in Linlin’s heart.

Out of guilt, no matter what mistakes you made, Linlin would be forced to tolerate them.

You could happily collect mistresses—second, third, even build a whole harem of three thousand—and enjoy a heavenly life.

No, actually, maybe that was your plan from the start.

You just stepped in early because your possessiveness couldn’t stand a ‘tainted’ Linlin.

Isn’t that right?”

The moment she finished speaking, Linlin realized she had lost control.

Those words sounded childish.

She pressed her lips together, calmed herself slightly, and started walking again, planning to go back and sort out her thoughts alone.

Mavis didn’t fully understand Linlin’s long speech.

But she knew one thing Linlin had entered her third form.

The first form was Soft Linlin—gentle, cute, calling her “dear,” and in a good mood.

The second form was Strong Linlin—less willing to act soft, and capable of chasing Mavis down three streets if she messed up.

The third form was Sarcastic Linlin when anger reached its peak, Linlin entered an incomprehensible state.

Her words became hard to understand, impossible to read.

You could never tell whether she meant what she said or the opposite.

But no matter what, Mavis knew one thing. Right now, Linlin needed to be comforted.

Maybe she could wait for Linlin to figure things out on her own.
But Mavis didn’t want to do that.

Even if going up to her now would likely earn more sarcasm.

Because she was Linlin’s wife. It was her responsibility.

So Mavis hurried after her.

Linlin’s stubborn competitiveness flared up.
She started running, refusing to let Mavis catch her.

“Huh?”

Mavis thought for a moment, then decided to speed up.

In a fit of anger, Linlin used abnormal speed.

“Linlin is so fast!” Mavis exclaimed. “But I’m faster.”

Mavis accelerated even more.

She ran.

She chased.

She couldn’t escape.

In the end, Linlin was caught.

Frustrated, she snapped, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you chasing me?”

“I’m here to apologize to Linlin. I’m sorry—I was wrong. Will you forgive me?”

Mavis held onto Linlin’s hand, shaking it.

“I… let go first.”

“No. Not until Linlin forgives me.”

“You… I…”
Linlin sulked.

She didn’t understand why she had wanted to calmly discuss the issue.

But somehow, she always got dragged into Mavis’ rhythm, her emotions swaying along with her.

It wasn’t rational at all.

And Mavis she was like a child.

They were fifty meters from home.

Flowers planted by nearby residents bloomed brightly around them.

But Mavis’ gaze never left Linlin.

She watched as Linlin raised her hand and gently cupped her cheek.

Before hugging, Linlin always did this.

Mavis felt happy. She thought Linlin had forgiven her.

She opened her arms, waiting for the hug.

But—

Linlin smiled slyly and ran off.

Mavis: ???

Linlin rushed home and immediately locked the door.

“Finally… some peace.”

She leaned against the door, letting out a breath.

She needed quiet. She needed time.

“Linlin, I really know I was wrong.”

“Wrong where—”

Linlin instinctively replied, then froze.

The voice came from inside the house.

She stared at Mavis in shock. “How did you get in?”

“Hehe, the second-floor window wasn’t locked. I climbed in.”

Mavis scratched her head, feeling pretty clever.

“You… you…”

Linlin collapsed weakly against the door.

“Why are you so impossible to shake off?!
Can’t you just let me be alone for a while?”
Her voice trembled slightly.

“Ah—okay, okay! I’ll go! I’ll go! Don’t be upset, Linlin!”

Mavis panicked.

This was the first time she had made Linlin cry outside the bedroom.

She hurried out and ran far away.

Very far.

After Mavis left, Linlin let out a heavy sigh.

She wasn’t actually on the verge of breaking down.

But with Mavis around, she felt an inexplicable suffocating pressure.

She couldn’t breathe.

She needed time.

Meanwhile—

Mavis was feeling just as down.

She didn’t understand what she had done wrong.

But she knew she must have done something that hurt Linlin.

No matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn’t figure it out.

So—she activated her “super intelligence.”

Super intelligence concluded: If Linlin was sad, then just make her happy.

“Oh! Right!”

Positive plus negative cancels out—then Linlin won’t be sad anymore.

But…How do you make Linlin happy?

That was the real problem.