The Taste of Soufflé

............Alright, this chapter review is done. Tomorrow's class definitely won't be a problem.

Clo closed her textbook. Li Yue, sitting beside her, let out a long sigh of relief.

"Your foundation is so poor, how did you even get this far?" Clo seemed puzzled.

"I just fought my way here. Rituals, potions, I never used any of them," Li Yue recalled.

"So it's 'brute force wins,' huh?" Clo stood up, shook her long hair, and seemed to be in a good mood. "Now, let's pick out a dress."

"I'm a bit tired. I want to sleep." Li Yue demurred, quickly ran to her small bed, flopped onto it, and wrapped herself in the blanket, forming a long roll.

"Mm, good children shouldn't do that." Clo turned Li Yue around. "Alright, stay in this direction."

Clo waved her hand, and dozens of dresses appeared beside her. Li Yue's eyes narrowed, and her mouth involuntarily fell open. She then turned her body to face the wall again.

"If you don't choose, you'll have to wear this cute pink dress with me, you know." Clo climbed onto the bed and dangled a pink dress in front of Li Yue.

"No!" Li Yue reached out from under the blanket, trying to snatch the dress, but Clo caught her hands and pinned them behind her. She casually tossed the dress aside, pulled Li Yue to turn, and pressed her down.

The blanket she was wrapped in came undone, revealing her somewhat disheveled clothes, and even her small belly was exposed to the air.

"W-what... what are you doing...?" Li Yue's face flushed.

"I just remembered I have some tricky things to deal with this weekend..." Clo gave a mischievous smile. "So, our previous agreement seems to be void."

"Then... never mind... or just owe it to me for now."

"No," Clo puffed out her cheeks. "Agree to one condition, and I'll pack up and leave in a bit."

"What do you want...?"

"Kiss you once while you're awake." Clo ran her tongue over her inexplicably dry lips, and as she watched the slightly panicked Li Yue swallow, a predatory glint appeared in her eyes.

"Wait... isn't just one kiss too... wait." Li Yue's face turned slightly. She didn't struggle much, but her face grew even redder. "Why emphasize 'while awake'?"

"Heh heh~"

"What did you do last time while I was asleep...?" Li Yue was a little vexed and slightly bristled.

"Trust me, it was just one kiss."

"The way you say that makes me even more scared..."

"It's fine, you won't lose a piece of flesh." Clo's face moved closer. Li Yue's eyes trembled slightly as she watched the face she had once dreamed of now drawing nearer.

The sun had long set outside the window, and the crisp moonlight began to spread over the magical city. The once quiet street below, now that the academy had started classes, began to show signs of students. They wore purple and black robes, nibbling on freshly baked soufflés.

They were sweet, soft, melted in the mouth, and carried a slight warmth, making them feel comforting, along with a fragrant aroma.

Clo's lips slowly parted from Li Yue's small mouth. She slowly rose, seemingly still savoring the taste. Li Yue's hands were released, and the latter shyly covered half of her smiling face with the back of her hand, turning her head away, her eyes slightly narrowed, traces of tears seemingly still present.

"It felt like eating soufflé," Clo chuckled, getting off Li Yue. She straightened her clothes, picked up her bag, and thoughtfully turned off the light for Li Yue.

The latter still lay in the soft bed, her body, which had once withstood the power of toppling mountains, now a soft puddle, sunken into the mattress.

She turned over, pressing her somewhat flushed cheek against the cool pillow, but instead of her cheek cooling down, the pillow began to warm up as well.

"...Bastard, just coming over and doing whatever you want without even discussing it. How am I supposed to refuse...?" She pulled the blanket completely over herself, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. For someone who didn't even need to sleep every day, tonight would likely be another sleepless night.

Unlike hunger, unlike pain, unlike loneliness, this was a warm and happy sleepless night.

In a long, pure white corridor, a young woman instantly appeared, clad in a white robe with gold trim. A massive golden clock was embroidered on her waist, its hour and minute hands both pointing to 12, giving her an air of nobility and divinity.

She walked slowly, several guards already having opened the grand doors for her. At a five-sided table, four people were already seated, seemingly having waited for a long time. On the wall behind them was carved a colossal golden tree, gleaming brilliantly against the dark surface.

Clo took off her hood. Her expression seemed impatient, with a hint of regret and reluctance, as if she were unsatisfied.

She bit her fingernails, and her slight irritation was keenly noticed by the others.

"Shi, such agitation isn't like you," said the girl with mixed green and white hair, looking at Clo. One of her eyes was scarlet, the other emerald, and when she spoke, it was as if two voices overlapped.

"I'm fine, I'm perfectly fine, Kurong." Clo sat down.

"I accompanied Director Albert and Professor Stephenson to this negotiation, and it seems neither side managed to agree on anything," said the man in a long yellow trench coat, his face hidden behind a mask. His left eye wore an analytical device.

"It appears to be a very poor outcome." The woman in red clasped her hands, slowly praying, "Lord..."

"Is there a need to construct a defensive line now?" said the man in the blue robe, his voice deep, as if inherently carrying a powerful meaning.

"Blizzard, there's no need..."

"The Western Continent is barely developed; it's practically all their territory, isn't it...? And they're still not satisfied?" Clo's tone held a hint of displeasure.

"They've given birth to a new 'King,' and the struggle for territory and its rearrangement clearly affects everyone's interests," said the man in the golden trench coat, lacing his fingers, leaning back in his chair, and crossing his legs. "They want us to make concessions and show sufficient respect."

"Respect? It's quite interesting to hear that from you. I thought you only saw things as useful materials and useless materials, Alchemy." The woman called Kurong said with a faint sneer.

"Actually, it's just materials." The man smiled, seemingly having made his stance clear.

"It's time to vote. Concede... or..."

"This time, the old geezers also want to hear our opinions, so there's no chance to abstain."

"Then let's begin, everyone............"