---

Chapter 59: Thanks for the Treat

That delicate fingertip caught Roy’s eye once more, making him realize just how beautiful this hand—longed for by countless boys—really was, causing him to completely forget about the cookie.

However, just as Roy was about to take a bite, the girl flicked her finger and pulled the cookie back, popping it into her own mouth instead.

She covered the corner of her mouth, her purple eyes glinting with the joy of a successful scheme, as if she were admiring a cute little animal, mumbling, “Junior, you’re so cute!”

Roy froze.

His fists hardened.

Since when do you call a guy cute? She’s obviously teasing me!

This girl, who’d never had a crush in her life, thinks she can just mess with me like this?!

Roy took a breath, composed himself, and casually retorted, “If we’re talking cute, I think Senior is cuter.”

Leanna blinked in surprise, “Huh?”

“You take care of me so much; I should be the one treating you, right?” As he spoke, Roy grabbed a cookie and held it out to Leanna.

“Junior, it’s rare to see you being so proactive.”

“Just a little gesture, don’t reject it,” Roy replied.

“Reject? Not at all, it’s just… a bit embarrassing,” Leanna’s gaze flickered, her hands unconsciously tightening as if she was wavering.

Hah, bad woman, is that all you’ve got? High offense, low defense; can’t handle it when it’s your turn to be teased? Roy felt a secret thrill.

He planned to replicate Leanna’s tactics, yanking the cookie away just as she opened her mouth, then mercilessly laughing at her awkwardness.

A witch, a senior, a bad woman—this is it?

Roy almost laughed out loud: “So, Senior gets embarrassed too?”

“Look who’s talking! I’ve never dated anyone before, this is my first time doing something like this.”

“Everything has a first time,” Roy leaned in closer.

“Fair point.”

With a slight sigh, Leanna tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, gently closed her eyes, and parted her soft lips, revealing flawless silver teeth and a pink tongue, sticking out like a little snake coming closer.

The movement had an inexplicably seductive quality.

But Roy wasn’t about to soften up just because of her looks! He aimed to humiliate this bad woman decisively!

Just as he prepared to pull his hand back, the girl—who appeared to have anticipated his move—grabbed his hand and took a bite.

Her moist lips seemed unsatisfied with just the cookie, biting gently and then lingering, savoring it like the most exquisite delicacy.

A tingling sensation surged from the tips of his fingers like electricity, sending a shiver down Roy’s spine, his face burning.

“You…”

After what felt like several seconds, Leanna finally pulled back, squinting her eyes happily and licking her lips.

“Thanks for the treat!”

“Leanna!”

“There’s a first time for everything. You don’t need to be so nervous, Junior.”

Though she claimed to have never dated, Leanna seemed like a natural at this, with just a smile or a frown enough to captivate hearts and minds.

As the girl’s silver laughter echoed, Roy turned bright red, letting out a heavy sigh as he reluctantly accepted reality.

He might really not be able to outplay her.

But in his dismay, the boy failed to notice that after the teasing laughter, Leanna discreetly covered her cheeks, hiding a rare glimpse of nervousness and shyness.

After a quick coffee break, Roy walked back to the streets with Leanna.

They didn’t linger in the commercial center but took a stroll by the scenic riverside in the park.

Autumn was in full bloom, with maple leaves radiant, while the warm sunlight sprinkled over a wide scenic river. The banks were a sight to behold with all the vibrant reds, like a curtain of red rain falling gently with the wind.

The water was clear, tranquil as glass. The reflections of the ginkgo trees danced on the surface like a soft red watercolor painting, creating an absolutely breathtaking view.

The brown-haired girl walked a few paces ahead of the black-haired boy, basking in the red rain and occasionally glancing back, offering a simple smile that was more enchanting than the autumn’s maple.

In that moment, Leanna lacked her usual poise, without the mischievous smile she wore when alone with him, seemingly revealing a genuine emotion.

For a brief instance, Roy felt an illusion that he was truly just accompanying a mature, graceful senior on a date.

Unfortunately, after only a few steps, Leanna suddenly slithered back to him like a slippery snake.

“Junior, I’m feeling cold.”

“So?”

“You really are dense. Can’t you just glance around at a time like this?”

All around them were couples holding hands and even hugging closely.

Roy didn’t need to look to know her intentions; he sighed at how short the map of his country was.

But if everything goes her way, this bad woman would totally take him for a ride!

Roy ignored the girl’s outstretched hand. Instead, he shrugged off his jacket and tossed it over to her without looking back, continuing to walk forward.

“If you’re cold, put it on yourself.”

Watching the seemingly indifferent boy’s back, Leanna tightly hugged the jacket to her chest, her lips curling up slightly.

She said she was just playing around, yet here she was, feeling a bit touched despite his rejection.

She was starting to understand why Charlotte and Nia were drawn to him.

There are so many smooth-talking guys—Leanna herself was one of them, so she found them tiresome. With her status as a kingdom’s princess and an elf descendant, she wouldn’t glance at those bland folks.

But Roy’s unintentional kindness was just like delicious honey, tempting her to fall deeper.

Leanna slipped on the boy’s jacket, pulling it a bit tighter, enveloped in his warmth, a complex feeling within her, both satisfied and troubled.

In relationships, whoever falls first loses.

Leanna wanted the boy before her. This greedy desire wasn’t out of love but more like a conquest and possession, as if she were eyeing a toy she’d toss aside once bored—

That’s how it should be.

But unexpectedly, she found herself getting more and more entangled.

Even if her mind understood what was happening, her restless heart remained beyond her control.

Leanna felt a twinge of resentment.

Ah, I planned to claim him for myself, but if it goes on like this, what if I end up falling first?

Resentment aside, with the auction coming up, once their collaboration ended, Roy would likely distance himself from her again.

Today might be her last chance to win him over.

Leanna gathered her resolve and took a step forward, ready to launch a new round of attack, when suddenly she froze.

The stirring of her blood came out of nowhere.

The beautiful autumn scenery instantly turned to a dark crimson in her eyes.

With every heartbeat, a tearing pain surged, accompanied by an overwhelming desire to kill, crushing her consciousness until she could barely breathe.

The side effect of her bloodline caught Leanna off guard, and with her vision darkening, she fell backward.

At the edge of her sight, the boy’s figure blurred beneath a haze of blood.

Damn it, why now of all times…

Yet, Leanna never expected she wouldn’t fall, as a steady hand caught her gently.

“Seriously, how do you trip while walking?”

Under Roy’s strange gaze, Leanna froze momentarily, speechless.

The unbearable pain, the uncontrollable killing intent, and the frightening dark red haze—all vanished, leaving only blue skies, white clouds, and the boy’s face, which was even more captivating than the clear autumn day.

 

---