Chapter 279: The PUA Saintess Experiences the Taste of Being Played; Mary Sue’s Second-Stage Taming (4)
Shia chuckled, wrapping an arm around Sistine’s shoulder.
“She’s just a neighbor saying hello. No big deal.”
Of course, he knew why White had hurriedly left.
Faced with the overwhelming allure of his blood—an almost cheat-level bug—it made sense for her to retreat out of caution.
Though their conversation had been brief, who else could claim to have made the Eternal Night True Ancestor take the initiative?
Everything was progressing in the right direction.
When Shia turned, he immediately caught Lilith’s approving gaze from a distance.
Lilith hadn’t anticipated this unexpected turn of events. Her original plan had been for Shia to approach the True Ancestor himself. Seeing him flaunt his relationship with Sistine in front of White had made her anxious.
But to her surprise, he had managed to catch White’s interest by dancing with another goddess.
'He’s so good at this!'
By showing familiarity and intimacy with the Sword Saintess—another of the academy’s famed goddesses, who was known as a high mountain flower—he had naturally piqued the interest of the aloof Eternal Night True Ancestor.
Lilith’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
'He really knows what he’s doing.'
'Getting others to come to you is far more effective than making the first move.'
Properly acknowledging a job well done was essential. As an expert manipulator herself, Lilith understood the importance of positive reinforcement.
After everything wrapped up, she made a point of seeking Shia out to offer her praise.
“You did pretty well at the ball earlier.”
Though her words were complimentary, her smug, superior demeanor remained intact, radiating the air of a “bad woman” who always had the upper hand.
“Getting others to approach you is indeed the best strategy,” she said. “You’ve grasped that concept well. Keep it up!”
Lilith gave Shia a light pat on the shoulder as she spoke.
Shia smiled, ignoring her condescending tone, and smoothly followed her lead.
“Things are going well so far, but if we want to make real progress, the current level of connection isn’t enough.”
Lilith’s eyes filled with pride.
'What an excellent fiancé!'
Even after a successful step forward, he wasn’t arrogant or complacent but instead kept his sights set on greater goals.
“What’s your plan?” she asked, her tone genuinely curious.
Though she was confident in her own abilities, she recognized that Shia might have ideas she hadn’t considered. It was always wise to remain open to suggestions.
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Especially when the other party demonstrated their ability to strategize.
Shia smiled—a new round of PUA had begun.
"So, tell me, how can one increase their appeal to a vampire?"
He emphasized the words "to a vampire" deliberately.
Lilith's previous observations had always focused on White's personal preferences and habits.
But what if they approached it from a racial perspective instead?
Under his guidance, Lilith and the base started brainstorming.
Vampire… blood…
Suddenly, Lilith’s eyes lit up.
"Blood!"
Shia gave her a look of approval and nodded in satisfaction.
Guessing the correct answer, Lilith felt a mix of excitement and pride from being praised.
"Now, tell me, when is human blood at its most appealing?"
But when it came to this question, Lilith hesitated, looking troubled.
Shia, ever the patient guide, continued to prompt her.
"For a vampire, blood is like food. The fresher and more active it is, the better it tastes, right?"
Lilith nodded.
"Then tell me, when is a person’s blood the most active, with the fastest flow and the highest temperature?"
Lilith nodded again.
"So, the key is to stir up a person’s emotions to their peak—that's when the taste reaches perfection."
Lilith kept nodding.
At that moment, her admiration for Shia reached its peak.
As expected, he truly was her fiancé—so well-trained by her!
"Earlier, you said you wanted to help me as much as possible, right?"
Shia smiled faintly, his expression carrying a deeper, more meaningful undertone.
This time, he really needed his "good" fiancée to sacrifice for the cause.
"Now is the time I need your help the most!"
Seeing Shia’s smile, Lilith froze mid-action. She didn’t even need to think—she immediately understood his intentions.
A chill ran down her neck, and she instinctively took a small step back.
Though she had previously claimed she could help out, now that it was time to act, she found herself hesitating.
"How about this—I’ll go get Tia to come over!"
She spoke hastily, already planning her escape.
Of course, this kind of thing should be left to her maid.
But this time, she couldn’t run away.
Shia reached out and grabbed her wrist.
Her slender wrist felt slightly cool to the touch, and with just a light grip, her delicate, soft hand was completely held in his.
He looked straight into Lilith’s eyes. In his dark pupils, there seemed to be an indescribable emotion swirling.
Lilith’s heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly felt weak all over.
"I don’t want her."
Shia’s voice was calm, but it carried a deep affection.
"The only one I’ve ever liked is you."
Lilith instinctively tried to pull her hand back.
But for some reason, even though Shia wasn’t holding her tightly, she couldn’t manage to break free.
Her heart was racing, and her face was starting to feel hot.
"I… that… before…"
Before, it had always been fine for someone else to step in, right?
Why was it suddenly her turn now?
Lilith’s voice was a little muddled, and her words came out indistinctly.
Even though she didn’t finish her sentence, the meaning was clear.
"Everything I did before was for you."
Shia held her soft, delicate hand in his, gazing at her with deep affection.
"My feelings for you—do you still not understand them?"
Lilith’s heart beat even faster.
She had only wanted to change the subject, but hearing Shia’s words now, she felt even more confused.
"She’s the person closest to you. I was afraid you’d reject me, so I could only follow your arrangements."
"But now, I don’t want to go against my heart anymore."
"From beginning to end, the only one I’ve ever wanted is you."
"Besides, only someone you truly love can stir emotions to their peak."
"Only then can the blood reach its most delectable state."
"But I don’t want to force you."
"If you’re unwilling…"
Shia didn’t finish his sentence, but his gaze fell, a hint of sorrow evident in his lowered eyes.
Under this barrage of subtle PUA tactics, Lilith felt even more disoriented.
Oh no, she had no idea she was so important to him.
Thinking back to how she had previously asked Tia to take her place in such situations… he must have been so upset back then, right?
Lilith lowered her eyes, not daring to meet Shia’s gaze.
Her heart was a mix of shock and a strange, uncomfortable feeling.
Now, she was left with two choices.
One, step up herself.
Or two, insist on refusing and let Tia take her place.
But if Tia replaced her, how could his emotions reach their peak?
And without reaching that emotional climax, the appeal to White wouldn’t be maximized.
If White wasn’t drawn in, Shia wouldn’t be able to win her over.
And wouldn’t that mean that the ice-cold goddess she herself admired would always remain out of reach?
But stepping up herself… she felt unwilling and resistant.
What should she do?