"My companion, why is your body... trembling?"
Sandrone gently caressed Qin Yu, feigning surprise.
He was quite well-built.
Could it be that mentioning Her Majesty the Empress made him feel guilty?
"Trembling? Heh... I have been feeling a bit tired lately."
Qin Yu forced himself to remain calm, a strained smile on his face.
Cold sweat broke out as he faced Sandrone and Colombina's scrutinizing gazes.
He saw that the Electro Archon and Cryo Archon were still locked in a stalemate.
If this were exposed, it would likely trigger a Demon God War right then and there.
When did they become suspicious?!
"Hmph, then it must be truly tiring for a busy man like you... working day and night without rest."
Sandrone smiled amiably and pinched Qin Yu hard.
Greedy fellow, and he had the nerve to talk about it?
"Cough cough... I was also... forced into it."
Qin Yu said shamelessly, soothing the small hands of the two women.
One on each side, their touch felt wonderful.
Let's get close, no need to think about other things.
Of course, this had to be done behind the Empress's and the other women's backs.
Classic under-the-table maneuvers during a meeting.
"Hmph, tell me, how will you compensate me and Sister Colombina?"
Sandrone rolled her eyes and whispered.
Her free hand, not held by Qin Yu, poked at him.
A naked threat.
"I..."
Just as Qin Yu was about to speak.
"My travel companion, why don't we have a date today?"
A gentle voice suddenly sounded in his ear, making Qin Yu jolt.
He instinctively averted his gaze.
Colombina tilted her head, her beautiful hair cascading down.
On her delicately made-up face, there was a look of perfectly fitting expectation.
"Okay?"
It was a whisper like a lover's plea, utterly impossible to refuse.
But Qin Yu was an upright person!
"Cough... today... I might be a bit busy."
Qin Yu's expression stiffened as he suppressed the urge to agree, politely declining.
He took a sip of tea in silence.
His mind began to overload.
This was bad, why today of all days.
He had just made plans with the Empress to spend the entire day with her.
A date between a younger boyfriend and a domineering CEO.
But now Colombina was suddenly saying she wanted a date too!
It wasn't that he didn't want to; his schedule was truly full.
To avoid disaster, Qin Yu shook his head repeatedly.
If the Empress found out that her boyfriend was flirting with her subordinate while she was in a meeting...
That would be more than just a potato-growing problem!
"Busy?"
Colombina was not discouraged upon hearing this. Instead, a faint smile appeared on her face.
She gently poured tea for Qin Yu, her voice laced with curiosity.
"Is there something you need to do today?"
"I still have special training with the Empress."
"It's just guidance, it won't take much time, will it?"
"Ah, this..."
Facing the seemingly casual yet pointed questions,
Qin Yu's forehead beaded with sweat, overwhelmed.
The slightly dark-hearted "bad woman" Colombina was truly persistent!
Just then.
"Or perhaps..."
"My travel companion is already promised to another maiden."
Colombina leaned gently on Qin Yu's shoulder, her pretty face etched with a hint of melancholy.
Don't lie.
"I..."
Qin Yu opened his mouth, his throat bobbing.
Here it comes, the belated but inevitable fatal question!
How should he choose?
Should he admit it... or deny it?
Qin Yu wanted to activate his "playing dead" mode.
Even though this would earn him glares from the two women,
it was better than a fatal mistake by answering incorrectly!
However, the next moment, his eyes widened slowly.
"Sister Colombina, my companion is not scheduled to go out with any other girl."
"Because..."
Sandrone tilted her head, holding Qin Yu's hand, appearing adorably compliant.
It was time for the fatal blow.
"I already asked around~"
"...!!"
Qin Yu's body trembled.
He finally realized that Sandrone and Colombina had come prepared.
If none of the women had dating plans, who else could Qin Yu go on a date with?
It couldn't be Her Majesty the Empress, who had been with Qin Yu in the small wooden house just moments ago, could it?
A step-by-step lead-up, all for this moment.
This was bad, he had fallen into their trap.
Could it be that these two women were actually testing his relationship with the Empress?!
"Yes... no dates."
With no other retreat, Qin Yu could only nod.
"He admitted it."
Colombina and Sandrone smiled and simultaneously moved away.
The soft warmth left him, leaving a hint of loneliness.
"Then, don't forget our date."
"My companion."
"My travel companion."
...
The two women had things to attend to and left for the moment.
Qin Yu slumped on the table, his expression filled with existential dread.
He had simultaneously agreed to dates with the Cryo Archon, Colombina, and Sandrone.
This wasn't just a crash, it was a multi-car pileup.
Why had it turned out this way!
Just as Qin Yu was contemplating how to avoid a disastrous outcome.
On the other side.
"Ah... good tea."
Yae Guuji poured herself a cup of hot tea and held it in her hands.
She closed her eyes comfortably, her beautiful fox ears, as white as snow, unfurling and twitching.
The days of lazing around and enjoying life were truly delightful.
She blinked and looked beside her.
"Little fox, want to play a game? The winner gets fried tofu."
"A game? Next time."
Yae Miko replied listlessly, flipping a page of a light novel.
Her purple eyes narrowed as she pondered.
Ei, that idiot, had been increasingly abnormal lately.
In the past few days, whenever she visited Qin Yu's room in the evening to play games with him, Ei was nowhere to be seen.
Had she become a nun?
Even if it was that, the timing didn't match.
Well, it was normal for close friends to know each other's schedules, right?
Miss Fox sniffed the air of secrets.
Could it be that Ei already...
If Qin Yu didn't know yet, he really should learn some inside information.
Interesting.
Should she try to probe?
Thinking this, Yae's lips curved into a slight smile.
Finding a neutral party seemed necessary.
This person was...
"Not playing games? How boring."
Yae Guuji shook her head regretfully, suddenly sensing something and looking at Qin Yu.
"Alas... what to do." Qin Yu muttered to himself.
"..."
Yae Guuji's lips curved into an arc, her playful spirit ignited.
She nudged Yae Miko and whispered.
"Hey, if you don't play with me, I'm going to find Qin Yu."
"?"
Yae Miko's eyebrows twitched, and she glanced at Yae Guuji.
This old woman, she already took her fried tofu, and now she wanted to steal her man?
"Yae Guuji, help me with something."
"What is it?"
"Use your spell... and then make Qin Yu and Ei..."
The two foxes huddled together, plotting in secret.
"Achoo!"
Qin Yu sneezed.
He felt a chill down his spine.
...
Time passed, and the confrontation ended.
Finally, Qin Yu's allegiance was settled with the Empress.
After all, he still had guidance to provide.
Thus, the women, each with their own thoughts, left the small wooden house.
Qin Yu stood up to see them off.
How should he handle the dates with the three women?
Just as he sighed inwardly.
"Mr. Qin Yu, it seems you've encountered some trouble."
A lazy voice sounded, laced with a hint of teasing.
"Miss Yelan?"
Qin Yu blinked slightly, then reacted.
It was his personal secretary.