The next morning, Le Yi groggily opened her eyes, still somewhat dazed. Her throat felt dry, and she swallowed hard before noticing an unopened water bottle on the bedside table. She reached for it.
Her hands felt weak from the hangover, and after several failed attempts to twist the cap open, Mu Chengsi's lazy voice came from beside her. "Give it here, I'll open it for you."
As she handed over the water, Le Yi saw Xiao Jingqu still sleeping nearby, and memories from last night flooded back. After moistening her throat, she asked, "Where's Yu Li?"
Mu Chengsi checked her phone and yawned. "In the next room with Bo Jingmo."
Ever since learning about Yu Li's meeting with Yu Jiao last night, Mu Chengsi had been on edge, dreading Yu Jiao's interrogation. Though she knew this confrontation was inevitable, facing it was an entirely different matter—she'd barely slept all night.
Rubbing her still-aching head, Le Yi noticed Xiao Jingqu waking up and handed her the water bottle when she reached for a drink. Mu Chengsi turned to them and asked, "Yu Li wants to know if you want breakfast in the room or downstairs together? She said—"
Before finishing, her expression froze as her eyes widened in shock. "Holy shit! Already?!"
Le Yi looked puzzled. "What?"
Yu Jiao: [When can you come by? I have some questions for you.]
Simple words, yet dripping with unspoken pressure.
Mu Chengsi stared at her phone in dismay—speak of the devil. Yu Jiao must have uncovered Yu Li's identity and discovered they were roommates. She immediately screenshotted the message and sent it to Yu Li.
Mu Chengsi: [I'm so dead.]
Yu Li: [Let me know when you go. I'll erase the memory.]
Yu Li: [Or don't, if you think you can lie to her.]
Mu Chengsi: [...Fine. Wait for me.]
But Yu Jiao hadn't just reached out to Mu Chengsi—Xin Hao messaged Yu Li at the same time.
Xin Hao: [Yu Jiao contacted me. Straight up asked if I'd recruited new teammates. You met her?]
Yu Li: [Last night. You're back already?]
Xin Hao: [Yeah, no way I'm meeting her in person. She'd extract everything in minutes.]
Sitting in a chair, Yu Li tapped her phone screen thoughtfully before explaining the situation to the man beside her. He looked up and asked gently, "You don't want to be discovered?"
Yu Li chuckled and stretched. "At first, no. But this world clearly doesn't want us hiding. Might as well play along."
Running into Jiang Xi and Wan Wanwan last night had confirmed she couldn't avoid this. Yu Jiao would come for her directly if she hit dead ends elsewhere.
Bo Jingmo remained silent for a moment before suddenly standing. His long legs carried him to the couch where he crouched before her, reaching up to caress her face.
The hotel room was warm, and he'd changed into a simple gray hoodie—last night's black suit, accidentally stained, had been sent for dry cleaning. The slightly open neckline revealed bite marks scattered across his collarbone. His lips curved in a gentle smile as dark locks fell over his forehead, softening his sharp features. Warmth shone in his deep, bright eyes as he tenderly stroked her cheek with his thumb.
"It's fine if she finds out," he murmured steadily. "Leave Deva to me."
Noticing her handiwork on his neck, Yu Li blinked before deliberately looking away and pressing a kiss to his face. "Okay."
Yu Li's prediction proved correct—after getting unsatisfactory answers from Mu Chengsi, Yu Jiao came straight to her.
Having instructed Mu Chengsi to take their other roommates away, Yu Jiao stationed herself where Yu Li would pass after class. The moment Yu Li exited the lecture building, she spotted the woman waiting by the entrance.
Unlike her usual professional attire, Yu Jiao wore casual clothes today—a white down jacket softening her presence. Spotting Yu Li, she stepped forward with a polite smile. "Could we talk?"
Yu Li studied her silently before smiling slowly. "Sure."
They went to a nearby café. Yu Jiao observed the composed young woman across from her. "You don't seem surprised I found you."
Yu Li's gaze returned from the window. "Oh, I am."
Yu Jiao shook her head with a laugh, but before she could speak, Yu Li continued with an amused tone, "What? Did your skill detect I'm lying?"
Startled, Yu Jiao raised an eyebrow. "You even know about my abilities? Did Mu Chengsi tell you? Or Xin Hao?"
Yu Li didn't answer, lazily leaning back. "If this is an interrogation, I should leave."
Studying those unreadable fox-like eyes, Yu Jiao paused before finally taking a sip of tea. "I know you're Bo Jingmo's girlfriend. I came to propose something."
"Would you consider joining Deva?" Without waiting for an answer, she pressed on, "I know you're with X, but whatever benefits Xin Hao offers, we can match—and exceed them."
Yu Li let out a soft laugh. "Poaching? Isn't that unethical?"
Her flippant tone made it clear she wasn't taking this seriously. Yu Jiao's smile faded as she set down her cup with a sharp clink. Behind her glasses, her eyes narrowed.
"Yu Li, I don't know when your organization started, but your rank surpasses even Mu Chengsi's. And you only got with Bo Jingmo after he joined the instance—you've been planted beside him all along. Aren't you afraid I'll expose you to him?"
Yu Li actually laughed at this. "So what if I was? So what if I wasn't?"
Propping her chin on her hand, she gave Yu Jiao a challenging look, spinning her phone idly. "Go ahead and tell him. Guess who he'll believe—you or me? Or shall I call him right now to confirm?"
She'd never encountered such brazen defiance. Worse yet, her skill confirmed every word was true.
This woman's confidence stemmed from having Bo Jingmo completely wrapped around her finger. Only one thought occupied Yu Jiao's mind now:
How on earth had she managed it? Making Bo Jingmo fall for her so completely, in such little time.