Love, Gun, Cupid

Walls or doors and windows could not stop her yearning for warmth. Warmth was in Lin Jiade's room. Lin Jiade and Jasmine fell asleep in each other's arms. Their soul flames mingled together, becoming even more radiant. Warmth was in the space between their bodies.

"No, I can't..."

Though she said this, Gladiolus's soul passed through the wall and came to the bedside. The bright moonlight shone through the glass, through the gaps in the curtains, through her translucent body, illuminating the faces of Lin Jiade and Jasmine.

For a fleeting moment, Gladys was healed by the peaceful sleeping faces of the two young people, feeling a sense of comfort like a mother seeing the children she had raised. But then she realized that she was not the Gladys she had always known, not some thirty-year-old woman...

If the past persona is rejected, what about the prohibitions attached to that persona?

Once the dangerous thought took hold, it became an irreversible impulse in Jianlan's heart. Her body plummeted towards the bed, floating between the two men, embracing them both—the warmth of the living. The satisfaction of desire transformed into ecstatic pleasure, assaulting Jianlan's soul.

"Jasmine...I'm sorry," Gladiolus whispered.

Lin Jiade and Jasmine shared a cold dream, and they woke up at roughly the same time, their hazy vision reflecting each other's gaze.

Today is the 28th, Sunday. There are no classes, and no expedition to the Mirror Realm, only the exam this afternoon. Lin Jiade pulled out his textbook from under his pillow, casually pulled Jasmine into his arms, and when he touched her ribs, he suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "You've gained weight... Ouch!"

Jasmine nudged Lin Jiade gently and explained, "This is a hormonal change; my body is preparing for childbirth."

"Is it because of Ms. Jianlan's cooking that you ate an extra bowl of rice?"

“I don’t deny that.”

Jasmine felt uncomfortable with the pillow and was about to change her position when she suddenly noticed the hickey on Lin Jiade's neck. She paused for a moment, licked her lips, and leaned in. With a soft kiss, she left a wet mark on the skin that perfectly overlapped with the hickey.

"I kissed him?" Jasmine asked, somewhat bewildered. "I have absolutely no recollection of it."

Before she could think it through, Lin Jiade dropped his textbook, rolled over and moved closer. She was intoxicated by her boyfriend's kisses, and her initial slight resistance as she pushed against his chest quickly turned into an embrace. With a burst of strength, she pressed Lin Jiade down onto the bed.

Lin Jiade beneath her showed a hint of anticipation, but Jasmine merely touched his forehead and slapped the textbook across his face.

"Ugh."

Lin Jiade sighed. With the administration of the medication, Jasmine, who had become timid due to the approaching heat, was gone forever. Jasmine enjoyed kisses, hugs, and all the tender interactions, but there was no longer any passion in her behavior.

"I still have an exam today, right? And I'll be going back to school soon too."

"When?"

"If all goes well, we'll have another two weeks."

Lin Jiade got up and opened the door, only to see Jianlan staring blankly at a cookbook. When she saw him, she turned her head away in slight panic. Lin Jiade assumed she was confused about her identity and didn't suspect anything.

He said sincerely, "I know you're feeling bad, ma'am. After I finish my last exam tomorrow, let's have a good talk and discuss what kind of life we ​​want to live. Until then, let's maintain the status quo, okay?"

"But what about your seniors..."

As soon as he said "Kapok," Kapok arrived. Lin Jiade's phone rang, and after he answered, Kapok said, "Are you alright?"

"Oh, I'm fine, just a little tired."

Lin Jiade recounted what had happened yesterday to Mu Mian (omitting the unspeakable secrets), emphasizing her involvement with the incident on October 4th, before saying, "Sorry, I was too tired and forgot to let you know I was safe."

“I know you didn’t die, you just returned to our world, so don’t panic too much,” Kapok replied.

"Oh, so who's driving to their junior's house so early in the morning?"

Hehuan's voice came through the phone. Mumian quickly hung up, and called back shortly after, asking, "Do you have an exam today?"

"Correct."

"We'll talk when you finish your exam."

"it is good."

Mu Mian hung up the phone again, and Lin Jiade asked curiously, "Strange, how did you keep track of my status in real time, senior?"

Jianlan was confused about her own situation, but she could see some of the tricks of others, so she replied, "Your predecessor left a mark on you, so the other party can roughly grasp your condition."

"When?"

"At least by October 22nd, before I awoke inside you, your connection already existed."

"Oh."

Aren't you surprised?

"Senior is probably worried about me. Besides, I'm surrounded by such assertive people, and I've gotten a little... used to it."

Lin Jiade went back to study, Jasmine listened to online classes, and Du Juan went back to the Heavenly Realm. Only Jianlan was left in the living room, lost in thought, wondering who she was, how to choose, and what kind of future she should live.

Her thoughts were like rolled-up yarn, growing bigger and bigger until they became a tangled ball of yarn... It wasn't until Jasmine waved in front of her that she realized it was already seven o'clock in the evening.

“Lin Jiade and Mumian are eating out. I ordered takeout. Do you want to eat together?” Jasmine asked.

"Look at me like this..."

"I can lend you my body."

"Miss Jasmine..."

"Jasmine, just like you call Lin Jiade without any suffix, you can just call me that."

"Thank you."

While using Jasmine's body to taste the food of the living once again, the question "Who am I?" still torments Gladiolus. In the past, she still had some common sense left over to reason with, encouraging herself and filling her with hope. But now, she is even filled with doubt about the common sense she still possesses.

When she returned her body to Jasmine, she asked, "Jasmine, what kind of life should I live?"

Chapter Seventy-Three: Worms XI

"Only you can decide this matter. If you feel lost, either go to sleep or find something to do and wait for someone to guide you. That's how I met Lin Jiade."

When her boyfriend's name was mentioned, Jasmine's eyes softened and a smile appeared on her lips. In the past, watching over their happiness brought Gladiolus a sense of peace, but now, in that peace, a dark jealousy was surging.

If Gladiolus were in a normal state, she would immediately reflect on her inappropriate jealousy and redefine herself as the guardian of Lin Jiade and Jasmine. But right now, she is in the most chaotic and confused moment since waking up. Her former morality and rules no longer bind her behavior and liberate her instincts. Therefore, she tacitly allows the growth of jealousy.

Lin Jiade forced me into his life, making me live for him. Shouldn't he take responsibility for my life?

Gladiolus had this question, but she wasn't going to tell Jasmine, because she had already betrayed Jasmine hours earlier.

"When will Miss Azalea be back, Jasmine?" Gladiolus changed the subject.

"I don't know. That woman seemed very close to us and we talked about everything, but she never told the truth. We knew nothing about her, including Lin Jiade."

I have a feeling that you are also a victim of that Cupid con artist. Her core interest is Lin Jiade, and we are just tools used to help Lin Jiade climb the social ladder.

I brought Lin Jiade money, and you brought him knowledge. Then, she hid behind Lin Jiade, using him as a shield to prevent the victims from intervening in her actions… This won't do; we have to take Lin Jiade back from her!”

Gladiolus chuckled to herself, secretly marveling at Jasmine's naiveté, but still made a promise with Jasmine... after all, this was in her best interest.

Jasmine, I'm sorry... It should have been an apology filled with remorse, but when Gladiolus recited it in her heart, she only felt the forbidden pleasure of breaking the rules.

At this moment, Lin Jiade and Mu Mian were at a restaurant outside—or more precisely, a restaurant in a storefront near Lin Jiade's residential area. His abrupt departure during the third Mirror Realm expedition made him feel he should treat his senior to a meal to apologize.

Mu Mian didn't stand on ceremony, but she wasn't planning to rip him off either, so she asked for his recommendations. Lin Jiade recommended the restaurant he and Jasmine had gone to last time, and as soon as Mu Mian heard that she had been there with Jasmine, she immediately decided not to go.

Lin Jiade had no choice but to recommend the restaurant he frequented the second most last year. When he heard that he had never taken any friends there to eat, Mu Mian agreed and drove him to the destination.

They ordered the same seafood fried rice. While waiting, Lin Jiade kept drinking water, waiting for Mu Mian to speak first.

Mu Mian waited for him to speak first while drinking water. The strange atmosphere between them was like that of friends who wanted to reconcile after a cold war but were too embarrassed to admit it. So they continued again and again until Lin Jiade's bladder could no longer hold back.

"I need to use the restroom, senior."

Lin Jiade was forced to speak first, and he felt like he had lost. But after releasing the pressure, he found his childish behavior amusing.

“You’re hiding something from me, junior,” Mu Mian said.

Lin Jiade retorted sharply, "You're also hiding something from me, senior."

"Exchange secrets?"

"it is good."

Kapok spoke first: "The wrong secret we are looking for is related to Korobochka, a top-level sorcerer in the Empire."

"Korobochka is right beside me."

Lin Jiade thought this shocking news would frighten Mu Mian, but Mu Mian calmly replied, "She is not. She is just a strange person who has some fragments of Korobochka's soul mixed in. She looks completely different from Korobochka."

"?!"

"You finally revealed the existence of that witch. I've been playing along with you, pretending to be oblivious to her, which must have been exhausting."

Lin Jiade stammered, "Senior, you...you...you can see her?"

“I’ve really been underestimated. Do you think I can’t see it?” Kapok said.

Lin Jiade's face turned deathly pale. If Mu Mian could see it, then everyone else...

"Don't worry, they can't see her. That lich has made a pact with you, and only those who have a connection with you can see her."

Lin Jiade patted his forehead and let out a long sigh. He said, "After Ms. Jianlan found out that she was not Korobochka, Jasmine and I had a hard time pulling her back from the brink of self-doubt."

We are searching for a purpose for her to continue living, a future life that has nothing to do with the erroneous secrets the Empire is tracking, nor with Korobochka.

My greatest motivation for going to the Mirror Realm has vanished. I may... have disappointed you.

Kapok replied, "I understand what you mean. Even if you hadn't said it, I would have suggested that you postpone your trip to the Mirror Realm."

"why?"

"Based on the intelligence you provided, Friday's statement, and the information gathered about Robinson's apartment, we have determined that this incident involves the Baker Street Squad, a team of seven advanced magic researchers."

They were presumed dead thirty years ago, during the most chaotic period of the Empire. The Magic Registrar's Office was negligent in its review and, in order to save time and money on investigations, embezzled funds and marked the Baker Street Squad, who should have been marked missing, as a group killed in action.

That was a microcosm of the mismanagement of the chaotic era. One-third of the magic researchers who broke away from the empire's control had direct or indirect ties to that chaotic era.

No one expected that the seeds of disaster sown unintentionally thirty years ago would sprout from the ground today.

Our mission objective has shifted to tracking down and investigating the Baker Street Squad in order to prevent them from making mistakes with the wrong secrets.

This is a team that has served the Empire for ten years and understands its workings perfectly, especially the magic researcher Gladiolus, who has been lurking within Korobochka for thirty years and knows many secrets… Destroying her is even a priority over recovering the wrong secrets.”

She's not an infiltrator; Gladiolus and Korobochka are the same person. Lin Jiade thought.

Lin Jiade wanted to tell the story of the three sword orchids, but he was afraid that Kapok would betray him... Then he slapped himself, looked up and said, "There are some things I don't know whether I should tell you or not."

"Then don't say it."

"Okay, I'll say it... wait, you're not going to say it?" Lin Jiade's eyes widened. "My god, senior, this isn't the way to do things."

“I can sense that you’re hiding something from me. You might face risks if you tell me, right? But if you don’t tell me, you feel like you’re morally indebted to me?”

I know the Empire's ways better than you do, and if you feel there's a risk in speaking out, then that's the truth.

“Be careful, senior. Jianlan might be the same person as Korobochka. It was Jianlan who dragged me into this at West Ham Hospital,” Lin Jiade said.