"March! Mr. Yang!"

Stelle cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, shouting to March and Welt, who were out for a walk.

March was walking because she had eaten too much and wanted to aid her digestion, while Welt... he was purely out for a stroll.

"Coming, coming! My stomach was just starting to feel less bloated. Why'd you suddenly call for me?"

March trotted over with Welt following behind her. Looking at Stelle, who had called them over, March rubbed her slightly flatter belly and asked with a puzzled expression.

"Oh, Wende said he was worried you guys would upset your stomachs from overeating, so he made some small snacks to help with digestion."

Stelle looked at the approaching March and Welt and relayed Wende's words.

"Ooh! There are snacks! Yay!"

March's eyes instantly turned into the shape of pastries.

"March, you should still control yourself a bit. Even if they're digestive snacks, eating too many will still make your stomach uncomfortable," Wende said, wearing an apron and carrying a plate filled with various reddish-orange, block-shaped objects.

"Heehee, of course I know my limits."

March scratched her pink hair with a bit of embarrassment, then stared at the pastries in Wende's hands, her eyes sparkling.

"What are these? They look delicious!"

She sidled up to Wende, and before he could even explain, her mischievous little hand had already snatched a pastry from his plate.

"Mmm!!! It's sour and sweet, with the fragrance of hawthorn and orange! And it's so bouncy and chewy, so yummy!"

March squinted her eyes like a small cat, savoring the delicacy in her mouth.

"Chew, chew, chew... hmm, there's a taste of osmanthus too, it smells so good!"

"Haha."

Seeing March's blissful expression, Wende couldn't help but chuckle.

"Mhm, this pastry is indeed excellent. If Himeko were here, she would definitely pester you to make it for her every day, wouldn't she?"

Welt gave it an extremely high-class evaluation.

After all, Himeko loved to pair her drinks with tasty little snacks... yes, including her coffee.

For reasons unknown... yes, Himeko suffered no adverse reactions from drinking her own coffee.

"Stelle, you try some too."

March held a pastry to Stelle's lips with a wide smile.

"Say~ ah~"

"Ahm!"

Chew, chew, chew.

While chewing on the pastry, Stelle nodded her head and gave Wende a very approving thumbs-up.

"Where is Miss Tingyun?"

Welt glanced behind Wende and asked nonchalantly.

"She booked a room for the night and went back to rest."

Wende explained to Welt, his eyes flickering slightly.

"I see..."

Welt nodded in understanding and headed back into the inn.

"What's up with Mr. Yang?"

March, who had somehow procured another pastry, looked at the silent Welt with confusion.

"Maybe Mr. Yang is just getting old and doesn't like all the fuss?"

Wende shook his head, fobbing March off with an excuse. He looked at the nearly empty plate of pastries and March's now-flat stomach, nodded slightly, and then also walked back toward the inn.

"Hm? What's going on with those two?"

March looked at the clearly off-kilter Wende and Welt, bent over, and scratched her smooth chin with a squint, looking puzzled.

Chew, chew, chew...

Stelle was still chewing on her pastry, a moist sound coming from her mouth.

"Mmm... forget it. Time to go to sleep!"

March stretched her body gently, pulled down her skirt which had ridden up slightly, and went back to the room with Stelle to sleep.

Yes, because a double room was cheaper than a single, March and Stelle were sharing a room.

But Wende and Welt's rooms were separate, because there was only one cheap double room available...

After tidying up, Wende returned to his room, took out his phone, opened his messages, and began texting Welt.

Wende

"Mr. Yang, something isn't right with this Miss Tingyun."

Welt

"Mhm, I feel it's strange too, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is."

In his own room, Welt replied with a deep frown.

Wende

"I can see that this Miss Tingyun's body is fine, but her spiritual strength is much higher. For a person's spiritual strength to increase so rapidly in just two days is impossible."

Welt

"So... you suspect she's a fake?"

Wende

"No, I don't think that's it. But... I can't be sure either. Maybe I need to test her more?"

Welt

"Mmm... it's best not to test her too much. If she discovers our suspicions, we'll be at a disadvantage."

Wende

"I understand."

Putting his phone down, Wende lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling lamp, his thoughts a mystery.

The next morning, Wende woke up bright and early. He had to make breakfast for everyone again today, though this time it wasn't as elaborate—just a simple, plain breakfast, not the kind that would make people's clothes explode.

"Oh, Benefactor is up at the crack of dawn preparing breakfast. This truly touches this humble lady's heart~"

Tingyun walked up behind Wende with her long legs, her folding fan hiding her slightly upturned red lips as she teased him.

"Miss Tingyun is up so early? Breakfast isn't ready yet."

Wende replied without turning his head, his hands moving swiftly. The bun dough was deftly manipulated by his strong, powerful fingers. A generous amount of filling was placed inside, and then it was sealed with a series of beautiful folds—not one more, not one less, exactly eighteen.

"Mhm, this humble lady has traveled for many years and is accustomed to this early-to-rise routine."

Tingyun shook her head slightly. Seeing Wende completely focused on the breakfast in his hands, she just smiled silently and turned away. The tip of her large tail brushed faintly against Wende's back, making it feel slightly itchy.

"Benefactor~ this humble lady has been lying in my room for rather long, and my arms and legs have all become a bit stiff. Ever since you kneaded and pressed me last time, some of the old injuries from my business travels have been cured. I wonder when Benefactor might have a moment to spare, to let this humble lady experience your skills once again?"

Tingyun sat down on a nearby chair, her jade-green eyes gazing at Wende, a look of keen interest flashing within them.

"If Miss Tingyun doesn't mind, then I naturally have no problem. Everyone has been quite tired recently anyway. It's not a bad idea to take this opportunity to relax."

Wiping the flour from his hands, Wende's purple pupils stared directly into Tingyun's eyes.