And this leads to the second layer of the battle of wits! 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Don’t forget, at this time, Bai Yi was in a "falling out" state with Yan Huan, and didn’t show any good face to Sakuragi Hitomi, the "Cheng Yaojin" who appeared halfway at the grand banquet.

Though now, after the incident where Yan Huan died on the spot to save Bai Yi, Bai Yi no longer had the same attitude as before.

But now...

She actually activated her "acting"!

Fully restoring her attitude from back then!

So much so that Sakuragi Hitomi didn’t notice a thing!

"..."

Yan Huan widened his cat-like eyes, looking at Bai Yi who somewhat had his own style of wearing the Perfect Expression Management Mask, and couldn’t help but feel shocked.

Bai Yi, she...

Evolved!?

"Hmph, I told you, underestimating me comes at a price, Yan Ye~"

In her mind, Bai Yi, with her back turned, seemed to see Yan Huan’s shock, and immediately laughed, saying to Yan Huan,

"Yesterday in the if-line I already learned my lesson, I’ve changed now, of course, I won’t make such low-level mistakes again!"

"..."

But for some reason, Yan Huan, who was initially cheerful, immediately felt like he had a PTSD attack upon hearing Bai Yi say this, covered his cat face with his paws, and softly pushed Bai Yi’s face, saying,

"You... you stop, it seems like she’s catching up, better continue to deal with Hitomi..."

"Hitomi?"

Bai Yi glanced at Yan Huan in surprise, puzzled,

"Do you know her, calling her so intimately?"

"!!"

Yan Huan was stunned by Ye Shiyu’s "special weapon dialogue", thus exposing a flaw.

But the next second, he began showcasing his flair as a love expert.

Yan Huan, his face expressionless, said calmly,

"Her name is so long and has so many sounds, can’t I be lazy and abbreviate it, meow?"

"So that’s it..."

Indeed, Sakuragi Hitomi’s full name is quite long according to Ying Country’s pronunciation, which makes sense.

However, the next second, Bai Yi snorted lightly, puffed her cheeks, warning Yan Huan,

"But, as my modifier incarnation, I don’t allow you to call her that intimately, understand?"

"Then I’ll call her..."

"Hmm... Let me think, ah, Miss Loser!"

"..."

Yan Huan looked speechlessly at Bai Yi in front of him, who looked like she was enacting "Ah Q’s Spirit of Victory," maintaining a golden silence.

"Go on, call her..."

"..."

"Bai Yi..."

Yan Huan didn’t speak, but from behind, Sakuragi Hitomi, with those feeble short legs, finally caught up to Bai Yi, who was walking normally, gently tugging on Bai Yi’s sleeve as if she had something to say.

"Hmm, what’s up, Miss Loser?"

And Bai Yi, smiling, subconsciously turned her head and said this.

"..."

Upon hearing these words, Bai Yi’s smile instantly froze.

And Yan Huan and Sakuragi Hitomi, those two, even if they couldn’t see each other, their expressions became as black as coals, matching perfectly.

"...What did you say?"

"Nothing... Nothing..."

Bai Yi always sounds spirited, but in reality, she’s very obedient.

Once caught, she immediately covered her mouth.

This is not good...

At this rate, I’ll reveal my flaws...

"..."

However, looking at Bai Yi in front of her, who first seemed spirited then immediately backed down, Sakuragi Hitomi didn’t find anything wrong at all.

In fact, isn’t that just Bai Yi’s character?

In the previous "Anti-Spencer Alliance," wasn’t it like this, saying the President likes her...

But now?

Aria stands at the finish line, An Le follows closely, Tong Yingying overtakes on the curve, and even she herself, with great effort, has crossed the finish line.

This guy still maintains an extremely pure friendship with the President...

Just likes opening champagne too much.

"Ahem... What’s the matter?"

Bai Yi lightly coughed, instantly adjusting her expression, attempting to maintain her cold demeanor.

Seeing this, Sakuragi Hitomi, as if taking care of a child, gently said without anger,

"I have something I wanted to tell you."

"Hmm, but I’m very busy right now..."

"Come with me."

Hearing this, Sakuragi Hitomi didn’t mind at all, simply straightening her suit and walking ahead.

"Hey..."

Seeing this, Bai Yi grumbled a few words angrily behind her.

Yet, inexplicably, despite her petite stature, there was a peculiar aura about her, causing Bai Yi to instinctively follow.

Especially earlier, when Bai Yi returned to work, her face pale, holding her stomach, this sensation grew more pronounced.

"Well, she won’t harm me anyway, go listen?"

"...Can you not move your feet while you ask meow?"

Yan Huan, with his dead fish eyes, looked at Bai Yi, whose face was written with "intimidated," and quipped.

"Nonsense! It’s to not get exposed!"

"Yes, yes..."

Yan Huan yawned affectionately in response, causing Bai Yi to puff up angrily like a pufferfish.

Before long, Sakuragi Hitomi had led her to the tea room.

This wasn’t far from Lemon’s dressing room, so it wasn’t really out of the way.

Once inside, Sakuragi Hitomi looked back at Bai Yi, got straight to the point, saying,

"I’ll just say it, Bai Yi, before I saw that Lemon from your show secretly went to find your mom...

"Moreover, I also privately saw her assistant investigating matters related to your family...

"Regarding this, should you go ask your mom?"

Hmm?

Hearing this, Bai Yi didn’t expect Sakuragi Hitomi to inform her of this.

She paused slightly, instinctively asking,

"Hey, you didn’t tell me this before..."

"Before?"

"Oh, not... I mean, when was before?"