Volume 4 Chapter 107

Volume 4 + Chapter 107: The Doughnut Campaign

I did it—I really did it!

In her heart, Xia Yi cheered for herself, applauding herself loudly!

Who would have thought that one day she would finally gain such a huge advantage in a head-on exchange, using her own strengths to completely suppress Xia Lulu?

Victory!

The little princess was winning so hard she’d basically won everything.

Heh heh heh—just as expected of me!

Good. As long as I keep this momentum going, Xia Lulu will be completely incapable of making my heart fall into corruption.

From now on, any offensive Xia Lulu launches against me will surely end in total defeat!

“Now you’ve got no way to deal with me, Silver Dragon Queen!” Xia Yi laughed.

“Xia Yi, I have to admit—this time, your achievements were exceptionally outstanding. You even eliminated a hidden danger within the Dragon Kingdom itself, something I never anticipated,” Xia Lulu said.

“It’s enough that you understand my strength and recognize how terrifying I am, Xia Lulu! From now on, you can no longer underestimate me as a Sword Saint. I have never forgotten my defeat—and my resolve to surpass that defeat, to surpass you!”

Xia Yi delivered her speech with gusto.

She felt like she was practically the protagonist of a hot-blooded shōnen manga.

“However,” Xia Lulu suddenly said, “since your performance was so excellent, you should receive a reward, shouldn’t you?”

“A reward…?!”

The moment she heard the word reward, the little tuft of hair atop Xia Yi’s head shot straight up like a radar antenna.

Claiming she didn’t care at all was simply impossible.

“Yes. Since you are my daughter, a princess of the Dragon Royal Family, and you upheld the glory of the royal house, isn’t it only natural to accept your mother’s reward?” Xia Lulu smiled.

Xia Yi hurriedly raised her hand. “Y-you’re talking nonsense, Xia Lulu! How could I possibly accept something like that? Don’t think you can use sugar-coated bullets to corrupt my resolute and unyielding heart!”

“Really don’t want it? Daughter, after working so hard, shouldn’t you be hoping for my praise?”

“Hah? What are you talking about? How many times have I emphasized this already? The reason I work so hard is to strengthen my own forces so I can oppose you in the future—it has absolutely nothing to do with anything else, okay? Don’t flatter yourself!”

It was as if she had heard some trigger phrase—Xia Yi instantly launched into a full combo, unloading an entire barrage in one go.

After all, she had already made up her mind, after finally securing such a huge advantage and winning so decisively, how could she possibly accept Xia Lulu’s reward?

Hmph—do you really think I’m some easily handled silly loli?

Xia Yi couldn’t help but laugh.

This was obviously Xia Lulu’s trap, deliberately trying to lure her into stepping inside. If she actually went along with it, everything she had built up would collapse in an instant.

“It’s useless, Xia Lulu—I’m completely immune now,” Xia Yi said disdainfully, waving her hand. “You’ve used these tricks so many times already. Do you really think I’d still fall for them?”

“I see… how unfortunate, Xia Yi,” Xia Lulu sighed. “I even prepared dessert for you.”

“Dessert? What dessert?”

“I thought you might have had a hard time while you were away, staying in the Far North Lands for so long. You probably weren’t used to it—after all, it’s nothing like the Dragon Palace, and there aren’t many snacks there…”

As Xia Lulu spoke, she picked up the cat that had been sleeping soundly beside her.

Perhaps because the cat was rather plump, with a large build and thick fur, she hadn’t even noticed that it had been lying on top of a box the whole time.

What was that?

Dessert?

In an instant, all of Xia Yi’s attention focused on that box.

To be fair, during her time in the Far North Lands, she had mostly eaten local specialty foods and hardly had any sweets at all.

Due to the climate and geography, desserts there were indeed rather disappointing.

After just returning to the northern imperial capital, Xia Yi really hadn’t had the chance to properly enjoy any sweets yet.

“Hmph, dessert? You really think I’d be interested in something like that? You’re overthinking it, Xia Lulu! I already told you not to underestimate me!”

As she said this, Xia Yi closed her eyes and turned her head away, acting as though she couldn’t care less.

“I’m a mature adult, you know!”

That’s what she said—but she still secretly cracked one eye open, observing everything in secret.

The box holding the dessert was opened. Inside were doughnuts!

They were one of Xia Yi’s favorite sweets. She hadn’t had them in a long time and suddenly found herself missing their taste.

“This is your reward, Xia Yi. Do you like it?” Xia Lulu asked. “I made them myself.”

“I like—”

The words slipped out of Xia Yi’s mouth before she realized it. She instantly caught herself and changed her tune.

“How could I possibly like something like this?! You think you can erode my heart with this? Absolutely ridiculous!”

After saying that, Xia Yi bit her lip.

It’s fine. It’s fine. It’s just dessert—skipping it once won’t hurt.

Yes, I need to endure this!

I have to prove that I still uphold the pure and unyielding soul of a Sword Saint, without the slightest fall from grace!

Only by firmly rejecting temptation like this can my Sword Saint soul shine all the more brilliantly.

“Really don’t want it?” Xia Lulu blinked.

“Don’t want it!” Xia Yi emphasized once more.

She had to win this Doughnut Campaign!

“All right…”

Xia Lulu sighed.

Yes!

Xia Yi cheered silently in her heart—this exchange was another victory for her.

“I really have no choice then, kitty. If my daughter doesn’t want doughnuts, I’ll give them to you instead~” Xia Lulu patted the cat’s head. “Want some?”

“Meow~!”

The cat lifted its head at once, clearly delighted and very affirmative.

“What?!” Xia Yi cried out in shock.

What was Xia Lulu doing—why was she giving her gift to the cat instead?

A powerful sense of displeasure surged up inside Xia Yi.

The cat hadn’t done anything at all—it had just been lying there sleeping. Why did it get a reward?!

“No!”

“Huh? Why not?” Xia Lulu looked confused. “Why can’t I give it to the cat?”

“That was supposed to be my gift!” Xia Yi said urgently.

“But weren’t you absolutely certain you didn’t want it?”

“I…”

Xia Yi was left speechless.

That’s right—she was the one who refused it.

“Then at least… at least you should put it away first, right? Just in case… just in case… maybe I…”

“Maybe what?”

“Uh…”

Xia Yi grew more and more flustered.

Xia Lulu, are you really this clueless—or are you just pretending?!

“Kitty, since Xia Yi doesn’t want them, you can have them. We shouldn’t let them go to waste,” Xia Lulu said, lowering her head toward the cat.

“Meow!”

“Here you go~”

Xia Lulu fed the first one to the cat, which immediately started eating.

Xia Yi froze.

At that moment, she had only one thought.

The cat stole the doughnuts that were clearly meant for me! Those were Xia Lulu’s gift to me!!

“Xia Lulu, cats will… get fat if they eat that kind of thing. Maybe… maybe you shouldn’t…” Xia Yi said stiffly, forcing herself to persuade her.

“It’s fine—being a little chubby is cute too. After all, kitty is obedient and honest. If it wants something, it’ll just come over nicely,” Xia Lulu replied casually.

“……”

Xia Yi’s eyes practically bulged out of her head.

After finishing the first doughnut, the cat actually pushed its luck—curling up directly on Xia Lulu’s lap, meowing incessantly and asking to be fed more, shamelessly acting spoiled.

“Really knows how to enjoy life,” Xia Lulu said helplessly.

She continued feeding the cat doughnuts.

“T-this…!”

Xia Yi felt unbearably wronged. This was clearly treatment she was supposed to enjoy.

Why did the cat get to steal all of it?

Why?!

Was it just because she’d been a little stubborn with her words?

The more Xia Yi thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Her heart ached, and her nose began to sting.

She stood there like an awkward, sulky child, clutching her skirt, watching Xia Lulu feed the cat without saying a word—just waiting for Xia Lulu to change her mind and say she’d give her a portion too.

The silver-haired loli had already decided, if Xia Lulu really noticed her feelings and brought it up, she would definitely accept.

As long as Xia Lulu spoke first, Xia Yi wouldn’t keep being stubborn anymore.

“Almost finished already—still not satisfied?” Xia Lulu asked the cat.

The doughnuts in the box were nearly gone. Only one remained.

Xia Yi couldn’t understand why Xia Lulu kept focusing all her attention on the cat. Why couldn’t she just look over here instead?

Was the cat really that important?

I went out and accomplished great deeds—and came straight back to report to you!

Xia Yi was on the verge of tears.

“Meow!”

The cat gave an affirmative response.

“Honestly, what am I supposed to do with you?” Xia Lulu said, handing the last doughnut to the cat.

Xia Yi watched as the cat comfortably lay on Xia Lulu’s lap, ate the final doughnut, then wore a blissful expression, yawned a few times, and fell asleep.

Gone.

Gone.

All gone—not a single one left.

They had all been gifts Xia Lulu prepared for me…

“Waaah—uuuh—!”

Xia Yi could no longer hold back. Overwhelmed by grievance, she burst into tears on the spot.

“Why are you suddenly crying, my daughter? Weren’t you fine just a moment ago?” Xia Lulu asked, puzzled.

“The doughnuts…”

“Wasn’t Xia Yi a mature adult who didn’t want doughnuts anymore?”

Hearing Xia Lulu say that, the wave of grievance inside Xia Yi surged even harder, erupting like a volcano.

She knew her behavior was childish—but she simply couldn’t control herself anymore.

“Uuuh… waaah…”

“But the doughnuts are already gone,” Xia Lulu explained.

“Waaah—waaah—waaah!”

Hearing that the doughnuts were gone was like rubbing salt into an open wound. Her defenses shattered a second time, and Xia Yi cried so hard she was about to turn into a little blotchy mess.

Xia Lulu suddenly laughed.

“My daughter, if you wanted them, you should have said so earlier.”

“And you’re still laughing—still laughing… waaah! They’re gone… already gone…!” Xia Yi sobbed nonstop, her big tail drooping weakly behind her.

Xia Lulu stood up, holding something in her hand, and walked over to Xia Yi.

“All right, my daughter, stop crying now. Take a look—what’s this?”

“This is…?”

Xia Yi looked and froze in surprise.

They were doughnuts too!

She stared at Xia Lulu in disbelief.

“When I said they were gone earlier, I was just teasing you~” Xia Lulu smiled at her daughter. “Actually, I prepared an extra box.”