While returning from their little "shopping trip," Haoren was feeling pleasantly surprised.

Usually, whenever there was someone who was aware of Haoren, whether through knowing him or seeing his face, Haoren would only be able to act stiffly with them. Yet now, even though his face was bare for the seamstress and Li Feng to see, he did not act all that stiffly.

Rather, he acted quite openly regarding his emotions, expressing himself properly even though his expression didn't change much. His words were definitely different.

'Is this how it is to fall for someone?' He truly wondered for a moment only to shake his head dismissively, 'It's most likely related to my "outburst" from yesterday...'

Countless explanations passed through his mind in an instant, but there was only one that stuck with him, 'I'm absorbing the remnants of other's emotions instead of just sensing them...'

It wasn't just a random guess; this was something he was somewhat aware of. But, until now it wasn't noticeable, 'It's like I'm filling in the gaps that are present within the character named Haoren... The emotions I lack are being filled into my soul as it heals to become whole again.'

'As for why the same didn't happen for the past Haoren? It's probably because he was whole already. It wasn't that he had lost some of his emotions; he simply didn't have them to begin with. Whereas I am a damaged soul, having lost memories and certain parts of myself. So, as my soul heals through the help of Li Feng's physique, the remnants of others are being melded into my soul. Remnants of anger melding with an enraging memory, remnants of sorrow melding with my grieving memories...'

"Haa..." Haoren sighed. He somewhat realized how absurd his guess was. No matter how one thinks about it, souls are far too complex to be healed in such a way...

"Are you alright?"

Haoren turned to his side to see Li Feng, who was walking by his side, looking at him with a worried expression.

"Yes?" He answered, yet it somehow sounded like a question.

"It's just you seemed to be lost in thought... I was a bit worried..."

"Ah..." Haoren couldn't gather his words. He felt like there was something different about Li Feng today. 'Maybe it's just my view that's changed but...'

He couldn't help but notice many details he had never noticed until now, from how she had to look upwards when she looked at him to how she would occasionally bite her lower lip when she was frustrated. How her hair that she had recklessly cut short had begun to grow longer and would soon reach her shoulders...

How she, who used to always remain on guard while facing him, now even showed worry towards him...

'Uh... wait, what were we talking about?! Oh no! I forgot!'

"Hey! Are you really alright?!"

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Li Feng who had already begun to drag him by his arm to a less crowded place asked him hurriedly.

"..."

There was light sweat on her forehead, a frowning expresiion as she bit her lips slightly. 'She's worried about me...'

"...I am fine." Haoren finally answered, looking away.

"Hah!" Li Feng let out an irritated laugh, "Look at me when you say that!"

"Urgg!" Haoren groaned. He really didn't think that he could look at her right now, 'My expression should probably still be blank as usual, but...'

He could feel his face burn up, 'If she sees this it's over for me.'

After concluding this, Haoren called upon all his wisdom to make the perfect move, "L-Let's go already!" He ran off like a little kid...

...

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...

"..."

"..."

The silence during the dinner felt a bit stifling yet oddly satisfying. There was a charm to such a mundane yet warm-filled experience. However, the hearts of the two who were dining were in turmoil.

'I messed up...' They both thought.

'I shouldn't have closed the distance so suddenly...' 'I shouldn't have run away so suddenly...'

Li Feng and Haoren thought respectively, as they drowned in regrets.

'But...'

They looked down towards their hands as a slight frustration welled up within them.

'How can he be so unfazed when I'm so close?!' 'How can she be so unfazed when we were like that?!'

Surprisingly, they were quite similar and so were their conclusions.

A direct approach, magical words that would elude most rom-coms and shoujo genre story characters, a mythical method through which one can evade all kinds of misunderstanding that would greatly lengthen the story and perpetuate content.

In other words, a confession.

However, with the determination of confessing came great fear. What if they got rejected? What if it all ends just like that?

For Haoren, this was a first. He didn't know what to do.

But, Li Feng had already begun to formulate a plan. That's right, Li Feng has experience in confessing(to women).

As a former assassin who had undergone multiple bio-modifications and used mystical arts to change her form, she had used her ever-changing "appearance" and deep understanding of human beings to seduce young ladies of prestigious families.

As for why the hell did such a person not have any experience with men? The reason for that was quite simple, her bio-modifications left her with a broader body frame and disguising herself as a woman (even though she was one) was not feasible.

That and she had developed a complex regarding the fact that even she herself didn't know her true face. No matter what she did she would always be a fake...

Anyway, the point is that Li Feng had an idea regarding what she must do.

"I have to pressure him into accepting my confession..."

This was the conclusion she decided upon while lying atop her bed.

'I have to make him more conscious of me... make it so my absence makes him feel empty and then when he is at his worst, let's do a proper proposal to pressure him into accepting!'

"Ah, maybe I should act as if I will be leaving soon, 'I have some regrets, I must resolve in my birthplace.' or something like that?"

Not a noble strategy or rather a scummy one that drives the other person into a corner and forces them into accepting her confession, but if it works it works.

After all, everything is fair in love and war(except for war crimes probably... and also kidnapping...)

...

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...

The next day...

"...where did it all go wrong?"

...Li Feng's plan failed before it even began.

... About half an hour ago ...

As the pair finished their breakfast, Li Feng looked towards Haoren with a sly smile, "I have something to do, so I'll be going out later on today."

"Hm?" The initial reaction was great. Haoren raised his brow in question. However, the words that came next crushed all of Li Feng's hopes, "Well, take care. I'll be going out to meet an acquaintance."

"..."

and then he left

...

"Haa..." Li Feng sighed for what felt like the millionth time today as she looked towards the place where Haoren liked to sit around. At this time, he'd be drinking tea.

'That stoic bastard doesn’t say it outright, but he loves my tea. That time when I forgot about the tea, he kept looking towards me awkwardly trying to remind me... And even though he likes it that much, he can't even brew it himself...'

Thinking this, the corners of Li Feng's lips ascended on their own.

"Cute bastard..."

And thus she fell for her own trap.

...

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...

Meanwhile on Haoren's side...

"Auntie Lin, how do I make her know that I love her?"

"Just tell her that you love her!"

'BUT HOW?!'

Haoren was also within his own struggle