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“E-Miiiing,” a playfully sweet voice chimed. A young girl in white hanfu wore a satisfied smirk, her eyes dancing with sparks of mischief.
“What?” came the gruff reply, its owner not sharing her mood at all. He let out a sigh, as if she couldn’t pique his interest less, and pointedly turned his head away. This only made her giggle softly, hiding her laughter behind a wide sleeve.
“You know His Highness will still pay more attention to me, right?”
The ribbon’s mocking gaze was infuriating. And it wasn’t a lie: she was the crown prince’s spiritual weapon and spent every hour of the day with her master. He, on the other hand, belonged to the Ghost King and followed loyally at his side. However much E-Ming might wish otherwise, His Highness would inevitably devote more time to his companion.
“Ruoye,” the youth crossed his arms, the metal of his vambraces clinking softly, “don’t piss me off.”
The one-eyed demon frowned in displeasure, trying to maintain his cold demeanor. It was unbecoming for him to get so worked up over such “trivialities.” Yet, the way his finger tapped impatiently against his own shoulder spoke volumes without words.
Of course, Ruoye already knew this. They had known each other for a long time; the boy’s feigned aloofness couldn’t fool her. Laughing at him, the ribbon took a deft step forward. Tilting her head, she tried to catch her friend’s crimson eye.
“And you should stop showing off so much, you piece of scrap metal.”
E-Ming jerked his head to deliver a fitting retort to this brazen girl but froze, almost bumping foreheads with her. Flaring his nostrils, he exhaled sharply:
“Have you lost all fear?”
The corners of her lips curled upward, but the fingers digging into the black fabric at his shoulders betrayed the anger simmering inside him.
“Ribbon,” E-Ming looked down at her, forcing a sickly-sweet tone as he drew out her nickname, “don’t get cocky.”
This only spurred on Ruoye’s playful nature. She leaned in, lifting her head, her gaze boring into his pale face. She smiled so innocently, but E-Ming knew she was just mocking him. What a menace!
“Or what? Hm~”
Their bodies touched as the older entity moved forward. E-Ming didn’t rush to pull away, but he didn’t seem to relish her actions either.
“Keep your distance, you snake,” he hissed, briefly flashing his fangs.
“I don’t wanna!” Ruoye blurted out childishly, pulling her hands from behind her back. She smoothly wrapped her arms around his neck, not breaking eye contact.
“I want to be closer and haunt you day and night!” she purred, pulling her friend closer.
“That doesn’t mean you have to cling to me like this.”
“Oh no, my dear E-Ming, that’s exactly what it means,” the ribbon smirked, pulling him down by the back of his head.
“Wait! What are you…” E-Ming didn’t get to finish as her pale lips pressed against his blood-red ones. Ruoye held the demon with confident persistence and, as if she’d done this before, kissed him. Like a true snake, she had caught him completely off guard, forcing an indignant muffled sound from him. But after a moment, he nonetheless returned the kiss.
The ferocious demonic saber, whose very existence instilled terror, now resembled nothing more than a pliable, inexperienced boy. He sighed and murmured into the kiss, blushing like an autumn leaf, leaving no hint of his sinister image. Beside him stood the snow-white ribbon, woven from precious silk. Fragile in appearance, she was the one leading in their union, looking at him with satisfaction, as if admiring her handiwork. She would have enjoyed this picture for an eternity, knowing that he, too, was ready to drown in this bliss with her.
Ruoye pulled back from him, a sly shadow playing on the corners of her lips.
“Consider yourself haunted~”
“You snake,” was all E-Ming could whisper, covering his single eye on his shamefully burning face.
Oh heavens, this wasn’t a girl—this was a natural disaster!