love

Lu Xiaoxue stared at the two women in the mirror, their eyes sparkling with an unsettling gleam, and a chill ran down her spine.

They didn't seem intent on simply doing her makeup at all – it almost looked as if they were about to strip her bare and devour her!

Fortunately, however, Xie Shuangning and Lu Xiaoxue weren't that twisted; one was responsible for putting a wig on Lu Lingyue while the other applied her makeup, and together the two of them fussed over the mirror for a full hour.

During that hour, the thing Lu Lingyue heard most often was their exclamations:

"Your features are so exquisite, Lingyue – even without makeup, you're stunning!"

"Your skin is already so porcelain, little loli – you don't even need any foundation!"

"Everyone's going to fall in love with your take on the little Grass God, Lingyue!"

"You're the prettiest little girl I've ever seen – you're bound to blow up online!"

As Lu Lingyue listened to their endless praise while watching herself being dutifully primped in the mirror, she couldn't help but feel a growing delight.

In the end, thanks to the three of them working together, Lu Lingyue was transformed from head to toe into the very image of the little Grass God – as if she had stepped straight out of an anime!

Both Lu Xiaoxue and Xie Shuangning stood before her, arms folded, appraising every inch of her.

"Don't you think something's still missing?" one remarked.

"I agree…" the other added.

Curious, Lu Lingyue glanced between the two, wondering what they meant by something missing. Could it be the signature weapon of the Grass God? Or perhaps a prop from a video game? Maybe even some Hilichurls to serve as background extras?!

Before she could dwell on it further, the answer became obvious.

It wasn't a special weapon or a gaggle of Hilichurls at all – instead, the two of them stepped closer, each leaning in to plant a kiss on either side of her face.

"Missing the soul of love," they chimed in unison.

Lu Lingyue was at a loss for words. "Are you nuts? If you wanted to take advantage, just say so – what's with all this talk about the soul of love?!" she thought, though deep down the kisses made her heart flutter and her little face burst into a rosy blush.

"What do you mean by the soul of love?!" she protested loudly, trying to hide her embarrassment.

With a smile tugging at her lips, Lu Xiaoxue leaned over and said, "Every famous character comes alive not only because of their design but also because of all the love their fans pour into them. It's that very love that breathes life into these characters."

Lu Lingyue blinked, surprisingly finding some sense in Lu Xiaoxue's words.

But then a defiant thought sparked in her mind: Wait a minute—I can't let this woman twist everything around so easily! Shaking off her white ponytail wig, and with her dazzling emerald contacts in place, Lu Lingyue's eyes hardened with resolve.

"Nonsense! That's completely twisted logic!" she thought.

No sooner had she resolved to dismiss the idea than Xie Shuangning bent down and earnestly added, "That's why we kissed you—to make the character you're portraying even more vivid."

Gazing into the mesmerizing eyes before her, Lu Lingyue found herself momentarily overwhelmed. In a split second, however, she reasoned, "It does seem to make some sense… Wait! Get a grip, Lingyue! These women are just spouting nonsense!"

"Now, with love's blessing, your character comes alive even more!" Lu Xiaoxue declared, stepping forward to pinch her snowy little cheek.

"Oh…" came the soft reply.

And so, in her befuddled state, Lu Lingyue was easily cajoled along by the two.

"Okay, let's shoot our new video now!" Xie Shuangning exclaimed, her purple eyes lighting up with a huge yellow star.

"Alright!" Lu Lingyue agreed. The sooner they finished filming, the sooner everything would be over!

However, after scouring the house for a while, the trio all agreed that the background just didn't have enough charm.

"The home setting is too mundane – let's head out and find a more appealing spot for the shoot," suggested one.

With the camera in hand, Xie Shuangning had already led Lu Lingyue on a little tour around the house, but they hadn't found any inspiring backdrop.

Pursing her lips in thought, Lu Xiaoxue suddenly raised a finger as if struck by a brilliant idea.

"I know just the place."

"What place?" both Xie Shuangning and Lu Lingyue asked in unison.

"There's a patch of lawn in our neighborhood, and with the afternoon sun just perfect right now, we can go take some photos out there."

Lu Xiaoxue pointed out toward a spot visible from the window.

Frowning, Lu Lingyue said, "How come I never knew there was a lawn in our complex…"

"Besides school, you just stay cooped up at home, Lingyue. Of course you wouldn't know about any lawns," teased Lu Xiaoxue as she leaned in playfully.

The mere proximity of Lu Xiaoxue's pale, delicate face made Lu Lingyue shudder, and she quickly stepped back a couple of paces. "Well, maybe it is…"

Xie Shuangning bit her lip as she watched their banter, then swiftly interjected, "Alright, let's head out for the shoot now – if we wait too long, the sunset will ruin the lighting!"

Fearing that Lu Xiaoxue might pull another one of her odd stunts, Lu Lingyue dashed straight for the front door.

"Okay, let's get going!"

From behind, Lu Xiaoxue tilted her head and watched Lingyue with blue eyes brimming with laughter. After one quick glance, Lu Lingyue decisively opened the door and bolted out.

It wasn't until they arrived at the shooting location that Lu Lingyue realized it was her very first time going out in cosplay!

Since it was summer vacation—when even kindergarteners and clueless college students were off—the neighborhood was bustling, and people frequently strolled by the lawn.

First, Lu Lingyue and Xie Shuangning secured permission from the property manager, as they might end up trampling the grass during the shoot. To their surprise, the moment the property manager laid eyes on Lu Lingyue, he immediately agreed.

"Alright, go ahead and film! Just make sure you don't litter!"

"Thank you, sir," came the polite reply as Lu Lingyue obediently expressed her gratitude.

That very tone melted the old man's heart; he immediately clutched his chest and theatrically exclaimed, "Hurry, go quickly!"

Though Lu Lingyue looked at him with a trace of confusion—wondering what was up with his reaction—she bowed politely and left.

Watching her petite, adorable figure recede, the property manager was moved to tears of envy. "If only I had a daughter as cute as her!"

After bidding farewell to the property manager, the trio gathered their things and headed to the lawn to begin filming.

But just then, a sudden wave of fear swept over Lu Lingyue's heart.