Yes, I did all this!

It was just a piece of fish, so he wouldn't really be frightened, even if the sealed killer whale appeared in front of him...

Well, if you think about it carefully, it's quite scary. A whale whose eye diameter alone is as long as a person, and can also have a self-consumption clone, is really heart-stopping.

Duanmu remained calm, ate the biscuit and nodded:

"It's okay."

Xia Yan smiled even more and ate the cookies while sharing them with him.

——Not long after, Yuzhi also returned home from school.

Seeing the changes in the office, Yuzhi was a little surprised, but not too surprised.

"Senior Xia Yan, this -"

Yuzhi raised his hands, holding a cake box in both hands. The cake part could be seen through the translucent part of the box.

The cake for three people is not too big, but it is gorgeous enough.

"I made this by myself after learning the method in the past few days."

Yuzhi said with an expectant smile:

"Let's eat together after dinner~"

Volume One: Chapter 270: The Haunting Fire

"Cheers~"

At night, in the office, which is decorated with brightly colored strips and has a festive atmosphere, three cups clink together.

"Pfft——"

Xia Yan drank the beer in one gulp and a blush appeared on her face.

"Good drinker, come on, come on, drink this white one too."

Duanmumo encouraged her and poured the transparent wine into her cup.

"Um......"

Seeing Xia Yan drinking wine with her face flushed, Yuzhi looked dumbfounded:

"Mr. Duanmu, please don't let Senior Xia Yan drink some."

"What are you afraid of? On such a festive occasion, of course you have to drink to your heart's content. Come on, Yuzhi, have some cake."

Duanmumo waved his hand, cut out a piece of cake and handed it to her.

"Okay, okay."

Yuzhi took it with a smile and tasted the cake he made.

"Ah, it's delicious. Mr. Duanmu, would you like to try it too?"

Yuzhi's eyes lit up and he handed a piece to Duanmu Mo.

The cake is filled with cream and sugar, decorated with decorations and chocolate, and there are different fruits placed on the flowers of the cream. Just the sight of it makes people appetizing.

"Well, the craftsmanship is pretty good."

After eating a piece of cake, Duanmumo nodded and looked at Yuzhi in admiration.

It's hard to imagine that Yuzhi didn't have any foundation half a month ago. Maybe she has a better talent in this area?

"Hehe, as long as Mr. Duanmu likes it."

"Hmm - I want to eat too~"

Xia Yan's face turned red, she leaned on Duanmu Mo's shoulder and opened her mouth to him.

His eyes were blurred, and he looked a little drunk.

Duanmumo sighed, stretched out his hand, cut off a piece and fed it to her.

Seeing this scene, Yuzhi showed a gentle smile:

"Really...Senior Xia Yan, you will be an adult after tonight."

"What's the matter, Mu..."

After biting into the cake, some cream stuck to the corner of Xia Yan's mouth.

She spoke vaguely, stretched out her tongue and licked the cream, her blurred eyes seemed to have thought of something:

"By the way, Yuzhi, why don't you take a sip too~"

With that said, Xia Yan pressed her body against Duanmu Mo, held out the wine glass and put it to Yu Zhi's mouth without any explanation.

"No, I haven't...well——"

The cold wine unexpectedly had a warm feeling. It fell into the throat unintentionally and felt hot. Yuzhi choked and took another big sip unintentionally.

"Uh-ahem..."

"——Okay, that's enough. Don't give the children so much alcohol..."

Quickly putting down the cake, Duanmumo held Xia Yan's wrist and took away her wine glass.

But even so, Yuzhi still took a big gulp and held her throat in discomfort.

"Are you okay? Spit it out."

Patting Yuzhi's back, Duanmumo took out a piece of paper and put it in front of Yuzhi's mouth.

"Well..."

Yuzhi's face turned red, but he still shook his head and gently pushed Tian Mumo's hand:

"I, ahem... I'm not a child anymore."

"Then drink some more~"

Xia Yan smiled, then filled the wine glass and handed it over.

"You too, stop drinking."

Duanmumo rolled his eyes, took the wine glass from Xia Yan's hand and drank it in one gulp, then handed her a glass of juice without changing his expression.

But even so, Xia Yan still smiled and took a big sip from the cup, but the blush on her face still didn't dissipate.

"Well..." At the same time, on the other side, Yuzhi was leaning drunkenly on Duanmumo's shoulder, spitting out the smell of alcohol and uttering unclear words:

"I'm not... a child anymore..."

"Okay, okay - hey, look at you."

When Duanmumo saw this, he patted Xia Yan on the head, but Xia Yan just laughed and leaned against Duanmumo.

The festive birthday party was turned into this by Xia Yan. Looking at the confused Yuzhi, Duanmumo also sighed and tried to push Yuzhi:

"Yu Zhi? Are you still awake?"

"Hmm~"

Facing Duanmumo's call, Yuzhi only made a weak voice, and then buried her head on his shoulder.

Duanmumo shook his head helplessly, patted Xia Yan, who was still slightly tipsy, and told her not to hold her arms. Duanmumo picked up Yuzhi and put her on the bed.

"call......"

As soon as she lay on the bed, Yu Zhi curled up, tilted her head and looked a little uncomfortable, but she fell asleep soon.

"Okay..." Duanmu Mo turned around and looked at Xia Yan: "Let's do this for today, you should take a shower and go to bed."

"Is that it?"

Xia Yan pouted and showed dissatisfaction, lying on the sofa, her face flushed: "But... I don't want it to end like this..."

"Anyway, today is over, sleep well, and take on the responsibilities of an adult."

Duanmu Mo stepped forward and flicked Xia Yan's head. She stood up unwillingly, but her body was still shaky, and she leaned on Duanmu Mo's body.

"Hmm..."

Xia Yan murmured, leaning on Duanmu Mo's shoulder and whispering: "Hmm... I still feel dizzy, help me go out and get some fresh air."

"......Alright."

--It was still a hot day not long ago, but now there is a hint of autumn coolness. Duanmu Mo helped Xia Yan out of the office and blew the night breeze on the quiet street.

Under the breeze, Xia Yan leaned on Duanmu Mo's body and breathed out a relaxed breath.

"Go back and rest after you're done."

"No~"

Holding Duanmu Mo's arm, Xia Yan turned her head and looked at him with a dazed look, her tone softer than ever before:

"......Time flies so fast, looking back, it seems like our meeting just happened yesterday."

Different from her usual nagging, Xia Yan now has a hint of weakness that can only be exposed when the outer strength is stripped away.

"Sometimes I can't help but wonder what would happen if I hadn't met you... Maybe I would be completely engulfed by the rage of despair."

Xia Yan looked up at the sky, but her hand was still tightly holding Duanmu Mo's arm.

"..."

"Duanmu Mo, it's because of you that I can come to this point, to look at this starry sky with the current mentality and spend such a birthday..."

She turned her head and looked deeply at Duanmu Mo: "-So, no matter how much you ignore it, no matter how much you escape, the facts cannot be changed, and this feeling will not fade because you don't want to face it."

She stood on tiptoe and whispered in Duanmu Mo's ear, confessing without any concealment:

"-Duanmu Mo, I don't just like you in general, it's a stronger love than that."

"..."

"Unlike other people, I am a troublesome person. I don't care why you don't want to respond to me. Whether I am just a child in your eyes or you don't like me at all, I don't care."

Facing Duanmu Mo's sight, Xia Yan's wrist lit up, and the energy like fire wrapped the two of them.

Although this flame would not have any effect on Duanmu Mo, it also made him feel the burning feelings from Xia Yan.

"Do you know? The result of playing with fire will only burn yourself. It will not stop until the flame is extinguished. No matter how much you escape or struggle, it will be useless."

Sticking the flame energy to Duanmu Mo's body, Xia Yan turned into Xiri's posture in front of Duanmu Mo.

However, unlike usual, she was not covered with any armor, but a close-fitting tights and decorations such as boots and gloves.

The drunkenness was lifted with her transformation, and her blurred eyes became clear, but she still did not let go of Duanmu Mo's hand, but pressed closer to him.

"... Just like a flame, since you have ignited me, don't think about getting away safely."

Xiri regarded herself as a flame wrapped around Duanmu Mo, and the extinguished flame also represented the end of her life. During this period, no matter how Duanmu Mo ignored or escaped, the flame would only burn more and more fiercely.

However, the burning of this flame would not leave scars, but would only show its existence with gradually dazzling light.

"Duanmu Mo..." Xiri looked at him, and the firmness in her words became weak. The tone of this magical girl was pleading:

"If you don't want to face me, just put me out."

Holding Duanmu Mo's hands and putting them on her neck, Xiri looked at him deeply:

"After I turn back into an ordinary person, pinch me hard, okay?"

"...What nonsense are you talking about?"

Duanmu Mo frowned and wanted to loosen his hands, but Xiri held them tightly.

He really felt the thorny situation. The feeling from the past few days continued to accumulate at this moment, making him couldn't help but take a deep breath.

——What a heavy magical girl, and I raised her to be like this with my own hands, this is really bad luck.

"Don't you want to extinguish me?"

After Duanmu Mo did not make any move, Xi Ri slowly let go of Duanmu Mo's hand and pressed her body against his:

"Then accept the flame in your body."

The night wind was a little chilly, but Xi Ri's body temperature was very high. When she pressed against him, the warm feeling spread all over her body, and at the same time brought the touch of Xi Ri's soft skin.

"No...Xia Yan, Xi Ri, that..."

"——I don't want to endure it anymore."