Abby shook his head with a smug expression, as if he had already seen through everything: "As the saying goes, love is mutual, so it definitely requires both parties to genuinely love each other."
Changli covered her lips with a light chuckle: "The prerequisites are piling up, but I think Abby's idea is workable."
"How about we take turns kissing Lucian and see who can wake him up?"
Jinhsi hesitated: "Do I have to as well?"
Changli laughed softly: "Of course, Jinhsi. Sometimes love isn't obvious—who knows, maybe deep down, you're deeply in love with Lucian?"
Jinhsi's delicate face flushed slightly: "This…"
Lucian cheered inwardly—the option was about to be completed!
The only problem was deciding when to wake up. The best approach was not to wake up no matter who kissed him, even if it meant offending everyone.
But that was still better than waking up after a specific person's kiss. Otherwise, forget the others, Rover would definitely be the first to kill him.
Meanwhile, Rover narrowed her eyes, deep in thought. Then it struck her—If I just kiss Lucian first and wake him up, wouldn't that solve everything?
Rolling up her sleeves confidently, Rover declared: "No need to think about it. Let me go first."
"As soon as I kiss him, Lucian will definitely wake up!"
Changli's beautiful eyes curved into a smile as she covered her mouth with a light laugh, not contesting who would kiss Lucian first: "Alright, you go first then, Rover."
The group gathered around the two as Rover leaned down, her moist lips pressing against Lucian's.
Rover's eyes remained wide open, staring intently at Lucian, but he showed no signs of waking.
Rover: "?"
Her eyes flashed with dissatisfaction, so she kissed him deeper while pinching the soft flesh at his waist, trying to rouse him.
Lucian winced in pain—Rover's playing dirty!
But he forced himself to endure, not letting it show. He had to wait until Jinhsi kissed him before waking up, or this golden opportunity would be wasted. Sorry, Rover!
He apologized silently in his heart.
Changli chuckled lightly beside them: "It seems Rover has failed."
She reached out to pull Rover up, afraid she might pinch Lucian awake.
Rover crossed her arms, glaring coldly at Lucian.
She didn't stop the others, though—this had been agreed upon beforehand. Stopping them now would just make her seem petty. Besides, she wanted to see who could wake Lucian up.
Changli smiled: "Next, it's my turn."
No one objected.
Changli leaned down, gazing affectionately at Lucian's handsome face for a moment before slowly lowering her head…
Lucian felt the heat of Changli's lips and couldn't resist parting them with his tongue, slipping inside.
Changli raised an eyebrow slightly, her eyes brimming with amusement. She was clever enough not to say anything, simply enjoying the intimate exchange.
The onlookers couldn't see Lucian's little maneuver since Changli blocked their view.
Rover snorted coldly: "Seems Changli failed too."
Hearing this, Changli smiled and lightly bit Lucian's lip, as if teasing him.
She pinched his cheek before standing up with a regretful sigh: "What a shame. Even I couldn't do it… So now…"
Abby boomed: "Step aside! Let me at Lucian!"
Everyone: "?"
Rover grabbed Abby's big ears and tossed him into the Tacet Mark: "Go play somewhere else."
Abby: "…"
Jiao-Jiao noticed Sanhua and Jinhsi hesitating, so she said solemnly: "How about I go next?"
She looked at Sanhua and Jinhsi for approval, and both nodded.
Jiao-Jiao gave a slight nod and extended a hand, an invisible force lifting Lucian to her eye level.
This angle ensured everyone could see everything clearly.
Jiao-Jiao glanced at Lucian and cursed inwardly: What a scoundrel…
With that, she kissed him—but it was as fleeting as a dragonfly skimming water, gone in an instant.
Seeing no reaction from Lucian, the invisible force vanished, and Lucian dropped to the ground.
Lucian: "…"
This is blatant retaliation! Just you wait, Jiao-Jiao—see if I heal you tonight!
He seethed inwardly.
Sanhua hesitated: "My status isn't high, so maybe I shouldn't…?"
Changli shook her head lightly: "That won't do, Sanhua. Since we've agreed, everyone must take their turn."
"Besides, as the Magistrate's personal guard, your status is anything but low."
Sanhua took a deep breath: "Alright."
Her kiss was just like Jiao-Jiao's—a brief touch before pulling away.
With both her superiors watching, she couldn't exactly savor the moment, let alone with Rover—their esteemed guest—glaring daggers nearby.
Now only Jinhsi remained. She pressed her lips together, having steeled herself while watching the others kiss Lucian.
Leaning down, she whispered an apology: "Lucian, don't blame me."
Lucian: "…"
Blame you? I'm over the moon!
He was more than ready.
Just as the system reward was within reach, Rover suddenly spoke up: "Maybe we should just call it off. Seems like Lucian isn't waking up."
Lucian: "?"
Changli chuckled: "Since it's just Jinhsi left, let's finish this properly."
Summoning her courage, Jinhsi closed her eyes and kissed him.
Lucian felt the cool softness of Jinhsi's lips—her technique was utterly inexperienced, pressing against his without moving.
He wanted to respond, to teach the Magistrate a thing or two about kissing, but he didn't dare move.
Unlike Changli, if he reciprocated now, Jinhsi would surely gasp aloud.
And then Lucian might as well pick out a nice burial plot for himself.
After a few seconds with no reaction, Jinhsi stood up, her face flushed: "It didn't work…"
[Option 1 completed. Reward obtained: 'A Deleted Secret.']
[Reward has been issued.]
Lucian realized no new information had appeared in his mind and was instantly baffled. He silently called out to the system: Hey, Sheepie, where did you send it?
Why didn't I get anything?
But the system just repeated the same line.
[Reward has been issued.]
Lucian: "???"
Just as he was drowning in confusion, Rover mused: "Could it be Yinlin?"
Everyone: "…"
No denying it—Rover had way too many love rivals.
Abby quickly interjected: "I say we just start the feast already!"
At the thought of the lavish spread, drool practically dripped from his mouth.
Changli smiled gently: "It seems the tale of Sleeping Beauty isn't very reliable. In that case, let's take Lucian back to City Hall to recuperate."
Lucian kept his eyes shut, pondering—If I wake up now, won't it seem too soon? They might think I was just taking advantage.
Better wait until we're back at City Hall before 'waking up'…
With that settled, Lucian peacefully feigned sleep…