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In the hall of Mansion Blackstone, Enxi, Mai, and Zero are walking toward a specific room.
“Why were we called again?” asks Enxi, a bit annoyed. Actually, today is Valentine’s, so as a money person she wants to reap benefits, but boss suddenly calling for a meeting, even though it’s already night and Enxi should be home already, she still wants to see her money piling up.
“I have no clue. Princess, you usually know more than us. A little bit of info will suffice,” says Mai desperately. Knowing their boss, who can give strange assignments at any time and in any situation, Mai has the feeling she needs to prepare her heart for whatever this is.
“Unfortunately, I too have no clue. But if I should take a guess, it will be related to Valentine’s, and I think whatever it is, it will be fine,” says Zero calmly, like she will pass everything that comes with ease. At times like this, Mai does envy her calmness. Zero is actually very reliable about their boss and rarely—never for now actually, but hey, no one knows the future—expects boss to harm them. Mai has a feeling that boss may have foresight for how things like to bend to his advantage and all.
“Well, I guess acceptance is just what we can do then,” says Enxi, bracing herself.
Now in front of the said specific door, they stand.
And Zero, without hesitation whatsoever, knocks politely.
𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙠-𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙠-𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙠
“Boss, we’ve come,” says Zero.
And suddenly the door opens, but at the same time their eyes are covered with something. Even Mai, a ninja with years of experience, can’t withstand such a sudden attack.
“Just close your eyes, would you guys? Now come, follow me,” says Mingze while pushing them gently from behind.
Seriously, Mai and Zero can’t see anything behind these cloths. She doesn’t know what Mingze is planning, but she never intends to do the opposite, so she walks with her usual grace toward where Mingze nudges them.
Enxi, being the least combat-capable among them and the most talkative too, starts panicking a bit.
“Boss, where are you bringing us? I can’t die yet, I haven’t finished the 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘯 movie yet,” says Enxi hysterically.
“You wouldn’t die, my dear Chip. Just go. Dear Renata is in front of you. You too, Mai, don’t bother taking off the blindfold, would you? I’m putting real effort into this, so the least you guys can do is play along,” says Mingze.
Even though he says it with some mischief in his tone, somehow that calms them, and they continue walking toward wherever Mingze nudges them.
…
“Okay, we’re here. Put off your blindfolds,” says Mingze excitedly.
The blindfolds come off.
For a second, there is only silence.
Then—
Wind.
Waves.
Not loud. Not violent.
Just a slow, endless rhythm brushing against the shore.
Golden sand stretches beneath their feet. The air is cold yet warm, carrying the faint scent of salt and something sweeter—like melted chocolate lingering somewhere nearby.
Enxi blinks first.
“…This isn’t the briefing room.”
Above them, the ceiling is gone.
In its place, an open sky spills across the darkness—stars scattered like shattered glass, impossibly bright, impossibly close. Constellations shift almost too slowly to notice, as if the night itself is breathing.
Mai turns in a slow circle. “Is this… real?”
Mingze steps past them.
His shoes leave no mark in the sand.
“Does it matter?” he asks lightly.
The tide curls forward, stopping just short of where they stand, as if it knows its limit.
Renata watches him carefully. “You changed the entire structure of the mansion.”
“Correction.” His tone is calm. Casual. “I improved it.”
A long wooden table waits near the waterline. Crystal glasses catch starlight. A bottle of dark wine rests beside a perfectly plated chocolate cake, its surface glossy under the moon’s reflection.
Enxi looks up sharply. “Wait—tonight is when the stars align—”
“They already are, in reality too,” Mingze says.
And for a brief second, one constellation burns brighter than the rest.
Zero narrows her eyes slightly.
“You adjusted the sky.”
“I’m not. If I did that, what would happen to the world?”
The wind picks up—soft, deliberate. It threads through his hair, lifts the hem of his coat. He stands with his back to them, facing the horizon like he owns it.
Which, 𝗆𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖾 in a way, he does.
“It is Valentine’s Day,” he continues, almost absentmindedly. “𝗉𝖾𝗈𝗉𝗅𝖾 celebrate it with chocolate and love, right?”
“Well, you aren’t wrong,” Mai replies.
“Of course,” Mingze answers. “As if I can be wrong of all people.”
He turns then.
Not cold. Not sharp.
Just composed.
“Well then, sit, would you.”
The waves shimmer faintly, reflecting stars that feel too intentional to be natural.
Then he adds, voice quieter—almost thoughtful, “Don’t let my earnest hard work go to waste would you guys.”
It sounds like a plea.
Or a warning.
He sits, then gestures toward the table.
“Sit.”
The tide retreats slightly, as if making space for them.
“And enjoy it before it goes to waste.”
Then Renata sits first.
Enxi and Mai follow after.
“Well, since boss has kindly cooked for us, this Enxi will be grateful and eat it,” says Enxi as if she has done a great deed.
“Haha,” Mingze chuckles softly, “yes, my hardworking moneymaker. Eat this food that this boss of yours has kindly made himself.”
“Of cour—eh wait what. You made it yourself, boss? Then I will eat,” says Enxi, then eats it without hesitation.
Mingze leans back slightly in his chair, one hand resting lazily against his temple as he watches them eat.
He doesn’t touch his own plate.
Zero notices first.
“You’re not eating.”
Mingze glances at the cake as if it personally offended him.
“I am not particularly fond of chocolate,” he replies calmly. “Too sweet. I have already tasted enough while testing it.”
Enxi freezes mid-bite.
“You tested it? How many times?”
“…Enough.”
Mai narrows her eyes. “You made this yourself.”
“Obviously.”
He says it so casually it almost sounds arrogant.
Enxi immediately straightens in her seat.
“Boss, this is good. If you ever want to open a restaurant, tell me. I’ll prepare the investment proposal immediately.”
Mingze lets out a soft chuckle.
“That is kind of you, Enxi. But no. We are busy enough.”
He pauses.
“And if I were to open one, it would not be public.”
Enxi blinks. “Not public?”
“The food would be exclusive,” he continues smoothly. “For the three of you only and some more few people that you guys may know.”
He tilts his head slightly.
“If I’m opening a restaurant, I don’t think I can cook for you again, Enxi. Or maybe you want it like that? I’m too busy cooking for others to cook for you?”
“…Absolutely not,” Enxi answers instantly.
Mai sighs. “You switched sides too fast.”
Enxi asks again, “Then boss, is that title of 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗳 that you used when sneaking into Cassel cooking competition real?”
“It’s not. I legally don’t have any title as such, but I can cook just fine.”
They continue eating, chatting lightly.
For a moment, it almost feels normal.
Too normal.
Mai swallows her bite and glances at Mingze.
“Well, boss… usually on Valentine’s, it’s girls who give chocolate to boys. And you just said you don’t even like chocolate. So why all this?”
She gestures to the sky. The ocean. The table.
“It’s a bit sudden,” she adds.
Enxi slowly lowers her fork.
“…Wait.”
Her eyes widen.
“You’re not giving us a goodbye dinner, right?”
Silence.
“Is the world ending tomorrow? Is the Dragon King waking up tonight? Is this the final supper??”
Mingze stares at her.
Then—
He laughs.
Openly.
“Chip,” he says between laughter, “what dramatic nonsense have you been watching?”
He leans forward, resting his chin on his hand.
“If the world were ending, you 𝖺𝗅𝗅 already know. I told you long ago the Dragon King𝗌 will awaken in this era. Apocalypse is practically scheduled.”
He shrugs lightly.
“But this dinner? It is nothing that grand.”
He looks at them one by one.
“Can a man not have a pleasant evening with three beautiful ladies?”
There’s a deliberate softness in his tone at the end.
Enxi squints at him.
“Boss, when you say it like that, you sound like a playboy.”
She looks him up and down.
“But with that young physique, you look more like a brat trying to impress his crush.”
Mai chokes on her drink.
Zero turns away to hide her smile.
Mingze slowly inhales.
“…A brat?”
Mai clears her throat quickly. “She didn’t mean it like that—”
“Oh?” Mingze tilts his head. “Do continue.”
Zero, who has been silent the entire time, finally chooses to speak.
“Our boss may appear young,” she says calmly, “but he is not that young.”
She pauses.
“However, if you were older, perhaps you could act more responsible.”
Silence.
Mingze freezes.
Then gasps dramatically.
“Renata. How could you.”
He places a hand over his chest.
“I am a very responsible boss. I check on you all constantly.”
Enxi facepalms instantly.
“You mean you check rumors constantly.”
Mingze does not deny it.
Mai crosses her arms. “There is no rumor in this faction you don’t already know.”
Love issues. Financial secrets. Old embarrassments.
Nothing survives him.
And yet—
Because of that, there has never been betrayal either.
Because if someone even 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 of backstabbing…
Mingze probably knew three days ago 𝗈𝗋 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋.
Enxi sighs but smiles slightly.
“Fine. If this isn’t the end of the world… then what is it?”
Mingze looks toward the ocean again.
The waves shimmer softly under the stars.
“For once,” he says quietly, “I simply wished to give things.”
He doesn’t look at them when he says it.
“And Valentine’s seemed… appropriate.”
There is mischief in his tone.
But beneath it—
Something gentler.
Enxi almost wants to say she is touched. Almost.
“And besides, none of you guys can cook. Well, Renata can, but she surely is busy, so I have kindly chose to be the one giving 𝖼𝗁𝗈𝖼𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗍𝖾 in your stead. If I’m not, I’m sure you all would probably pass this day monotonously. So be grateful,” says Mingze with a confidence that beats Mai when seducing men for her mission.
Seriously, how can someone be so confident yet so true, they think.
“Yeah-yeah, thank you boss for this splendid dinner. Today is my most eventful Valentine too, for your information,” says Enxi fondly.
“What are you saying, dear Enxi? The night is still young. I still have agendas for us to do. Now finish your food quickly, then let’s go to the boat after,” says Mingze, breaking the mood.
Agendas, he says.
𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘀.
𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗦.
Well, whatever. This unexpected side of him is quite troublesome, but that part of him and his smile now is enough reason for them to follow this maybe nonsense of his.