Lanqi Just Wants to Be Beaten to Death by Tata

On the plaza beneath the Palieu Iron Tower. "Let's go, Tata." Lanqi continued holding her hand without letting go, inviting her to walk with him. "Mhm." Talia said nothing and offered no resistance, simply letting him lead her along. Her emotions were exceptionally stable. The volcano raging within her had, after all, been suppressed. If it were Hyperion, she definitely wouldn't be angry with Lanqi right now. *I am Hyperion. I am Hyperion.* She kept hypnotizing herself in her mind, finally calming her emotions. Lanqi and Talia strolled along the streets of Palieu, one slightly ahead of the other, as the early morning bustle gradually gave way to the vibrant pulse of the city. Lanqi happily held Talia's hand, his gaze lingering now and then on her profile. The two wandered at an easy pace, at times talking and laughing merrily, at times lapsing into brief, attentive listening. Boss Cat's petite figure lurked behind, sneaking along in their wake. Even though it felt terrified, it was still immensely curious. Today Talia was wearing gloves, so Lanqi held her hand with utter nonchalance. But the closer the two became, the more terrified Boss Cat grew that Lanqi would suddenly croak. As it darted back and forth like a dark shadow between building corners, benches, and newsstands, it suddenly noticed two other figures across the street, trailing them from a distance. They were craning their necks, observing Lanqi and Tata's every move. "Look, Aetio, I told you! A talented lad and a lovely maiden—a match made in heaven!" Countess Rosalinda whispered excitedly, her eyes sparkling with gossipy delight. Both had changed into casual attire, looking not at all like a countess and a Demon Realm lord. "Sure enough, there's a good show today," Aetio agreed, her tone carrying a hint of gratification. Tata's two good friends hid at the street corner like that, peering out now and then and murmuring in low voices, completely oblivious that they had already drawn glances from several passersby. "Meow!" Boss Cat called out from across the street. The two immediately noticed it. "Kitty, kitty, come over here," Rosalinda beckoned softly to Boss Cat. Earlier, during the first round of the Platinum-rank card maker exam, the little kitty had spent an entire day with her. Boss Cat nodded immediately and leaped over. "You're looking forward to sparks flying on their date too, aren't you?" Rosalinda hugged the little black cat that had bounded into her arms, looking down to ask. "Meow..." *Sparks? A volcano!* Boss Cat had no idea how to explain the complicated relationship between Lanqi and Tata to Aetio and Rosalinda. Just as they were chatting, Aetio noticed a deep red convertible magiteck vehicle speeding past. Tata, being led across the street by Lanqi, was trailing behind absentmindedly, seemingly lost in thought. Talia's brows were slightly knitted, her cherry lips pressed tight, her almond eyes filled with heavy thoughts. "Hey!" Aetio nearly cried out. Lanqi reacted instantly. He nimbly seized the lady's wrist and pulled her slender waist firmly with his other arm, bringing both of them swiftly a step closer to the sidewalk. Talia's bright red lips parted slightly. The rushing vehicle swept up a gust of wind, swirling roadside flower petals into a kaleidoscopic vortex in the air. In that sudden instant, Talia felt everything around her slow down. The footsteps of pedestrians on the street, the rustling leaves atop the trees, the whirling petals in the air—all drifted past her vision as if in slow motion. Only the firm, warm palm of Lanqi's hand brought her a grounding sense of absolute security. Talia slowly raised her head, held tightly by her waist and her hand in his, just like dancing. She looked at Lanqi in astonishment. His assertive yet dependable demeanor, his resolute and unswerving gaze, and that face which, upon closer inspection, was quite handsome... In that instant, she felt the familiar racing of her heart from the past two days once again. *As I thought...* *As I thought, I still...* "Thank goodness. Otherwise, the people in that car would have been in serious danger," Lanqi said, letting out a breath of relief with the quintessential smile of an upstanding citizen. How could a mere magiteck vehicle ever budge Tata? It would be no different from crashing into an iron tower—the car would be totaled and its occupants killed on the spot. "..." Talia fell silent once more. Behind the street corner on the other side. "Look how lovely the atmosphere between them is," Aetio remarked wistfully. "Yes, yes!" Rosalinda nodded. "Tata is so shy she can't even speak." Just watching from afar made her maidenly heart melt. Boss Cat: "..." It had no idea what to say. It only recalled a story Lanqi had once told. *When you ride in a carriage and see a white goat by the roadside, you cannot assert that it is a white goat—because on the side you cannot see, it might just be black.* ... Beside the road, Lanqi led Talia onto the sidewalk. "Oh, Tata, why does it feel like you're squeezing my hand a bit tighter?" Lanqi asked, looking somewhat puzzled. Talia took a deep breath with effort and slowly relaxed her grip, still letting Lanqi lead her along like a doll girl. In the past, she definitely would have threatened Lanqi, saying, *If you have the guts, keep holding on and don't run away.* But today, she was hell-bent on nauseating Lanqi. As long as she didn't get angry, Lanqi wouldn't get his way. "I... can get a little scared, too." Talia feigned delicacy and leaned half a step closer to him. "Could you... hold my hand all day today and not let go?" Talia looked up at him and spoke in a calm, gentle tone. "..." Lanqi fell uncharacteristically silent. Though his expression did not overtly shift, his facial muscles seemed to be straining to suppress a look of deep discomfort. Only after the goosebumps that briefly erupted on the back of his hand had subsided did he speak. "Of course. But won't you be the first to run away?" Lanqi smiled with narrowed eyes, lowering his voice slightly as he asked, "After all, as far as I know, in several hundred years Master has never been on a private date like this with a boy. I'm worried you'll be too shy." Facing Lanqi's provocative words, Talia felt her blood pressure spike once again. "I won't. As long as you don't let go, I won't let go," Talia maintained her smile and replied. "Then naturally, neither will I," Lanqi promised. Both wore insincere smiles as their eyes locked. Whoever let go first today lost. A short moment later. Rosalinda and Aetio were already hiding behind the parasol of an open-air tearoom, holding the cat, their gazes still fixed intently on the couple not far away. "Heavens, Aetio, did you see that?" Rosalinda grabbed Aetio's arm excitedly, her voice trembling slightly with thrill. "Whoaaa!" Aetio covered her mouth with both hands, trying hard to stifle the urge to squeal. Her eyes sparkled, and an excited blush spread across her cheeks. "I can hardly believe it! Lanqi can be so deeply affectionate! Just look at the way he looks at Tata—as if she's his entire world!" Rosalinda hugged the little black cat a bit tighter. This was precisely the cloyingly sweet romance they wanted to see! Listening to their conversation, Boss Cat felt only that life was devoid of hope. Once upon a time, it too had mistaken this for a romance between a cool, intellectual older woman and a gentle, clever, handsome youth, eagerly anticipating the sparks that would fly between them. Now, having gotten to know them both in reality, it felt only that the two of them were an insult to the concept of romance. In the blink of an eye, Lanqi and Talia walked further away. Aetio and Rosalinda followed close behind, navigating through the streets with the cat, ducking and dodging while impatiently eager to witness the date in its entirety. ... Walking along the roads of Palieu amidst the quaint old architecture of the North Bank's historic district, the two took in the serene and peaceful moment. "By the way, Tata, is there anywhere you want to go?" Lanqi turned his head to look at Talia and asked. Today could be considered the very first time they had truly agreed to go out together for fun. Neither of them quite knew what to do. Lanqi hadn't prepared anything in advance either—not that preparing would have been of any use. Tata was different from ordinary girls; the more elaborately one planned, the more she would leave one completely bewildered. "Come with me to the Card Makers Association first." Talia thought for a moment, sensing it was already close to ten o'clock. Although she hadn't given Karen a specific time, she had instructed her to wait at the Palieu Card Makers Association on the morning of the festival day. Leaving Karen hanging there for an hour or two. Keeping Karen in a state of dread that Talia might arrive the very next second, yet also yearning for Talia to show up quickly and give her a swift end. Karen's state of mind ought to be undergoing quite the transformation by now. "No problem." Lanqi and Talia crossed the river-port bridge spanning the Selena River, heading toward the Card Makers Association on the South Bank. Now and then, wild geese skimmed across the river's surface, casting graceful silhouettes upon the water. After roughly half an hour's walk, they finally arrived at the Card Makers Association building in District 3 of the South Bank. Unlike usual days, several vivid firework display signboards stood on the broad plaza in front of the association today, announcing the scheduled times for tonight's Fireworks Ascension Festival along the riverbank. Neither of them paid it much heed. Originally, they had planned to spend the day separately anyway. Stepping into the association building, they were greeted by the delicate, pleasant fragrance of sandalwood. Gentle sunlight filtering through the domed glass windows bathed the interior in warm tones. Toward the back of the ground floor, massive escalators connected to a suspended mezzanine gallery on the second floor, encircling a potted golden-leaf banyan over ten meters tall. Riding the lift upward, the two stepped onto the third-floor corridor lined with dark brown damask carpeting. Display windows on either side showcased a dazzling array of card creations—some newly crafted cards were ornate and radiant with exquisite detail, while others were understated, returning to simplicity and rustic elegance. Yet as fellow Platinum-rank card makers, neither held much interest in these cards. Only when gazing out through the glass curtain wall did the red maple grove on the street behind the association catch the eye, fluttering in the breeze. Its leaves had turned an intoxicating deep crimson, resembling dancing clusters of flame under the morning light. Before walking many steps further, their attention was drawn to a young woman in the third-floor central atrium, surrounded by a crowd like stars orbiting the moon. Her light-colored long hair draped softly over her shoulders. She wore an unadorned chiffon blouse, her figure petite yet gracefully curved. It seemed everyone was congratulating her on passing the Platinum-rank card maker exam; each was a person of prominent status, eager to curry favor and establish good relations with her. Yet the young woman's somewhat pale countenance and faint smile betrayed a hint of exhaustion, as though weighed down by worries or suffering from poor health. Just as Talia paused to observe, the girl noticed their presence. Slowly raising her head, her gaze swept across the crowd. The moment she caught sight of Talia, her somewhat dimmed eyes abruptly flared with terror. As if the moment she had been dreading and waiting for had finally arrived, Karen ignored everyone around her and rushed anxiously toward her. Seeing Talia holding Lanqi's hand so sweetly right now, and thinking about how she herself would have to do something utterly shameless and humiliating just to preserve her reputation, Karen felt a tumult of emotions inside, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. "I... I came, just as you requested," Karen whispered timidly to Talia, her voice thick with urgency and entreaty, terrified that those nearby might overhear them. "Come to the workshop first. I'll give you the swimsuit and the sign." Talia patted Karen on the back, telling her to square her shoulders so it wouldn't look like she was being bullied. "Hold your head high and keep your chest out. Otherwise, someone might recognize you from that hunched-over posture later," Talia murmured beside Karen. Karen knew this was Tata's coded threat. She simply wanted to humiliate her. Yet the more this happened, the more she couldn't break down; if she could just endure it, today would be over. With Lanqi in tow, Talia led the way as the three traversed the hallway. They entered a secluded, private passage leading straight to the Senior Card Maker area on the association's sixth floor. Unlike the exhibition halls below, the decor here was far more understated and luxurious; ordinarily, only managerial figures like Rosalinda had access to this place. Within minutes, Talia arrived outside an exquisitely decorated high-level card-making workshop. Talia pushed the door open gently and gestured for Karen to enter. Inside the classically styled private workshop, counters carved from time-weathered moonwood were arranged at tiered heights, the barrier runes inscribed upon their surfaces gleaming with a soft glow. Talia motioned for Karen to take a seat in front of the table, while she, still holding Lanqi's hand, walked over to a locker, retrieved a metal box, and set it on the table. "I've put the swimsuit, mask, and apology board I prepared for you inside. Just change into them and come out," Talia instructed. "..." Karen bit her lip, nodded, and opened the lid. Inside lay a small pair of swim trunks, a masquerade mask for disguise, and a cardboard placard inscribed with: *Lord Tata, I was wrong.* Karen took everything out of the box and searched through it again and again, but failed to find the other piece of waterproof fabric she had envisioned. "Th-this is the swimsuit?" Karen picked up the swim trunks. As realization slowly dawned on her, she stared up blankly at Talia, her pupils trembling. "That's right. I never specified men's or women's swimwear. Seeing how much you love men, I prepared men's for you," Talia spread her left hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "No, absolutely not! You're playing word games!" Karen rushed over, grabbed Talia's forearm, and cried out agitatedly. "Get lost. Don't touch me." Talia shook her off cold-heartedly, letting her tumble to the floor, looking down upon her with eyes as chilling as though viewing trash. "Bargain with me again, and I'll confiscate your mask too. Besides, if I truly wanted to make things hard for you, I could have made this placard smaller, leaving you barely able to cover what you want to cover." An eerie chill crept into Karen's heart, rising from her spine and spreading throughout her entire body in an instant. Those divine golden eyes stared down at her, rendering her body completely immobile. Even breathing became arduous. It was a terrifying magical pressure and a gaze that made her whole body shiver. "No, I was wrong!" Karen burst into full tears. That day, she had been threatened by Tata in the exact same manner; fear completely overwhelmed humiliation. "Please, spare me! I'll never dare provoke you again! I will disappear from your life!" Karen pushed herself up from the floor, wanting to throw herself forward and hug Talia's legs, but she dared not touch her again, only able to weep through blurry, tear-filled eyes and beg for mercy. "..." As if completely deaf to her pleas, Talia picked up the mask, snapped a piece off, and tossed it to the floor— as punishment for talking back. It was also to inform Karen that her begging would not lessen the punishment in the slightest. "Do you want it or not?" Talia held out the chipped mask toward Karen, dangling it temptingly like a bone. "..." Karen bit her lip hard, tears streaming relentlessly down her cheeks. She could not bear to imagine what it would feel like to stand in broad daylight before the public wearing nothing but these swim trunks and holding a placard. The prestige she had painstakingly built, that queen-like status of hers, could not withstand such an act. Yet that dread surpassing death instinctively forbade her from stalling any longer; ever since she had fled that day, her mind had been haunted entirely by that gray-haired, golden-eyed figure and voice! "Karen, I've been gentle enough with you. This mask even comes with a wig. As long as you wear it, I promise no one will ever recognize who you are. This matter will remain strictly between heaven, earth, you, and me." Seeing Karen hesitate, Talia's fingers began prying along the mask's cracked edge again, the crisp snapping sound ringing out. "But if a few more pieces break off, there's no guarantee whether someone will recognize you..." Karen felt a suffocating despair. "I want it!" Karen finally seemed to make up her mind, or perhaps resigned herself to reality. Terrified of an even worse outcome, she tried her best to conceal her emotional breakdown and lunged to grab the mask. With every fragment that broke, she felt as if a piece of her pride was being ripped away! Yet Talia merely jerked the mask out of reach, leaving Karen grasping at empty air. "..." Talia held one hand beside her ear, saying nothing. As if waiting to hear Karen speak. "Thank you... Lord Tata..." Karen bit her lip and sobbed. "Mhm. Little Sister Karen, wouldn't it have been so much simpler if you had done this from the start?" Talia's lips curved into a delightful arc as she asked. "Tata, uh..." Lanqi was slightly concerned that Talia was taking things too far. From his perspective, he didn't really care about what Karen had done; he barely even remembered it. "!" Karen looked toward Lanqi as if finding a savior. In that misty, faintly alluring gaze, it was as if she were telling Lanqi that as long as he helped persuade Tata, she would do anything for him. This honest, simple man whom she had once looked down upon now seemed like her final lifeline! Even though she had mocked and humiliated him, publicly grilled him during the Platinum-rank card maker exam, and reported him, he had still set aside past grievances and given her an impartial score. Like Loren, he was a true gentleman—he surely wouldn't torment her! Yet that look... was captured by Talia in an instant. The mask in her hand was crushed to pieces in her grip. Startled out of her wits, Karen instantly averted her eyes from Lanqi. The disgust in Talia's eyes deepened, making Karen tremble with fright, though Talia quickly masked it. Holding Lanqi's hand, she took a step toward Karen, casually stepping on the mask and shattering it into even smaller fragments with a crisp crunch. Reflected in Karen's wide pupils, the pure white mask was completely in pieces. "As long as you wear this mask, no one will know who you are. This punishment is already exceedingly mild. Yet far from thanking me sincerely, you dared try to negotiate with me. Is there truly not an ounce of remorse in your heart?" Talia gazed at Karen and asked. That look full of 'pity' seemed as though she were considering how to truly punish Karen. "I know I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong, Lord Tata!" Karen shook her head frantically. She dared not hesitate this time, feeling on the verge of suffocating. She regretted looking at Lanqi just now with every fiber of her being, not daring to provoke this gray-haired witch any further. "No more crying. Pick them up, and I'll piece it back together for you." Talia bent down slightly, gently hooking Karen's chin with her forefinger, and spoke in a slightly gentler tone. "!" Karen sniffled instantly, her eyes widening, not daring to let another tear fall. Crawling across the floor, she scrambled to gather the shards and offered them devoutly to Talia, as if having found her true master to rely on. "Be obedient, and there will be rewards; disobey, and there will be punishment. Understand?" In just a few deft motions using the tools in the workshop, Talia repaired the mask with one hand and turned back to hand it to Karen. The once flawless white mask was now covered in cracks, resembling mended porcelain. "Understood, Lord Tata," Karen nodded repeatedly, stifling her sobs as she replied. "All right. You have one minute. Change, and come out." With that, Talia led Lanqi out of the VIP workshop. Wearing an expression of deep satisfaction, she arched an eyebrow at Lanqi. "..." Standing outside the door, Lanqi didn't know what to say. He was now quite certain: even without fusion, the Poet of Great Love was merely a brat pretending to be a sadist, whereas Talia was the true queen. Quite the kick. In less than a minute, the door lock clicked a few times; Karen seemed to be clutching the cardboard placard with one arm while her trembling other hand tried several times before finally unlocking it. Yielding to Talia's demands, Karen stepped out of the workshop with profound humiliation and discomfort, every step feeling like walking on knife edges. She wore only the swim trunks, clutching the placard tightly to press against her chest; even so, her sides and back remained completely exposed. "Go stand at the entrance of the Card Makers Association. Stay until five in the afternoon," Talia checked the time and told Karen. "..." Karen nodded, clutching the placard and fleeing to avoid letting Talia see her tears. Before long, Unrushed, Talia led Lanqi downstairs to the French windows on the third floor of the association. Looking down, a crowd of onlookers had already begun gathering across the vast plaza below the Palieu Card Makers Association. Karen stood there holding the cardboard placard reading *Lord Tata, I was wrong*. The mask concealed her facial expressions, but could not hide the tremors racking her body or the stiffness of her posture. Some were confused, others curious, while some murmured among themselves, unable to comprehend why this young woman was staging such a bizarre display. Karen endured exquisite torment. Feeling the cool breeze, every glance directed at her felt like a sharp blade piercing her heart. Standing there like an exhibit scrutinized by countless pairs of eyes, her heart was filled with turmoil and dread, mingled with rage—rage toward Talia, and rage toward herself for submitting to such an unreasonable demand... Behind the mask, her tears flowed in secret, her sense of dignity and self-worth virtually shattered into dust in this moment. "What kind of pervert is this..." "Children, don't look..." "Is this performance art?" "Maybe doing this excites her?" Whispers and chatter buzzed continuously. Karen's ears were crimson, her legs trembling non-stop, yet feeling the gaze looking down from high above, she could only endure this humiliation, her tears falling without end. Meanwhile, Talia stood before the French windows upstairs, looking down at the plaza below. From this angle, she could clearly see Karen's figure. "Very good. The steeper the fall from heaven to hell, the more desperately she will guard every shred of vanity she now possesses at all costs," Talia said with satisfaction. Next, she would simply have to tell Karen: *You wouldn't want me to expose the identity of the masked deviant outside the Card Makers Association and turn your hard-won Platinum-rank card maker title into a laughingstock, would you?* Talia was confident Karen would be utterly subservient to her. She led Lanqi down the stairs of the Card Makers Association. When they finally reached the entrance and passed through the towering doorway several meters high, the panoramic scene of the plaza spread out before them. "How was that, Lanqi?" Stepping outside the Card Makers Association building, Talia turned her eyes to Lanqi and asked. She believed Lanqi had witnessed firsthand how Karen sank into the abyss step by step. From Karen's very first compromise, it was ordained that whatever Talia wished Karen to do, she could gradually make it happen. "As expected of Lord Tata," Lanqi chimed in from the side with apparent heartfelt sincerity. "..." Hearing Lanqi mimic Karen's tone just now, Talia felt only that he was trolling. It was dripping with passive-aggression and mockery. Not only did he seem entirely unafraid of her, but he also seemed eager to play a high-stakes mind game with her to the fullest—the kind where losing meant falling into eternal damnation. "You truly are so beautiful and so powerful," Lanqi added. "Shall we continue our date, then?" Talia wrapped her arms around his left arm, leaning against his shoulder as she asked in a soft voice. She wanted to see who would crack first today—Lanqi breaking down, or herself losing patience. Let them mutually hurt each other, then. "Mhm. Let's go." Lanqi paused for half a second. A calm smile finally surfaced on his shadow-tinged face, and he nodded to her. The two walked past in the distance of Karen's line of sight. And when Karen saw the sweet silhouettes of this pair, thinking of how she was stripped of all dignity like an animal, a wave of aggrieved bitterness welled up in her heart, making her tremble even more violently.