Thanks for Hil for becoming as a Supporter!
===BREAK===
Creak—!
Arden closed the door. There was now a takeout bag in his hand, containing three cups of milk tea.
Because of the premiere ceremony, Gravity Cinema had been fully booked by Suibian Film & Media. Delivery personnel weren't allowed to enter the backstage area freely; items could only be handed over by staff members. That was why it had been a staff member knocking just now.
It counted as one layer of security—but it wasn't enough.
"Don't rush. Let me check it first."
Swatting away Astra Yao's small hand as it reached over, Evelyn took the takeout bag and began inspecting it with professional seriousness.
"Hurry up!"
Astra Yao was already impatient to taste her milk tea.
No issue with the exterior.
But she wasn't done yet.
Evelyn picked up a straw and poked it into the cup of matcha-flavored milk tea.
This was Astra Yao's favorite flavor. Like a royal poison-testing eunuch, Evelyn took a sip herself first. Only after confirming there was no problem would she let Astra Yao drink it.
Evelyn drinks first, then Astra Yao drinks—does that count as an indirect kiss?
Hiss—!
As the straw pierced the seal, a trace of gas and scent escaped. Though it was only a tiny amount, it was enough to pull Arden back from his messy thoughts.
"Hm?"
With his deep knowledge of alchemy ingredients, Arden immediately sensed something wrong.
"Wait!"
But his warning came too late—Evelyn had already swallowed it.
"What is it? I drank it and there's no… pro…blem?"
Before she could finish speaking, Evelyn suddenly felt her body heat up. A restless sensation surged in her lower abdomen, causing her legs—wrapped tightly in leather pants—to rub together unconsciously.
"Don't move!"
Arden pressed one hand to Evelyn's wrist to check her pulse, while the other rested on her forehead.
His dark, deep eyes narrowed slightly.
"It's some kind of aphrodisiac powder!"
Didn't dare go for the kill, so they used this instead—trying to humiliate Astra Yao and ruin her reputation? How vulgar—no, how vicious!
"If humiliation is the goal, then…"
"Celestial Talisman Arts: Disperse!"
Arden flicked out a talisman. In the next instant, it transformed into light, spreading outward in rippling waves.
"Mmm…"
Arden focused carefully on sensing the surroundings.
"Got it!"
He leapt high into the air and grabbed toward a spot in the corner of the wall.
"As expected!"
When he landed again, there was now a pinhole camera in his hand.
"Hmph!"
Crack crack!
With a cold snort, Arden crushed the pinhole camera into powder.
"Arden, what do we do?"
Astra Yao looked at Evelyn with urgency. Compared to the enemy company's schemes or even her own reputation, she cared far more about her best friend's safety.
If Astra Yao hadn't insisted on Evelyn testing it first, the poisoned one would've been her.
At this moment, under the influence of the drug, Evelyn was already in a semi-delirious state. Her body twisted, limbs writhing, eyes unfocused, saliva slipping from the corner of her mouth. Her exposed skin had taken on an alluring pink hue.
"I have detox pills!"
As he spoke, Arden pulled out his medicine gourd and poured out a black pill.
"This one's for lethal poisons. As for… that kind of drug—cough—it's hard to say how effective it'll be."
"Either way, we'll try it first."
As Arden approached Evelyn to feed her the pill, before he could do so, perhaps sensing the masculine aura around him, Evelyn suddenly lunged forward and hugged him.
"Mmm… ah~!"
One arm hooked around Arden's neck as she leaned close, seductive moans escaping her lips, while hot, fragrant breath washed over his face.
"…"
Arden blanked out for just a moment.
And in that instant—
Evelyn lightly jumped up. As she came down, her long legs clamped around Arden's waist like pincers.
Now she was clinging to him like an octopus, their posture extremely intimate.
And it wasn't over yet.
Her free hand reached downward.
Though she lacked practical experience, her theoretical knowledge was very thorough.
"!!"
Arden was no novice either. His resistance was strong, and after that brief lapse, he snapped back to his senses.
Just before his vital point could be grabbed—
"Celestial Talisman Arts: Freeze!"
As the talisman stuck to Evelyn's forehead, she froze instantly—just like the someone pressed the pause button on the remote.
"DAMN"
Arden's mouth twitched.
Because the awkward position had frozen too.
They were far too close—well beyond normal social distance—and her legs were still wrapped around him.
This figure… about the same as Sweety's—no! Focus!
After a silent evaluation, Arden peeled Evelyn off himself.
…..
"Release!"
Judging that the detox pill should have had some effect by now, Arden released the immobilization.
"Evelyn, wake up!"
Astra Yao hurriedly checked on her best friend.
Of course, if shouting could wake someone poisoned, then novels, anime, and movies wouldn't have so many beloved plotlines.
"My body's so hot… don't leave me~ I want it!!"
As if she no longer recognized Astra Yao, Evelyn shoved her aside and lunged straight toward Arden.
"Freeze!"
And she was immobilized again.
"Did the detox pill not work?"
Astra Yao's face was filled with worry.
"Well… I can't say it had no effect at all…"
Looking at Evelyn acting like a crazed lust-addict, Arden shook his head.
"It's just… not very effective."
"Then what do we do!? How about—"
Suddenly, Astra Yao thought of a method that could fundamentally resolve the poison.
As an actress, she had studied many novels and scripts. She remembered scenes where women were poisoned like this—and the way to cure it was usually…
Astra Yao's face flushed red. She glanced at Arden, then quickly looked away.
"H-how about… Daoist Arden, could you p-please… help Evelyn detox?"
Boom!
The moment she finished speaking, steam practically rose from Astra Yao's head.
"..."
For a moment, Arden didn't know how to respond.
You're just selling out your best friend like that—is that okay!?
Honestly, if Astra Yao weren't here and it were just him and Evelyn alone, Arden wouldn't mind "sacrificing" himself.
But with Astra Yao as a third party present, if he did that—even if he gained Evelyn's body, and even if Evelyn accepted it afterward—Astra Yao's favorability would definitely plummet.
He already had plenty of women around him. If he acted too recklessly, Astra Yao would absolutely slap a "lecherous pervert" label on him, which would be disastrous for future relationship development.
What should I do… ah, got it!
A flash of inspiration struck Arden.
"Astra!"
He suddenly grabbed her shoulders with both hands and looked at her seriously.
"Y-yes… I'm here!"
For some reason, Astra Yao felt a little scared.
"Actually, detoxing Evelyn doesn't necessarily require a man…"
As he spoke, Arden let go and pulled out a golden talisman from his pouch.
"Celestial Talisman Arts: Transform!"
The golden talisman glowed and shifted shape. When the light faded, it had transformed into… a certain tool commonly used by girls for self-entertainment. [TN: IYKYK]
"Here."
Arden tossed it to Astra Yao.
"!!"
Astra Yao froze. She understood what Arden meant, but her brain instinctively rejected the information. Still, she caught the item.
Like grabbing a scorching hot potato, she fumbled back and forth for a long while before holding it properly.
"D-Daoist Arden, y-you… you do it instead!!"
After hesitating for a long time, Astra Yao tossed the item back to Arden.
Then, as if afraid he'd refuse, she fled the backstage room at the fastest speed of her life, slamming the door shut with a bang.
"…"
Arden looked at the tightly closed door, then at the item in his hand, and finally at Evelyn, who was burning with desire.
"Looks like I have no choice. I'm doing this to save someone—don't blame me afterward!"
[AN: By the way, that tool was a one-to-one replica made by Arden himself. He didn't say it out loud, afraid Astra Yao—and later Evelyn—would feel too embarrassed.]
In the end, Arden simply threw the tool away. But for the poisoned Evelyn, and Astra Yao waiting outside, they would never knew.
…..
"Mmm… ah…"
Listening to the harmonious sounds coming from inside the room, Astra Yao's pretty face flushed crimson.
She really wanted to secretly open a crack in the door—but considering her identity as a big star, she ultimately gave up.
===BREAK===
Like the story and want more chapters?
Join and support me by joining my Patreon!
[email protected]/SiRoasa