Chapter 43: The Art of Asking for Help

Xiluo’er was clear that if she wanted to implement her plan during the autumn cull, she would have to ask Eve for help so that Eve would take her along. Otherwise, Xiluo’er couldn’t think of any other way she could rightfully join the cull team sent by the City Lord’s residence.

The issue was how to approach Eve. Xiluo’er first wondered if Eve would suspect her of something. After all, what reason would a ordinary girl have to participate in the City Lord’s operation? She needed to come up with a reasonable excuse if she wanted Eve to bring her along.

Secondly, Eve might not agree to her request. After all, Eve had accepted the commission from City Lord Serol, and for Xiluo’er to join her would be an intrusion into her work. Moreover, Xiluo’er recalled that she had just rejected Eve’s requests twice that day. Wouldn’t Eve be angry if she asked for a favor now? Perhaps Eve was already angry. Xiluo’er remembered when she returned to her room with materials procured by Irene, Eve’s resentment had almost manifested as a dark, tangible entity.

This was clearly because Xiluo’er had rejected her twice that day. Sigh, this was so difficult.

Xiluo’er flopped onto the bed, hugging a large pillow and rolling around. The bed at the Adventurers’ Guild was spacious enough for Xiluo’er to roll around freely. As she rolled, Xiluo’er’s clever mind came up with an idea. There are techniques to asking for help, after all. Although she refused to admit it, Xiluo’er was aware that she was a mature adult trapped in a child’s body. She understood a thing or two about social customs. For instance, when asking someone for help, one should reveal their undergarments. This was common knowledge, wasn’t it? … No, it wasn’t.

For example, if a child wanted parents to buy them a toy, they would wait until they had good grades, then casually mention their wish while showing their high scores to their parents. No one would mention wanting a new toy when their parents asked about low grades, would they? The difference was that the former would get a new toy, while the latter would get a beating with a bamboo rod.

Xiluo’er sat up on the bed, deep in thought. She didn’t seem to have any way to please Eve. She would have to wait until Eve was more relaxed and in a good mood before approaching her with a softer attitude. Hmm, this was the wisdom of maturity!

Although she refused to admit being a child, Xiluo’er hadn’t realized that her plan had placed Eve in a position similar to a guardian.

“Xiluo’er, it’s time for dinner.”

“Okay, Eve sister!”

Hearing Eve’s voice from outside the door, Xiluo’er quickly jumped off the bed, fixed her messy hair from rolling around, and opened the door. As expected, Eve was standing at the door with her usual expressionless face.

Sigh… Although she had planned to talk to Eve when she was in a good mood, Eve seemed to have this face from morning till night. It was impossible to tell when she was in a good mood!

—

However, Xiluo’er eventually decided when to approach Eve. Sitting in the steam-filled bathroom, Xiluo’er was staring at her reflection in the mirror, pondering how to bring up the subject with Eve. Eve didn’t always insist on bathing with Xiluo’er, after all. To implement her ‘conciliatory policy,’ today, after Eve had finished bathing, she had even refilled the bathwater for Xiluo’er before returning to her own room.

Xiluo’er had her eyes on this time frame. After bathing, she would go to Eve’s room. Generally, people are more relaxed and in a better mood before bed. If she went to Eve’s room, knocked politely, and acted cute, she might have a higher chance of success. However, after bathing, she had been thinking for a long time in the bathroom and hadn’t come up with a suitable script. She couldn’t think of how to convince someone like Eve.

Only after the steam in the bathroom had dissipated did Xiluo’er realize that she had spent too much time in the bathroom. Oh no, if she stayed any longer, Eve might already be asleep!

Without thinking of a script, Xiluo’er quickly stood up, wrapped a towel around herself, and left the bathroom without even drying her hair completely. Thus, when Eve heard the knock and Xiluo’er’s sweet voice asking, “Eve sister, are you asleep? I have something to talk to you about,” and got out of bed to open the door…

Standing at the door was Xiluo’er, her face showing a hint of nervous tension. She was wearing only a towel, exposing large patches of fair skin, and her wet black hair was draped over her body, clinging to her curves.

“Um, Eve sister, I have something I want to ask you for help with.”

Eve raised an eyebrow, thinking, ‘When did this child become so proactive?’ Help? Sure! Do you want me to help you with the top or the bottom?

But Eve quickly suppressed her emotions. Although a scene where someone comes knocking at night, wrapped in a towel, saying they have something to ask for help with, looked suspicious, Eve knew Xiluo’er wasn’t that kind of person. In fact, if she really was, that might not be so bad.

Seeing Eve staring at her without saying a word, Xiluo’er was starting to feel a bit nervous. “Um, Eve sister?”

Eve came to her senses, coughed lightly, and spoke, “Why didn’t you dry your hair? You’ll catch a cold, Xiluo’er.” Then, without another word, Eve pulled Xiluo’er into her room and found a new, dry towel, gently rubbing Xiluo’er’s hair.

Was it Xiluo’er’s imagination, or did Eve pull her into the room with unusual eagerness?

As Eve dried her hair, she glanced at the petite girl’s body, casually asking, “So, Xiluo’er, what do you need help with?”

“Well… it’s like this, Eve sister…”

Listening to Xiluo’er stutter and seeing her fidget, Eve couldn’t help but wonder if it was really that kind of situation?

“Eve sister, aren’t you going to the forest outside the city with City Lord Serol and the others in a couple of days to cull the magical beasts?”

“Well, I was hoping to go with you, if that’s okay?”

In the end, the script she had agonized over in the bathroom was never used. Once in Eve’s embrace, Xiluo’er became nervous. “Oh…”

Eve nodded slightly, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. So that’s what it was. I thought it might be something else. No matter, it’s settled now.