How To Screw Yourself Over

Chapter 1.3: An Abused Left Arm

Ten minutes later and Ash finds herself comfortably seated in the area reserved for dining in Magibeast Inn. Ash really doesn't know why she's here. Oh wait, that's right. She wants to keep at least one arm in pristine condition. That kid has way too much strength and is far too willing to abuse said strength.

Internally brooding over the loss of her pitiful left shoulder, Ash quietly shovels food into her mouth as she watches Liu Han and his childhood friend, Yin Hui, interact. It's actually quite entertaining. She's never met someone so oblivious to the obvious discomfort of their companion—or in this case, the object of their affections.

She hopes Liu Han suffers. Suffer.

She fairly certain her maturity level and intellect has deteriorated since she first occupied Feng Yun's body, but she supposed that's only natural. Puberty induced hormonal imbalances will probably affect her just as much as it would've affected the true Feng Yun. Ash has never bothered exerting much control over her impulses so the levels of her pettiness and impetuousness will probably start flying off the charts.

Liu Han catches her eye, pinning her with a pitiful, pleading gaze that's practically begging for assistance. Cute. The kid is actually delusional or naive enough to think that she'd deign to help him.

When she only sends him a vaguely amused smirk, he deflates like a pricked balloon and seems to resign himself to his inevitable fate as arm candy. Or a cute stuffed animal. It's hard to tell which Yin Hui is going for when she's rubbing her everything against him so vigorously.

"So," Ash finally starts to speak since it's clear her company is currently in no condition to do so, "I take it this girlie is the one you were so adamant about protecting?"

Her words take immediate effect with Yin Hui's face exploding tomato red and Liu Han's features contorting into an expression that could only be described as horrified betrayal and by the word "nooo—!"

Yin Hui is the first to voice her thoughts, shyly asking "W-What did he do?" even as her hands refuse to release their vice-like grip on Liu Han's arm.

Ash takes a moment to relish in Liu Han's clear suffering before saying "Oh, you're the apple of his eye; when it comes to you, his judgment becomes a bit shaky. I was the one who picked a fight with him yesterday, remember?" She points to herself in a deceptively cheerful tone. Liu Han feels chills running up his spine.

"Oh, right!" Yin Hui claps her hands excitedly. "You're the funny little man who attacked Liu Han when he wouldn't get out of the way!"

This girlie is so poisonous. The worst part is that her provocation is likely unintentional. Ash has always envied that quality a little. "Yup, that's me! See, the real reason why he was so stubborn about opposing me was that he thought I was looking at you with bad intentions."

Yin Hui's reaction isn't as dramatic as Ash wanted, so she pushes a little farther, "He beat me up just because he thought I was looking at you funny! His love for you is pretty much self-evident."

Yin Hui immediately releases Liu Han's arm and bounds up Ash with shining eyes, grasping Ash's hands with a surprisingly strong grip before bouncing up and down jubilantly. "Really, really? Liu Han fought for my sake?"

Ash valiantly endures the way the girlie jerks her arms around in favor of wringing out all she can from her encounters with Liu Han. She hasn't had the opportunity to lead such innocent children by the nose since the hetarism incident. She's going to enjoy this.

"Yes, and that is not the only occasion in which he demonstrated his burning passion for you. In fact, just a little while ago, he approached me yet again to ensure my fictitious intentions towards you aren't hazardous towards your amorous entanglement." At Yin Hui's somewhat uncomprehending look, Ash simplifies her explanation. "He challenged me because he doesn't want anyone else to have a place in your heart."