Breaking the Unspoken Barrier

Lola looked at Sean Hayes and called out sweetly, "Sean Hayes, big brother!"

"Hey!" Sean Hayes replied, grinning as he scratched his head. "Haven't seen you in a while, Lola—you've grown taller again."

As he spoke, Sean Hayes cluelessly used his hand to measure Lola's height.

Mrs. Penny rolled her eyes inwardly: This blockhead—Lola's a grown woman now, how can he still act so touchy-feely like before?

But Sean Hayes had watched Lola grow up, and they’d always been close. Mrs. Penny held her tongue, not wanting to seem petty.

Lola said, "Sean Hayes, Chancellor Evans asked you to report the results of Greta’s interrogation to me and Mrs. Penny. She wants me to disguise myself as Greta and follow the clues to root out all those spies."

Sean Hayes’s eyes lit up when he saw the mask in Lola’s hand. He slapped his thigh. "Chancellor Evans really is a genius! This is brilliant—if you wear the human-skin mask and pretend to be Greta, we can catch them all in one go without tipping anyone off!"

"Exactly! I think it’s a great plan too." Lola nodded and smiled at Mrs. Penny. "Mrs. Penny, let’s get moving before we miss our chance."

"Yes, yes, let’s go, Lola. Sean Hayes, you hurry and report back to Chancellor Evans—this is important and she needs to know as soon as possible." Mrs. Penny shot Sean a look, gave him a few shoves, and then pulled Lola along.

This time, Mrs. Penny didn’t mention splitting up; she simply had Lola follow her to organize their team.

Mrs. Penny was distracted, her mind replaying the scene of Sean Hayes and Lola’s reunion.

She summoned the Shadow Guards and started planning the operation, but Lola, ever sharp, noticed that her usually clever and alert mentor, Master Peony, had spaced out twice!

Lola was quick-witted. She bit her lip and glanced thoughtfully at Master Peony.

At last, the plan was set. Lola disguised herself as Greta, and the group set out after dark, using the cover of night.

Lola deliberately lingered at the back, walking side by side with Master Peony.

Master Peony watched Lola’s silhouette, full of youthful grace and energy.

It was a different kind of beauty than Master Peony’s own dazzling allure.

Not better or worse—just a different flavor.

Master Peony was confident, but having a beautiful young woman who’d admired her husband since childhood—especially one she’d trained herself—made her uneasy.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, Master Peony’s heart was in turmoil tonight. Suddenly, the girl beside her spoke in a cool, quiet voice: "Master Peony, your heart is troubled. Something’s bothering you."

"Huh? Me...?" Master Peony was caught off guard, her face changing slightly as she forced a reply: "No, not at all! I’m just thinking about today’s mission."

Lola shook her head. "Master Peony, you taught me yourself. I can read you like a book. This mission isn’t even hard—compared to the dangerous jobs you’ve taken me on before, this is nothing. You’re not upset about the mission at all."

Master Peony looked at her perceptive apprentice, at a loss for words.

Lola was even more straightforward. She glanced back and dropped a bombshell: "Master Peony, are you upset because I like Sean Hayes?"

"What!?" The question hit Master Peony like a thunderbolt. She stared at Lola, baffled by how the girl who used to hide her feelings so carefully had suddenly ripped the curtain wide open.