Mage Manual

"No way." Diya shrugged with a smile: "Dazzling Star and Vishi are about the same age! How could Ash like someone so old—"

Pop!

Vishi slammed her glass on the glass table, her lips slightly curled as she glanced at Diya, who instantly cowered and obediently stuffed her mouth with cookies.

"It’s true that Ash and Dazzling Star are closely acquainted, they often need to communicate for projects." Weiser mused, "But at most, we can say there’s some possibility... Ash choosing Dazzling Star isn’t more likely than choosing any of us here."

"Could it be that the person Ash really wants to marry..." Hanna gently flicked her purple crystal earring and said leisurely: "Is one of us?"

"I’m not interested anyway," Vishi squinted at them: "Are you guys interested?"

"Not me either." Tamasi replied.

"Who in their right mind would be interested in him!" Felix immediately chimed in.

"I only have work-related interactions with Ash." Weiser laughed.

"If he were to pursue me, I might consider it, but he actually wants to skip the dating and go straight to marriage, I’m not up for that!" Diya looked at Sonia: "Sonia, you think the same, right?"

"Of course." Sonia took a sip of the Tequila Sunrise, her cheeks flushed slightly as she shrugged and laughed: "Besides, who would date in the office? Eight hours at work isn’t enough, you still want more after work? Isn’t that tiresome?"

"Seems like it’s none of us." Hanna sighed: "Looks like we’ll have to wait until next Monday to know the truth."

"Isn’t it next Tuesday?" Felix blinked: "Ash said he’d decide by next Tuesday..."

Hanna chuckled: "Take a look at what date next Tuesday is."

"The 15th... wait a minute!"

Diya suddenly realized: "Next Tuesday is February 15th!"

"If Ash is really proposing, it would definitely be on Monday, February 14th, Valentine’s Day." Vishi ran her finger along the rim of the glass: "Although he might ask someone out over the weekend, Ash is someone who values ceremony, even tries to achieve platinum trophies in games, so he would never choose an ordinary day for a proposal."

"Honestly, proposing on Valentine’s Day isn’t all that ceremonious, it’s a bit too clichéd." Weiser was complaining, but her face was full of smiles: "But it’s already an effort considering his personality."

"How do you know Ash tries to get platinum trophies in games?" Diya asked curiously: "Are you his game friend? But you hate games, you don’t even play our own..."

Vishi turned her head: "Maybe he said it on Instagram—"

"You follow his Instagram too?"

"Huh, does Ash have a social media account?" Felix was shocked: "I’m his assistant, how come I never knew!?"

"I found his YouTube account." Weiser said: "But it’s mostly knife-making, fishing, and home renovation videos, I thought I’d find a bunch of beauty videos."

"Is there a difference between Chinese Valentine’s Day and UK Valentine’s Day?" Tamasi suddenly asked.

"I only know that in Japan, girls actively give chocolates." Diya raised her hand, "A lot of mobile games have Valentine’s Day events where female characters give chocolates, I think it should be like that!"

"Seems like it’s not much different, we have chocolates, red roses, teddy bears, and cards too." Hanna said: "But in the UK, it’s usually men giving gifts to women..."

Sonia swirled her glass calmly and said: "Either way, we’ll know by Monday in a couple of days."

"Yes, this weekend is our boss’s last single weekend." Hanna smiled lightly, stood up with her GUCCI tote bag: "I have something to do, so I’ll head back tonight."

"See you all next Monday."

After Hanna left, everyone gradually took their leave, but their farewells seemed to hold some inexplicable deeper meaning.

...

...

February 14th, Monday.

Ash got out of the car, wrapped his coat tighter, and yawned. Every weekend he stayed up late playing games, so on Monday morning he looked like Yuan Shu just resurrected, completely embodying what it means to be a ’specter’.

Driving helped him perk up a bit, but once the cold wind hit his face, he felt both sore and sleepy. He quickly picked up the pace, greeted the security on duty outside, and rushed into the warm indoors.

"Ash-ash-ash~"

Ash perked up instantly, getting ready to embrace the soft warmth rushing into his arms. Though the other party wore a sweater, it did nothing to hide that stunning figure. Wearing a skirt and black silk stockings, she was both warm and cute. Hugging her felt soft yet firm, like holding a plush, solid ragdoll cat.

The receptionist saw this scene and wasn’t surprised, yet she put her phone down, refraining from browsing TikTok to avoid being caught slacking by the boss right after starting work.

"Good morning, Freyja." Ash ruffled her pink hair, sighing affectionately: "You don’t have to wait at the door for my hugs every Monday... remember I promised you one hug every week, you can redeem it anytime."

"But I look forward to Monday mornings the most~"

Freyja tilted her head with a silly grin, saying something only a haunting spirit would utter: "Every Monday, hug counts refresh, I spend each Monday anticipating the next Monday! Plus, Ash, you’re always adorably sleepy on Monday mornings, maybe if I hug you, you’d fall asleep in my arms, and then I’d sneakily carry you to my place~"