?Chapter 394:


    Ruben froze. “That long-haired, white-robed thing was actually you?”


    Elliana nodded vigorously. “Yes! That was me!”


    “But your hair’s usually big and curly!” Ruben retorted, his eyes narrowing.


    She almost failed to stifle augh. “Right. I figured that wild hair might actually scare you in the dark, so I threw on a wig.”


    That did it. Ruben gave a long sigh, peeled her hand off his eyes, and flicked her on the forehead. “You little brat! I’m used to your wild hair. But this spooky getup? You trying to kill me?”


    There wasn’t much she could say. A sheepish grin was all she had left.


    Ruben didn’t let up. He jabbed a finger toward her face. “And what’s with the ghostly white makeup?”


    “You hurried me so much that I barely had a chance to finish my makeup!” Elliana exined smoothly, her tone caught somewhere betweenughter and frustration. “So, what made you call me over in such a rush?”


    When Elliana asked her question, Ruben didn’t answer right away. Instead, he muttered with a hint of mischief, “Help me up first.”


    “Oh. Right,” Elliana said. She gently pulled him up and then helped him back onto the t rock he’d been sitting on.


    Ruben’s moody face softened into a grin. He patted the empty space beside him. “Come sit, Elliana.”


    She nodded and sat beside him.


    Ruben pointed up at the sky. “Doesn’t the moon look extra beautiful tonight?”


    Elliana tilted her head back.


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    The sky was clear. The full moon glowed brightly and cast jagged shadows across the tree branches. It was breathtaking.


    “It’s really pretty,” she said softly. She turned to face him, raising an eyebrow. “Ruben, what was so urgent that you had to call me out here?”


    Ruben blinked, as if the answer was obvious. “To watch the moon with me, of course.”


    Elliana stared at him. She’d rushed all the way here like some runaway, heart pounding the whole time—only to find out he just wantedpany under the stars. He was quite whimsical. A crooked smile tugged at her lips. “Ruben, if that’s all you wanted, you could’ve just said so. I thought we were gearing up for some top-secret mission.”


    Ruben shook his head. “No way! If that little pest Jeff found out, he’d tag along. I wouldn’t get a moment’s peace!”


    Just then, a rustling sound came from behind.


    They turned and saw a bald teenager sprinting toward them, a fluffy white kitten cradled in his arms, grinning from ear to ear. “Elliana!” he called out before he even got there.


    Of course, that was Jeff.


    Ruben’s face fell. “Elliana, did you tell him you wereing?”


    She waved her hands. “No, Ruben! I was super careful—nobody saw me!”


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