My Succubus Health Bar Runs on Girl-Crushes

Riley’s fleeing figure finally disappeared around the corner of the athletic field. Only then did Tessa recover the smallest trace of awareness from the crushing exhaustion that had hollowed out her entire body.

She felt like a puddle of mud with every bone removed. From the ends of her hair to the tips of her toes, every inch of her radiated the same message.

I’m done. I can’t move anymore.

Sweat had soaked through her thin workout clothes, making them cling tightly to her body and outline the curves that had somehow ignited Riley’s competitive spirit while leaving Tessa mortified beyond words.

Tessa remained sprawled across the yoga mat, gasping for breath. After lying there for a while, she finally tried to drag herself upright.

Just then, a sweet voice filled with concern and heartache drifted toward her from nearby. It sounded as clear as a mountain spring and seemed to carry its own healing aura.

“Tessa! A-Are you okay?!”

Tessa raised her head with difficulty and saw Molly Sweet hurrying toward her in short, anxious steps, an elegant insulated lunch box clutched in one hand.

Molly wore a soft cream cardigan with a light brown plaid skirt that fell to her knees. Her long hair had been tied back with a matching ribbon, making her look especially gentle and approachable, like the kind older girl next door who could make anyone feel safe.

The moment Molly reached her and saw Tessa’s paper-white face, sweat-soaked hair, and frail appearance, her clear eyes immediately filled with tears.

“Oh my gosh, Tessa! Why are you so pale?” Molly’s voice trembled as she hurriedly set down the lunch box. She pulled a handkerchief printed with tiny strawberries from her pocket and carefully wiped the sweat from Tessa’s forehead.

The soft cloth carried a faint milky scent, and Molly’s touch was so gentle that she might as well have been handling a priceless treasure.

“That Riley Summers... How could she do this to you? Your body is so delicate. How are you supposed to survive that kind of brutal training? She’s inhuman!”

The more Molly spoke, the angrier she became. Her cheeks puffed out as she glared accusingly in the direction Riley had fled.

Tessa had no idea how to respond to this sudden burst of maternal outrage. She could only explain weakly, “I-It wasn’t like that, Molly. Riley was... she was only trying to help me.”

“Helping you doesn’t mean she gets to work you half to death!”

Molly refused to listen. She glanced at the lunch box beside her, shook her head, and made an important decision.

“No. A bowl of porridge won’t be enough to restore everything you lost.”

Without giving Tessa a chance to object, Molly pulled her to her feet. An astonishing amount of strength came from her petite frame as she half-supported, half-carried Tessa in another direction.

“Come on, Tessa. I’m taking you to my secret kitchen. I’m going to replenish every bit of energy you lost today. You’re going to eat until you’re completely full, and we’re turning all that awful sweat into something soft and healthy!”

In the end, Molly brought Tessa back to her miniature kitchen.

She settled Tessa into a chair beside a small dining table covered with a checkered cloth, then immediately began bustling around the kitchen.

Before long, a lavish homemade breakfast appeared in front of Tessa.

There was a large bowl of savory seafood-and-pork rice porridge, cooked until smooth and creamy. Chopped scallions and crisp golden crumbs had been sprinkled over the top, adding a rich, mouthwatering aroma. Beside it sat a bamboo basket filled with delicate translucent shrimp dumplings. Each one contained a whole, plump shrimp, its soft pink color visible through the thin wrapper.

“Tessa, you’re much too thin. You need to eat more.”

Molly handed her a spoon and a pair of chopsticks, then sat across from her with her chin resting on both hands. Her eyes overflowed with concern.

That tender gaze practically glowed with maternal affection. It warmed Tessa’s heart, but it also reminded her that she still needed to find the right moment to activate her skill.

She picked up the spoon and carefully brought a mouthful of porridge to her lips.

The warm, silky rice carried the fresh sweetness of seafood and the savory richness of tender pork. The flavor bloomed across her tongue, and a stream of warmth slid down into her stomach, easing some of the exhaustion from her body.

It was so good.

Far too good.

Tessa’s eyes narrowed in bliss. When she looked up, she met Molly’s shining gaze, which practically screamed, Is it good? Do you like it? Please praise me!

Now!

Tessa’s heart jumped. She set down the spoon, gathered every ounce of acting talent she possessed, and shouted silently.

[Activate Eyes of Enchantment!]

In an instant, her already luminous amber eyes seemed to fill with pure morning dew. She gazed longingly at Molly, her expression free of calculation or deceit.

There was only innocent hunger for the food before her and the helpless trust of a baby bird looking toward the person feeding it.

Molly’s mind went blank.

Her heart felt as though a warm kitten had raked one tiny paw across it. The sensation nearly melted her on the spot.

“You... You must have been starving, you poor thing.”

In seconds, Molly’s imagination produced an entire tragedy in which the demonic Riley had cruelly forced Tessa through endless torture, leaving her dizzy with hunger and too helpless to do anything but cry.

A protective urge unlike anything Molly had ever felt erupted inside her like a volcano.

Her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably, pounding so hard that it felt as though ten thousand rabbits were throwing a party inside her chest. Two suspicious patches of pink appeared on her cheeks.

“Here, Tessa. Open your mouth. I-I’ll feed you.”

Even Molly’s voice sounded unsteady. Acting almost entirely on instinct, she took the spoon from Tessa, scooped up some porridge, and carefully blew across it until the steam faded.

Then, with an expectant and impossibly tender expression, she brought the spoon to Tessa’s lips.

Tessa froze.

Her brain shut down completely.

She had never imagined that using the skill on Molly would produce this result.

Tessa stared at the spoon hovering in front of her, then at Molly’s sweet but utterly irresistible gaze. Deep within her soul, the last defensive wall belonging to Evan’s former straight-guy dignity began cracking apart.

Under Molly’s affectionate, expectant stare, Tessa finally surrendered. Her face burning, she opened her lips just enough to accept the spoonful of porridge.

“Good girl.”

Molly’s eyes curved with satisfaction, and a smile of pure happiness spread across her face.

From that point on, breakfast transformed into a full-scale feeding session.

One spoonful of porridge.

One shrimp dumpling.

Another spoonful of porridge.

Under Molly’s attentive care and overwhelming maternal affection, Tessa felt her embarrassment rise beyond measurable limits.

Her stomach, however, had never been happier.

[Beep! Target Molly Sweet’s heart rate increased by 40% in an instant! Dopamine levels have risen sharply!]

[Skill Test Result: Success!]

By the time breakfast ended, Tessa’s stomach had grown slightly round. She slumped inelegantly in her chair, feeling so happy that she might float straight into heaven.

Unfortunately, that happiness lasted less than three seconds.

A new and far more serious problem settled over her like a dark cloud.

Tessa leaned back, stared at the ceiling, and muttered miserably to herself.

“Riley and Molly are done... but I still need one more.”

She sighed, her face twisting with despair.

“Everyone left is either a dangerous temptress or an ice queen. Who am I supposed to target without getting arrested on the spot?”