He reached out to pat her head, enjoying the soft, fluffy texture of her hair.

Rong pouted, swatting his hand away and clasping her head protectively.

"Don’t treat me like a child!"

Her narrowed eyes held a mix of annoyance and indignation.

She was an adult, after all. She couldn’t accept being patted on the head like a child.

But even as she protested, a tiny flicker of pride bloomed in her heart.

She had finally been able to express her thoughts clearly, without stumbling over her words!

'See? This is just basic conversation. It’s no big deal. I’m growing, and casual communication like this is child’s play!'

She puffed out her modest chest, looking quite pleased with herself.

Shia raised an eyebrow, amused by her confidence.

'Oh? She’s getting cocky now.'

"Is that so?" he mused.

Shia laughed—a smile that spelled uncertain fates for those involved.

'Time to increase the difficulty.'

Of course, teaching social skills alone wouldn’t cut it anymore. This was the moment to bring in a partner for a more hands-on demonstration.

Enter the adorably clueless elf princess, Nia.

Shia turned toward Rong, his grin widening. "Communication is more than just casual exchanges. True friendship requires deeper bonds and expressions of closeness."

Rong nodded earnestly, diligently jotting notes into her little notebook.

She felt confident. She had already conquered the basics, and they were starting to show results. Surely, she could handle whatever came next.

Shia glanced at Nia, who blinked her wide, innocent eyes and tilted her head slightly, as though trying to process his words.

Her adorable, naive demeanor made one want to pinch her soft cheeks.

'Closeness between friends?'

'What does that mean exactly?'

Suddenly, a look of realization lit up Nia’s face.

Before Rong could react, she witnessed her supposed friend being grabbed by the spirited elf princess and pulled into an embrace.

'True closeness indeed.'

"Like this?" Nia asked sweetly, her soft, high-pitched voice filled with earnest curiosity.

Her petite hands wrapped around Shia, pulling him tightly against her chest. The plush softness of her body squished against him, the "peaks" of her figure visibly compressed from the pressure.

Her expression remained delightfully innocent, as if she had no clue about the overly intimate nature of her actions.

To further emphasize the closeness, Nia lifted her legs off the ground and wrapped them around Shia’s waist, clinging to him like a cuddly raccoon.

Her sticky, affectionate demeanor was almost hypnotic in its childlike sincerity.

Rong’s eyes widened in shock.

'What!? This can’t be right!'

Her face flushed bright red as her gaze darted between them, overwhelmed by the sight of their impossibly close embrace.

'This isn’t okay!'

Even if it’s between friends, there’s no way this level of closeness is appropriate!

Rong’s heart pounded, a mix of confusion, embarrassment, and frustration swirling within her.

She wanted to intervene, but words failed her.

Although her training had improved her ability to express herself in calm situations, this emotional chaos left her floundering.

Nia, however, seemed entirely unfazed, her wide-eyed smile growing even purer.

Her innocent demeanor combined with her actions was nothing short of socially terrifying.

Rong opened her mouth, her lips trembling, and after much struggle, she finally managed to speak.

"T-That’s… not what friends do!"

Her voice was faint, her heart racing wildly as the words stumbled out.

As the tension began to ebb, she exhaled in relief.

'Surely now Nia will let go, right?'

But Nia remained unperturbed, her voice ringing out in cheerful contradiction.

"This is exactly what friends do!" she declared, her earnest tone carrying the weight of sincerity.

Rong almost believed her for a moment.

Nia hugged Shia even tighter, pressing her soft curves against him with innocent enthusiasm.

"I like Shia so much!" she chirped, her sugary voice filled with joy.

To emphasize her affection, she began to nuzzle against him, her soft, pliant body moving with playful energy.

'This level of “friendship” was too honest.'

Rong froze, watching the intimate display in disbelief. She glanced down at herself and felt her confidence shatter.

Her modest, petite frame couldn’t compare.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized she couldn’t possibly replicate what she was witnessing.

'Flat princesses really can’t catch a break.'

By the time Nia finished her spirited demonstration and released Shia, he looked a bit disheveled. His ears were red, and his hair slightly messy, likely from the smothering embrace.

Nia turned to Rong with an eager smile, practically bouncing with excitement.

"This is how you show affection between friends! Now it’s your turn!"

Rong felt herself turning to stone, her entire body stiffening at the suggestion.

Her mind screamed in protest.

'No way! It was hard enough watching someone else do this—how am I supposed to do it myself?!'

The mere thought of being so physically close to Shia made her chest tighten. Her breath hitched as nervousness coursed through her.

Nia leaned in closer, her cheerful voice becoming a playful tease.

"Don’t you like your friends?"

"Isn’t liking someone all about being close to them?"

"If you want to be close, there can’t be any gaps between you!"

"Holding someone you like is the best feeling ever. You should try it!"

Her words were relentless, each sentence chipping away at Rong’s already fragile resolve.

"Don’t be scared—just try it. Just once, and you’ll like it!"

Rong’s expression froze, utterly wooden.

She couldn’t even fathom doing something like that herself.

Her mind unwillingly replayed the scene, swapping Nia’s face with her own in the embrace.

It was horrifying. 'How could anyone get so close to someone else?!'

Seeing Rong’s shattered, lifeless expression, Shia shook his head with a chuckle.

It was clear—the road to overcoming her social anxiety was still a long one.

Shia’s gaze shifted briefly to the bubbly elf princess buzzing around Rong like an eager little bee, chattering away with an innocent grin.

Nia’s youthful face and wide, guileless eyes exuded pure naivety, but Shia couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a mischievous darkness lurking just beneath her surface.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com