"Come on, we're close friends, aren't we?" Aventurine begs, still clinging to Topaz's arm.

Topaz is annoyed with him; she's still looking at photos of cute, fluffy pets on her phone. However, it isn't her fault. His request this time is absolutely ridiculous. He wants her to act as his fake girlfriend in front of Dr. Ratio to make him jealous. She has no interest in meddling in others' affairs, especially when it involves nonsensical romance and drama.

"Ugh... you're annoying as hell," Topaz replies, visibly irritated.

Aventurine's sly grin grows wider as he hears her response. He leans closer to her, his lips almost touching, as he whispers something into her ear.

Unbothered by the close proximity, Topaz focuses only on his words. She pauses for a moment, making precise calculations in her head.

"...Interesting. When considering this deal, it's a different story," she finally lifts her eyes to meet Aventurine's with a confident smile.

"A deal it is," Aventurine smiles cheekily.

Not long after, Aventurine's warning makes Topaz glance up from her phone once again. She has switched from looking at photos of pets to checking the IPC stock market. Seeing Dr. Ratio approaching, she can't help but feel sorry for him. She hopes Aventurine won't cause him too much trouble.

Without her notice, Aventurine pulls her into a quick kiss, taking her by surprise. She's used to his teasing, but not something like this. Yet, she can't help but find his playfulness adorable, like he's one of her kittens at home. A slight blush creeps up her cheeks, but she'll account for it later.

After witnessing Aventurine's stunt, Ratio furrows his brows in surprise. "Gambler, to think you can fool me with your childish ploys."

Aventurine giggles amusingly, expecting this exact reaction. He wants Ratio to be possessive of him. "Childish ploys? Of course not, my dear doctor. This is my lovely girlfriend, Topaz."

"Girlfriend, huh?" Ratio squints his eyes, examining both of them skeptically. As an intellectual, he won't be easy to trick.